OXFORD DECLARATION AND THE Eleven Thousand; BIBLICAL TRUTHS AND BISHOP COLENSO. BY JAMES BOULLY, Formerly Member of the Heidelberg University; Late Professor of English Author of "The Tribunal where Superstition is Condemned and the PREFACE. In a former work, entitled, "THE TRIBUNAL WHERE SUPERSTITION IS CONDEMNED AND THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD TOWARDS MEN JUSTIFIED," the author endeavoured, in accordance with his own notions of the subject, to take a short but comprehensive view of the arrangements of the Creator, manifested throughout the whole economy of the globe upon which man passes his existence, and to show the inconsistency of the notion, that either the original arrangements upon which the economy of the earth was based have become defective, or the creatures thereon, more especially mankind, have become depraved under the guidance of Infinite Intelligence. This second work may be considered a sequel to the former one, illustrating and confirming the opinions therein advanced by the acts, opinions, and creeds of mankind, considered nationally, locally, and individually. In so small a work as the one now offered to the public, the more general affairs alone of prominent nations and of individuals can be noticed. Christian creeds and doctrines, in conjunction with other religions and creeds, are of course adverted to, and the records of the Old and New Testament are strictly commented upon. In short, all concerns which affect mankind, civilly and religiously, temporally and eternally, such as creeds, laws, education, art and science, trade, commerce, missionaries, sports, war, customs, climate, &c., have been brought under notice. The object of this publication is, not to thrust any particular religious creed, opinion, or idea upon mankind, but, on the contrary, to allow every one to entertain the creed which the circumstances amid which he has been placed, and the capacity of intellect which his Maker has given to him, have allowed him to compose. Man's position in the world to come, may be totally independent of his course of life on this earth; for, if otherwise, Paul's tyrannical bigotry and complete deficiency in benevolence, might make the glory of his heavenly crown the least splendid of every other. Let the "Eleven Thousand" take this remark into consideration. The Creator alone can judge of the incitement to action; and no mortal can determine how far circumstances may render a man irresponsible for his actions. Truths in science and in political measures can only be proved by free discussion, or that great teacher-Experience. In like manner, all errors can alone be discovered by investigation. If, then, the Christian doctrines do not approve themselves to the whole world, and unite mankind by the bonds of concord and peace, let every individual be allowed to reject them and choose his own creed, without calling forth such an unwholesome document as is the "Oxford Declaration" of the "Eleven Thousand." To those who interest themselves in the differences which have arisen among the Bishops of the English Protestant Church, concerning the truth and credibility of Biblical history, and of the doctrines therefrom deduced, the consideration spontaneously suggests itself, What will be the result of this complication, and, can it be productive of benefit to those whom it affects? Before any endeavours are made to obtain a satisfactory reply to these inquiries, it may, perhaps, be prudent to ascertain the nature and extent of the subject or subjects from which a solution is sought to be obtained. Many persons will readily allow that the subject is religion and Divine inspiration-that its nature is to instruct us in our duties to our Creator, and that it extends to our temporal and eternal concerns, but principally to our eternal. This view of the subject may, as it regards religion generally, be correct; but in respect of the Jewish religion it is inapplicable, seeing that this latter had reference to ceremonies and ordinances of a purely temporal character. It is true that the religious and political government of the Jews were so intimately blended that they may be considered as one government. Such, at least, seems to have been the form of government which may be inferred from the accounts which the Jewish historians have given of their own people, especially in its B |