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TO THE

REV. CHARLES R. ELRINGTON,

D.D. F.T.C.D.

MY DEAR SIR,

IN dedicating to you the fol

lowing pages, designed, as they are, merely to present the labours of others under a more useful form, I feel that I have some apology to offer, for associating your name with an attempt so humble in itself, and so imperfect in its execution. Still, I cannot regret that association. For how can cultivation of mind and purity of life, be more appropriately engaged, than in lending their. sanction to any endeavour, however feeble, to advance the knowledge of those doctrines, which have been so ably illustrated by the one, and so happily exemplified in the other? Or by whom can that sanc

tion be more gratefully recorded, than by one, the term of whose acquaintance with you, has only served as a continued succession of repeated kindnesses ? And, believe me, that while I avail myself of your permission to inscribe your name at the head of this work, I deem myself fortunate in having, at the same time, an opportunity of expressing the sense I feel of the numerous favours you have conferred upon me, and of assuring you, I shall ever remain,

Your grateful,

And humble Servant,

THOMAS NEWLAND.

22, TRINITY COLLEGE,

Nov. 1st, 1828.

PREFACE.

IN presenting to the theological students of this country, the following Analysis of Bishop Burnet's Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, it will be necessary to explain the motives with which I engaged in it, and the design I have had in view. Bishop Burnet was confessedly a man of the most varied and extensive erudition. The universal adoption of his invaluable commentary on the Articles by our schools of Divinity, is a sufficient proof of the estimation in which his talents and his learning have been held. But notwithstanding these advantages, he certainly did not possess either perspicuity of style or clearness of arrangement; qualifications which are equally necessary to the character of a perfect author, His matter is in general so confused, his argu

ments so scattered, and his observations so misplaced, that to follow him through his discussions, replete as they are with the most valuable information, is a labour to which few students are willing to submit. These defects I have endeavoured to rectify, at the same time retaining the excellent matter, which in the original, they are calculated to obscure. I have adhered to his observations as closely as was consistent with my plan of retaining only what would prove generally useful; and his arguments I have endeavoured to state with clearness, arranging them under general heads in a regular method. These heads, it will be perceived, are printed in Italics; in order, that the reader may thus by a glance, collect at once the substance of the entire Article. In the notes I have added whatever information appeared necessary, in order to the perfect understanding of the text, and I have particularly directed the student's attention to those works in which he will find the simplest and most satisfactory elucidation of the various subjects which are discussed.

With respect to those Articles which allude to the differences existing between the Cal

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