Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/7



THE doctrines of the New and True Christian Religion having been published in a great variety of voluminous writings, and many persons having expressed a desire to see them in an abridged form, not only for their own use, but for the benefit of others, who may be disposed to peruse a small Manual, when a larger work would fail to engage their attention; the Author of the following Compendium has endeavoured to meet this wish of the Public, by bringing into as compact a form and order, as the nature and number of the subjects treated of would permit, the principal doctrines of the New Jerusalem. And as the sentiments contained in it do not originate with him, but are those of Divine Revelation itself, laid down in a clear and intelligible manner, he feels himself at liberty to recommend it as a work proper to be put into the hands of strangers, or of such as are desirous of obtaining a general knowledge of the doctrines professed by the members of the New Church.

He is aware, that it may possibly be the opinion of some, that the end or purpose intended is already answered by a publication of the late Hon., entitled, A Treatise concerning the New Jerusalem, and it's Heavenly Doctrine, particularly the cheap edition without the Extracts from Arcana Cœlestia. But when it is considered, that the present Compendium embraces not only the substance of that most useful little volume, with it's many references to the larger work, but the substance also of the Treatises concerning the Lord, the Sacred Scripture,