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They who have a relish for the study of the scriptures, and have access to peruse the following sheets, will, I am persuaded, deem themselves much indebted to the Reverend Mister Edwards of Newhaven for consenting to publish them. Though the acute philosopher and deep divine appears in them, yet they are in the general better calculated for the instruction and improvement of ordinary Christians, than those of President Edwards's writings, where the abstruse nature of the subject, or the subtle objections of opposers of the truth, led him to more abstract and metaphysical reasonings. The manuscript being entrusted to my care, I have not presumed to make any change in the sentiments or composition. I have, however, taken the liberty to reduce it from the form of sermons, which it originally bore, to that of a continued treatise; and I have so altered and diversified the marks of the several divisions and subdivisions, that each class of heads might be easily distinguished.

Edinburgh,April 29, 1774. JOHN ERSKINE.

Those who love the study of Scripture and have the opportunity to read these pages will, I am confident, feel greatly indebted to the Reverend Jonathan Edwards of New Haven for consenting to publish them. Though the keen philosopher and deep theologian are evident throughout, these pages are generally better suited for the instruction and growth of ordinary Christians than those writings of President Edwards where abstract subjects or the subtle objections of opponents led him into more technical and philosophical reasoning. The manuscript was entrusted to my care, and I have not presumed to alter any of the ideas or the composition. I have, however, taken the liberty of converting it from the form of sermons — which it originally bore — into a continuous treatise, and I have varied the markers for the various divisions and subdivisions so that each category of headings can be easily distinguished.

Edinburgh, April 29, 1774. John Erskine.