TO THE MOST REVEREND WILLIAM MAGEE, D.D. ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN ; A PRELATE, WHOSE HAPPILY-DIRECTED LEARNING AND TALENTS CONFER AS MUCH HONOUR UPON HIS HIGH STATION IN THE CHURCH AS HE HIMSELF PERSONALLY DERIVES FROM IT, THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED AND DEDICATED, BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. THEOLOGY is a mine, which cannot be very easily exhausted. Directly or indirectly, it comprehends so much within its circle, that almost every other line of study may well be deemed subservient to it. Hence, even if two persons agree in their sentiments on any particular topic, they will always differ very greatly in their mode of treating and illustrating it: but, if they disagree in their very principles, their respective productions will then indeed be most widely dissimilar. In regard both to the Levitical Dispensation and to that form of serving God which preceded it, my own views are certainly very unlike those of Bishop Warburton, though no person is more disposed than myself to concede all due honour to that |