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TO THE READER:

GREETING

I offer the following apology to the Public, for the publication of the First Volume of THE LAYMAN'S LEGACY:

The Sermons contained in said first volume, and a part of this second volume, were written for the press, previously to December 1838. Proposals for publishing said First Volume, were at that time before the public; and the work, such as it was, in its unpublished state, was, in a certain qualified sense, the property of the public. I also considered said first volume in the light of a pioneer; and a promulgator of truth, in a measurable sense.

Having no personal or sinister views or ends to subserve; and considering my pilgrimage on earth as drawing toward its close; and being desir ous to avoid, both in appearance and in reality, whatever could savour of deception; I have concluded that the proper course would be to exhibit things as they were, in the past tense; and things as they are, in the present tense; and let the reader be benefitted, or otherwise, by my candid avowal of the truth, in all simplicity; by receiving, or by rejecting my testimony, as he should be moved thereto by the spirit of charity, or be influenced by the god of this world.

I, therefore, have published my Fifty Sermons, in their proper order; and I shall leave them as my LEGACY to my Brethren of the great Human Family.

In the first perusal of this book, the Reader is respectfully, and earnestly solicited, to commence it at the beginning, and to read on, each Sermon in its own proper order as arranged; without any reference to, or being influ enced by, an examination of the Table of Contents, or the Index to Subjects. My motive for this request, will, in case of a compliance, be discovered in due time, and properly appreciated.

The subjects presented to the reader, especially that of a WORLD'S FUTURE DESTINY, has been that of my most intense study, and laborious research. In the seclusion of my chamber, retired, my mind abstracted from the world around me, and all my powers concentrated on the momentous subjects before us; from early morn till dewy eve ushered in the midnight vigils; month after month, I inquired, researched, examined, compared, and weighed this matter; until, in an imbodied form, I now present my faith, opinions, and views to the reader.

The honest, candid, and liberal critic, will aid me; because he will aim for TRUTH. But the hypercritic may snarl-the bigot, who finds the dagon of his orthodoxy prostrate, may whine and execrate-the miscellaneous vengeance of sectarian wrath, may be poured out from the vials of popu lar prejudice; and all combined, will be regarded by me as less than nothing. There is one thing, however, that I shall esteem a matter of conse quence; not to the author, but to the reader of this book: A superficial reader's idiosyncrasy detests the drudgery of thinking. The sincere inquirer for TRUTH, who values truth, and estimates fiction and falsehood correctly, is earnestly requested to read the marginal notes carefully; to compare the whole; instead of prematurely deciding the whole question on the evidence of a part; whether the proof consists of testimony, general or particular facts, or arguments, etc. Read candidly, carefully; patiently investigate; and then judge for yourself. Reader, it is thy future destiny-the endless destiny of thyself; thy relatives and friends; and thy brethren, the great Human Family-that is the subject before thee. HENRY FITZ.

NEW YORK, Jan. 1st, 1840.

CONTENTS.

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418

INDEX

TO SUBJECTS DISCUSSED.

Arminianism, A measure or balance for, 26, 29, 31, 462 note, 465.
Good, practical, 21, 30.

The dogma of, contradicted by Paul, 27.

Correctly defined, consists of bribery! 29, 30.

A call on, 73, 111.

Illustrated, 83-84, and impiety shown, ibid, 169, 450, 486.
In an awful condition, 438, 466, 490.

Monstrosity of, exposed, 494, 495.

Alarm, Cause of, to sinners, 470.

Ages, The seven, considered, 378.

Athenians, The ancient, Paul's sermon to, considered, 98, 106.
The first preacher of the soul's immortality to the, 97.

Astronomy the handmaid of Science, etc., 471.

Ascension to heaven of the Man Christ Jesus, considered, 138-140.
"Aon, (Hades,) Explanation of the term, 392 note, 393, 396.
Etymology of the term, 396, note, 397, 409, note.
AARON, The priesthood of, how and when destroyed, 225-228, 403.
Apokalypsis, or Book of Revelation, why not understood by the Ortho-
dox, 229, 230, note, 235, 321, 328, 347, 431.

Angels, The fallen, considered, 366, 367 note.
Books, The three, considered, 180, 185, 317.

Opening of the, explained, 315.

Book of Life, considered, 318 note.

Book of Nature corroborates the written Book, 372.
Baptists, Mistake of, illustrated, 15, 262, 333, 432 note.

John the, Morality of, 20.

Body, Man's, considered, and Scripturally examined, etc., 121-125, 131.
Resurrection of the, unscriptural, and false, etc., 121-136, 140-313.
Metonymical sense of the term, illustrated, 311, 312, 349, 350.

Bondage of corruption, explained, etc., 133-135.

Brethren, The phrase, The five, explained, 405–407.

Blindness, Judicial, considered, 436, 437.

