GLEANINGS

OF

RELIGION,

OR

A COMPILATION CONTAINING THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MANA TRUE

ACCOUNT OF THE DIFFERENT SECTS IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD;

TOGETHER WITH MUCH USEFUL AND INSTRUCTIVE IN-

FORMATION ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

BY BURTON W. CARR.

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

PRINTED BY JOSEPH G. NORWOOD.

1829.

BE it remembered, that on this twenty-third day of October, in the [ L. S. ] year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, and in the fifty-fourth year of the Independence of the United States, BURTON W. CARR, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author and proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"Gleanings of Religion, or a Compilation containing the Natural History of Man-A true account of the differerent Sects in the religious world; together with much useful and instructive information on various subjects. By Burton W. Carr."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned." And also the act entitled "An act supplementary to the act entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

JOHN H. HANNA, Clerk of the District of Kentucky.

WOR 20JUN 34

PREFACE.

may

be

IN presenting the public with this work, it proper to give them my reasons for its publication, and also the object which it is designed to effect. And as I do not approve of long prefaces, I shall be as brief as possible. As to my peculiar views and tenets, I deem it proper to state that I am attached to no particular sect or denomination of Christians, but have been, for a number of years, seeking TRUTH among all the wrangling schools of Christianity. My aim is to recommend nothing but pure truth flowing from the sacred fountain of the Scriptures. It is not my intention to recommend one denomination, and cast odium on another, but I have endeavoured, as far as my means of information would admit, to give a fair and impartial account of the doctrine and practice, of all of the most noted religious sects which have made their appearance, at different periods, since the Christian æra.

Of all subjects, to which an author may devote his tinue and talents, I consider RELIGION to be the most important, and one which requires the greatest degree of circumspection. If he gives an unfaithful account, or withholds the truth, his labours, instead of being a benefit, are, in reality, a curse to mankind. It has been my intention in the progress of this work to be faithful to the truth; and, so far as one devoid of all sectarian prejudices and affections can succeed,