e reformation from Popery, those who profess to admit
these doctrines, and others necessarily connected with them, and
forming a part of the same system, have been denominated Orthodox,
while to those who openly reject them, or any considerable part of
them, this appellation has been denied.

"It is not to be inferred, however, that the Orthodox have been,
or are, entirely _unanimous_ on the subject of religion. In
matters comparatively unessential, and in their modes of stating,
explaining, and establishing essential truths, there has always
been more or less a diversity. Thus persons may disagree as to the
form of church government, or as to the mode of administering
ordinances, and yet have an equal claim to be entitled Orthodox.
Or persons may disagree in their interpretation of particular
passages of Scripture, and as to the manner in which these bear on
the doctrines of religion, without forfeiting their title to the
some honorable appellation. For instance, one person may regard a
particular passage as proof conclusive of the divinity of Christ,
while another may be in doubt respecting it, or may apply it
differently, and yet both be firm believers in the divinity of
Christ. Many passages which the old writers quoted as proof-texts,
have, in the progress of critical science, been differently
interpreted; and yet the evidence in support of the Orthodox
system, so far from being weakened in this way, has been
constantly gaining strength.

"Again: persons may disagree, to a certain extent, at least, in
their statements and explanations of the most essential doctrines,
and yet be properly and equally Orthodox. In illustration of this
remark, several examples will be given.

"All Orthodox Christians believe in the full inspiration of the
sacred Scriptures; or that the holy men, through whose
instrumentality the world originally received these Scriptures,
spake and wrote 'as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' They
believe in this as a _fact_ of the utmost importance. But there
have been various modes of stating, explaining, and illustrating
this fact. Some, for instance, have spoken of two or three kinds
of inspiration; others have insisted that there can be but one
kind; while others have thought it better to state the subject in
general terms, without attempting very