DISCOURSES AND DISSERTATIONS ON THE SCRIPTURAL DOCTRINES OF ATONEMENT AND SACRIFICE: AND ON THE PRINCIPAL ARGUMENTS ADVANCED, AND THE MODE WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING SOME STRICTURES ON MR. BELSHAM'S ACCOUNT OF THE UNITARIAN SCHEME, IN HIS REVIEW OF MR. Wilberforce'S TREATISE: TOGETHER WITH REMARKS ON THE VERSION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT LATELY BY THE LATE MOST REVEREND WILLIAM MAGEE, D.D. ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN. THE FIFTH EDITION, WITH NUMEROUS AND IMPORTANT CORRECTIONS. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND; AND PREFATORY REMARKS. THERE is reason to believe, that if the life of the most reverend and learned author of this celebrated work on the Scriptural Doctrines of Atonement and Sacrifice had been prolonged, he would have made important additions to these volumes. But, if his lamented death prevented the public from receiving the benefit of those farther productions of his talents, it afforded a striking and impressive evidence of the deep sincerity of his conviction of the religious truth which he had laboured to establish in the minds and hearts of others. The late Archbishop of Dublin, the most Rev. Dr. William Magee, was distinguished, from early life, by brilliant talents and a penetrating judgment; by a quickness of perception very rarely equalled, perhaps never exceeded; and at the same time by an indefatigable patience and diligence of investigation. In the University of Dublin, 2067373 of which for many years he was the great and admired ornament, those endowments raised him to the highest rank in literary eminence. The charms of his lively, innocent, and instructive conversation rendered his society delightful: and the warm sincerity of his friendship was a subject even of proverbial as well as reverential remark. He was ever ready and zealous to support genius and merit. Often was the student in his solitary labours cheered and animated by the kind visit and encouraging conversation of Dr. Magee: often were his drooping spirits raised, his heart consoled, his hopes supported, and his course to useful eminence directed and confirmed, by him who was the most active protector of talents and merit in others, as he was himself the brightest example of both, which graced the University. Raised on account of his useful literary labours, his piety, and pre-eminent abilities, to the high station of Archbishop of Dublin, at a period of violent religious dissensions in his country, it was impossible that he should not be regarded by some zealous enemies of the Established Protestant Church with feelings tinctured by their hostility to that church of which he was looked to as a pillar. And his own zeal in support of what he was deeply convinced to be true and right was so ardent, that no consideration of his personal ease could induce him to remit or relax his conscientious and active exertions in his high calling. While, therefore, violent political opposition was blended with the strongest theological enmity in the breasts of many of his countrymen against the Protestant Established Church, it was not to be expected that such a character as Dr. Magee, in the prominent and exalted station of Archbishop of Dublin, should not be assailed with a portion of the hostility which was directed against the Protestant church in Ireland. But, in his sense of high duty, and in his trust in his Divine Master, whom he faithfully served, he found his support. Could the public eye have traced him to his domestic retirement, there it would have beheld him the engaging example of all the tender family affections. And it is not only consoling to his dearest relatives and friends, but edifying to the public, that the death of the author of the great work on the Atonement was that of a most devoted believer in the |