STEUBENVILLE, DEC. 18, 1810.

Dear Brother,-Do give me some detail of your exercises, let me know whether you have overcome the workings of unbelief,-whether you never feel backwardness of duty, deadness, lifelessness, and formality, in the service of God. Whether you are no longer oppressed with blindness of mind, hardness of heart, wanderings of mind in public or secret prayer. For my own part, I find new enemies in addition to those with which I have been conflicting. I find the pride of my heart to be one of my most dangerous enemies; and it lately brought me into a snare, of which I was not aware. I was foolish enough to think I had become in a great degree insensible to the applause of the world. There was lately a most horrid murder committed near Union Town. The parents of the girl murdered are my neighbors, and they insisted on my undertaking the prosecution of the murderer. The murderer was defended by some of the ablest advocates in Pennsylvania. The prosecution rested on me alone. My father, who had business, was present. I never was placed, in the business of my profession, in a more trying situation. Instead of meeting with disgrace, as I very much feared, I received so many compliments, (notwithstanding the murderer was acquitted the evidence was only presumptive,) that the subtle poison stole into my soul. For a considerable time, I thought myself something, when I was nothing. And, to confess the truth, I still feel so much of the same principle, that I am almost tempted to erase the line which contains a relation of the incident.

'Extracts from other letters, written in the subsequent part of the life of the subject of the preceding memoir would be given, if want of room did not necessarily preclude them.

IT may be necessary to say, that the subsequent exhibition of the principles and measures of *Bishop Campbell, and the reasoning on them, is the work of the deceased author, so far as the "conclusion," which is added by the present writer. The notes in the "APPENDIX," are likewise from the pen of Dr. Jennings, excepting the two last ones. It will be seen, that the subjects discussed in the debate, were sufficiently written out during the life of the author. This, it is necessary to state, as an impression has been attempted to be made, (and it may again be attempted,) that I wrote out a debate, which I never heard. The subject of Mr. C.'s DISINTERESTEDNESS, which he introduced in the conclusion of his remarks, could be equally well examined by one acquainted with the facts, whether he was present or absent at the time of the discussion. In reviewing the manuscripts, previous to sending them to the press, I have made no alteration.

He considered the cause of truth, the welfare of men, and the good of Mr. Campbell himself required, that in the debate, and in the following pages, he should obey the apostolic direction in such cases, and "rebuke sharply," though he was called to do it unexpectedly, and against his natural inclination. And I am not conscious that in a single sentence in the volume, injustice is done to the individual who occasioned the discussion. The peculiar force of the author's manner of speaking, could not, of course, be conveyed to the pages of a book; but there is so much useful instruction, faithful exhibition, acute, but just severity, throughout, that the important objects which constrained him first to speak, and afterwards to write, will be in a good degree accomplished, and public expectation be realized.

The part which the present writer performs in issuing this book, is, in consequence of one of the last requests of his uncle; and for the cause of evangelical truth. If there are proceeds from the work, beyond what is necessary to defray the expenses of publication, they will all go to the immediate family of the deceased, who are entitled to some remuneration for the time and labor, he spent during the last months of his declining life, in writing that which is now printed. S. C. JENNINGS.

* This appellation, is given to Mr. Campbell in many places throughout the book, apparently for the sake of conveniency. The origin of its application to him by the public, was, I presume, the seeing the name, Bishop Campbell," announced in the public papers, when he intended to preach.

PART I.

OCCASION OF THE DISCUSSION—A STATEMENT OF THE VIEWS, EXHIBITED IN THE FIRST DISCUSSION, &c.

THAT the system of Mr. Alexander Campbell, of Bethany, Brook County, Virginia, is calculated and designed to exclude all true spirituality from the religion of the Bible, must be apparent to every impartial and intelligent inquirer for truth, who seriously examines it; that it is in fact a system of infidelity somewhat disguised, it is conceived, he himself has lately given, both in his writings and public harangues, the most decisive proof. This more plenary evidence of the true nature and design of his religious sentiments, was not, however, necessary to fasten upon the minds of a great majority of the pious community, the conviction, which has long been felt, that he is one of the most dangerous "false teachers" that has appeared in our country.