Believers, The rest of, illustrated, etc., 456-460.

And unbelievers, Christ's distinction between considered, 492.

Clergymen, Orthodox, like their reward in this world! 39.

Comets, electricity, etc., opinions and predictions relative thereto, 159.
Calvinism of the father of lies, the Devil, 41, 42.

Covenant, God's, in Christ, considered, 483 note, 484, 495.

Children a part of God's heritage, and Christ's inheritance, 415-417.

Christ, Love of, a criterion of its existence in the believer, 40-45.

The Head of every man, 62-64.

Personality of, considered, 136-140, 154, 313, 332.

The active agent, and not a passive recipient, etc., 138.

Faith of, considered, note 189, 201 note.

The heir of all things (men) 64 note, 334, 487.

Pilate's opinion of, considered, 408.

Clock, Simile of a, illustrative of the earthly man, etc., 100, 103.

CLARKE, Dr. Adam, Opinions of, and opinions of him, etc., 159 note, 169

Impiety of, 436.

note, 281 note, 420, 430 not

CAMPBELL, Dr., Honest and honourable concession of, 395 note.
Dr. J. N., his book, trinity, and notions, considered, 441.

Chemical affinity considered, 133, 143, 151.

Catholic host, The falsehood of, exposed, 438 442.
CAUSE and Effect illustrated, 267-274, 276.

Crucifixion of Jesus Christ explained, etc., 135, 136.

Condemnation, (Karakρipa) illustrated, etc., 157, 189.

Christ's coming explained, 214 note, 216 note, 235, 242, 252, 302, 400 note.
Doctrine, A specimen of beautiful 15, Sound 374.

Paul's, exhibited in contrast with Calvin's, 40-50.

Dreams, Opinions on the subject of, 176.

A remarkable one of a German physician 177.

DECREE of God considered, and the decree of orthodoxy, 481-484, 488.
DEATH, The Second, explained, 179, 181, 184, 201-205, 237, 243, 245, 251,
270-274, 315, 318 note, 323, 337, 345, 349, 368, 458, 467, 468.

A first and a second, in relation with a first and second resurrec-
tion, 179, 184, 268 note, 270.
Devils, Origin and nature, and opinions relative to, 294 note, 383, 411 note.
Dispensations, ages, etc., considered metonymically, 153, 208, 242, 268, 328.
The three, considered, 156, 181.
DAY, The last, considered, 156, 157, 187, 201—205, 239, 243, 251, 257-262,
279, 326, 328.
DESTRUCTION, Everlasting, explained and illustrated, 179, 181, 222-228,
236, 245, 270, 272, 322, 330, 337, 345 note, 468.
Distinctions, Very important, 201 note, 272 note, 279, 287, 319, 323, 346
note, 365, 483, note, 492.
Daniel, The prophet, Dark saying of the, considered, 282-288.
Evil men, capable of doing well, 34.

Evil, Natural, or physical, God's design in permitting 65, 66.
Embassador of Christ, Manner of preaching of, 50-52.

Pretended, manner of, etc., 53, 339.

Evidence, Greatest possible measure of, considered, 92.

Egyptians, The opinion of the, of the soul of man, 96, 104, 111.

Education of youth considered, 379-382.

Everlasting, Illustration of the term, note 386, 243.

FATHER, Relation of, considered 33, 34, 35-37.

Futurity, Ancient and modern Pagan's opinions of, how, and where derived

Job's opinion of, 108-110.

94, 96, 103-106.

Facts exhibited, showing the whole subject of origin of men's opinions,

Females, Error in education of, considered, 381.
Faith in Jesus Christ, illustrated, 151-153, 201 note.

One, and only ONE true, 178.

Fables, The teachers of, considered, 465, 466.

FIRE, the Refiner's, illustrations of, 222-228.

Foundation, God's Son Jesus the only sure, 446-449.

91-93, 111.

Greek criticisms, 18, 19, 46, 55, 64, 73, 99, 114, 116, 118, 123, 138, 185, 186,
217, 232, 237, 238, 242, 243, 245, 268, 279, 288, 292, 301,
302, 305, 306-309, 312, 322, 345, 366, 385, 386, 392, 395,
396, 400, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 468, 487, 493.

God, A consuming fire in Christ, 19.

In Christ, a reconciling, and not a vindictive being, 48-50.
True character of, illustrated, 33-38, 52, 70-73.
Magnitude of the works of, considered, 472.
Absolute sovereignty of, 488, 489.

Great gulf, The phrase explained, 404, 405.

Ghost, Origin of the term, etc., 23.

Teévvns, (Gehenna,) Etymology of the term, 395 note.

Bungling attempt to foist the Jews', into the Pagan hell, 396 note,

409 note.

NOT the location of the Rich Man in the parable!!! 409.

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