The Works of Leonard Woods (Volume 5) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1851. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... REPLY TO "INQUIRER."* The writer, whose questions and remarks I shall now consider, conceals his name, and calls himself " Inquirer. " He doubtless has sufficient reasons for writing anonymously. But what weight is there in the reasons which he suggests in his " Apology?" Hs thinks he may be allowed to conceal his name, because he does not come forward as a teacher, but as a learner. But why is it lees proper for one, who presents himself before the public as an " Inquirer " and learner, to make known his real name, than for one who presents himself as a teacher ? It is certainly very honorable for a man to " take the attitude of a learner; " especially if, in that modest attitude, he manifests high intellectual attainments, and gives his readers reason to think that he is able to teach as well as to learn. But I have no disposition to complain of " Inquirer," for not giving his name to the public. Nor will I evade the task of answering his inquiries because he writes anonymously. As the questions are important, I will seriously attend to them, without being anxious to know from whom they come. I am very willing to converse with persons behind the curtain, whose words I hear, but whose faces I have not the pleasure to see, on condition that they treat subjects with propriety, and show by their words, that they are worthy of respect, as the two anonymous writers do, with whom I am concerned in these discussions. After all, it must seem rather singular for me, in my own name, to be publicly discussing subjects with two writers, possessed of no ordinary powers of mind, but who conceal their names. I however make no objection. Still one in my case cannot be quite certain how the thing will end. If I should commit mistakes, or if I should be unsuccessful in ...