REVIEW OF THE TESTIMONY ISSUED BY THE ORTHODOX SECEDERS FROM THE MONTHLY MEETINGS OF AGAINST ELIAS HICKS. BY EVAN LEWIS. NEW-YORK: PRINTED BY A. MING, JR. BEEKMAN-STREET, PREFACE. The Testimony against Elias Hicks, opens a wide field, for examining the principles and doctrines, of the society of Friends. These doctrines and principles are said to be denied by him; and upon his supposed denial of them, is founded the proceedings against him as an individual; and the voluntary separation of his opposers from the society. Hence the question at issue between Friends, and those who have separated themselves from their communion, is to be decided, upon the truth or falsehood of the charges exhibited against Elias Hicks. It is a question which embraces, not his case alone, but that of the body to which he belongs. It is not so much a personal, as a general interest, involving, in its consequences, the religious character and standing of, probably, sixty thousand individuals in the United States, as well as unborn generations. Do these sixty thousand persons, entertain opinions at variance with some of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion? Or do the Friends of the present day, profess a religion, essentially different from that of their predecessors of the 17th century? These are the questions at issue, and these are the points to be decided, upon the merits of the document we have been reviewing. If this instrument is correct-if the charges and allegations it contains, are true, then we have not |