
In this thoughtful collection, a 19th‑century pastor engages in a courteous yet rigorous exchange with a fellow clergyman who has publicly questioned the authenticity of Scripture. Through a series of letters, he outlines the foundations of divine revelation, addressing doubts raised by a contemporary skeptic and laying out reasoned arguments meant to reassure believers and challenge skeptics alike. The tone is scholarly yet accessible, reflecting the earnest spirit of early American religious discourse.
The volume also includes a supplementary correspondence with two Congregational ministers from Portsmouth, offering a broader view of how the debate unfolded among clergy of the period. Readers will hear the careful balance of faith and intellect as the participants strive to defend their convictions while maintaining fraternal respect. The work serves as a window into a pivotal moment when theological ideas were openly contested, providing both historical insight and timeless reflections on belief and reason.
Full title
A Series of Letters, in Defence of Divine Revelation In Reply to Rev. Abner Kneeland's Serious Inquiry into the Authenticity of the Same. To Which is Added, a Religious Correspondence, Between the Rev. Hosea Ballou, and the Rev. Dr. Joseph Buckminster and Rev. Joseph Walton, Pastors of Congregational Churches in Portsmouth, N. H.
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (597K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1771–1852
A leading early Universalist preacher in America, he became known for arguing that divine love was stronger than eternal punishment. His plainspoken sermons and widely read books helped shape a more hopeful strain of American Christianity.
View all books
by Sylvester Bliss

by C. A. (Charles Adolphus) Row

by Joseph Butler

by S. J. (Samuel John) Jerram

by Johann Gottlieb Fichte