I had learned, since my removal to Tennessee, that in this South Western region, Mr. C. had, by some means, acquired a reputation, as well for learning as for a superiority of intellect, to which, it is believed, and now generally acknowledged, (at least in Nashville and its vicinity,) he was by no means justly entitled; which, nevertheless, was calculated to facilitate the propagation of his views, and the accomplishment of his purposes. When, therefore, it was publicly announced that he would visit and spend some time in Nashville, and the vicinity, in December last,* I was induced, as I trust were others also, to pray,

* These pages were written during the summer and autumn of 1831.

that when the enemy should come in as a of the Lord would lift up a standard agains and destructive errors. With regard to character or mode of the standard which, it Spirit of the Lord would lift up upon the a enemy, I can, with truth, say, I had form and consequently I entertained not the lea that, in the providence of God, I should be bearer. In short, I have never been, eithe or by habit, a theological disputant, nor ha tion, whatever, of encountering Mr. C. in a Though we had resided near each other, twenty years, we had not the slightest pers ance, nor had I, before his arrival in Nashvi one of his public harangues. When, the licly held forth in the Baptist church, on Friday, the 10th of December, as stated narrative, I was induced, with many oth On that occasion, he made a display of hi speaking much about musterion, the origin mystery, which is so frequently used in th ment. He was very liberal in denunciations sects of evangelical Christians, and describ ers of the gospel among them, as mere te ticism. In short, both the manner and the exhibition, seemed to be so calculated to e that I felt determined in my own mind, tha first time I had ever heard Mr. C., so also it last. Nor was my purpose altered by hi meeting, the next evening, to hear any thi be objected against the principles he had what he was pleased to call his introductor of lectures, which he intended to deliver this region. Accordingly, I went the next Lyceum, to hear a lecture on language. arrived there, but not until it was quite da formed, that one of our Methodist brethren evening to discuss with A. Campbell an im in theology. I thereupon felt so strong a d

the discussion, that I was induced to leave the Lyceum, and repair to the Baptist church. When I arrived, the meeting had been opened; and Mr. Campbell was on his feet, but just concluding an address, of which I barely heard sufficient to understand, that the way was then prepared to hear any objections that might be offered. I took a seat with no other intention than that of being a silent spectator, and hearer of whatever might be done and said whilst I remained in the church.

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I have been thus particular, in the foregoing statement of facts, in themselves unimportant, because it has been represented by some, and supposed or believed by many, that I went to the Baptist church on Saturday evening, the 11th of December, prepared for, and desiring to provoke a public debate with Mr. Campbell. And because he himself in his narrative, after stating the purpose of the meeting that evening, to be, to give a favorable opportunity for a familiar conversation to such as had any thing to inquire, object, or propose relative to the principles assumed in his introductory address," would seem to insinuate, that I abruptly broke in upon the established order of the meeting, by rising and speaking nearly an hour, &c. Whatever was the intended mode of proceeding at that meeting, I certainly did not understand it as designed for a familiar conversation; and that Mr. C. himself, did not so understand it, or, at least, that he did not thus conduct it, will be evident from what follows, and which, it is not supposed that any, even of his warmest friends or admirers, will venture to contradict.

When Mr. C. had thus prepared the way to hear objections, and taken his seat, a short interval of silence ensued, during which I observed Mr. C. to whisper something in the ear of his "brother, (and coadjutor,) J. Creath, who had accompanied him from Kentucky, who immediately rose, and made a suggestion, as coming from himself, although it must have been evident to all that part of the audience who had noticed what had previously taken place, that the suggestion was Mr. Campbell's, which was, that as no one appeared to offer any objec