A Series of Letters in Defence of Divine Revelation by Ballou, Hosea, 1771-1852

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

A word from our supporters: File extension DSC

* * * * * * * * * * To The Reader.

H. Bowen.

Letter I.

* * * * *

A. Kneeland." * * * * * Letter Ii.

H. Ballou. * * * * *

E. Turner." * * * * *

A. Kneeland." * * * * * Letter Iii.

H. Ballou.

* * * * *

A. Kneeland." * * * * * Letter Iv.

H. Ballou. * * * * *

A. Kneeland." * * * * *

A. Kneeland." * * * * * Letter V.

* * * * *

H. Ballou. * * * * *

A. Kneeland." * * * * * Letter Vi.

H. Ballou. * * * * *

A. Kneeland." * * * * * Letter Vii.

H. Ballou. * * * * *

A. Kneeland." * * * * * Letter Viii.

H. Ballou. * * * * *

"a. Kneeland." * * * * * Letter Ix.

J. Buckminster. * * * * * Letter Ii. From The Rev. Hosea Ballou To The Rev. Joseph Buckminster. Portsmouth, Jan'y. 1, 1810.

Hosea Ballou. * * * * * Portsmouth, Jan. 10, 1810.

J. Buckminster. * * * * * Letter Iv. From The Rev. Hosea Ballou To The Rev. Joseph Buckminster. Portsmouth, Jan. 11, 1810.

J.w. * * * * * Letter Ii. From The Rev. Hosea Ballou To The Rev. Joseph Walton. Portsmouth, Dec. 11, 1810.

Hosea Ballou. * * * * * Letter. Iii.

Hosea Ballou. * * * * * Letter Iv. From The Rev. Joseph Walton To The Rev. Hosea Ballou. Portsmouth, Jan. 11, 1811.

Joseph Walton. * * * * * Letter V. From The Rev. Hosea Ballou To The Rev. Joseph Walton. Portsmouth, Jan. 15, 1811.

Hosea Ballou. * * * * * Letter Vi. From The Same To The Same. Portsmouth, Feb. 1, 1811.

Hosea Ballou

"I believe however, we had better see whether the old revelation can be fully proved before we go very far into the inquiry whether a new one is necessary.

"That I deserve any credit in the opinion of our friend or my own conscience for the unwearied pains I have taken to ascertain the correct ideas communicated to us in the scriptures is very grateful to my feelings; and let it not be imagined for a moment that I feel at all disposed to shrink from my former assiduity; for as long as the world, or any considerable part thereof, believe the scriptures to be divine revelation I think it very important that they should have a correct understanding of them. So long therefore as I hold this to be my profession, I mean faithfully to pursue it; ever remembering that I am not accountable in the least degree either for the truth or falsity of the bible, but only for my faithfulness in preaching, taking heed that I do not preach that for bible, which is not bible.

"Let not my brethren be 'concerned,' or made in the least degree unhappy on my account. My mind was never more tranquil respecting religious subjects than at the present moment. My doubts, whatever they are, give me no uneasiness; they only excite me to diligence and assiduity in endeavouring by all possible means to ascertain the truth; and wherever, or in whatever light, it shall be discovered, I am fully satisfied that eternal truth is perfectly right, yea just as it should be.

"For, provided deism should prove true in its stead, what is there to be lost if christianity fails? Ought we not to be thankful for, and also satisfied with the truth of either? It appears to me that all ought to be satisfied with the truth whatever it may be; and therefore my present object is to ascertain, if possible, what truth is.

"'Did human reason,' saith he, 'unassisted by divine light make the discovery?' (i. e. of the 'unity of God.')--'Then indeed would "all nations, in all ages," have possessed the great object made manifest by revelation.' In answer to this, I would only ask, were not the laws of electricity discovered by 'human reason unassisted by divine light?' Why then were they not known to 'all nations, in all ages?'--The fact is, what reason is capable of discovering may also be long concealed from the eye of reason.

"Yours, &c.

A. KNEELAND."

* * * * *

LETTER III.

_Dear Sir, and Brother_,--As I have not the opportunity of presenting your third number to our mutual friend and brother, to whom it most properly belongs to reply, I have thought it no more than reasonable that I should acknowledge the receipt of your favour accompanying this acknowledgement with some observations on the most essential parts of what you have suggested.

You wish us to take it for granted, that those parts of our communications to which you make no reply, are at least, generally speaking, satisfactory to your mind. Respecting this particular, you will suffer me to point out, what appears to me, a very material defect in your proposed method.