IN the Fall of 1902, at Central Manor Camp-meeting, Lancaster County, Pa., in the presence of a large audience, in which there were many ministers of the gospel, Dr. C. H. Forney preached a sermon entitled, "The Philosophic Basis of Ordinances." The arrangement was logical, the argument conclusive, and the delivery eloquent and convincing.

      I was deeply impressed that this masterly presentation of the important Bible doctrine of ordinances ought to be published so as to be preserved, and be available for study and for general distribution. Steps were at once taken to bring this about, and the result is before you.

      So carefully is every argument in this discussion carried out that to attempt to analyze it in an Introduction would be to take unnecessary space and steal from the reader the keen pleasure of personally following the author step by step to his unanswerable conclusions.

      This treatise is published with the belief that it will help many to give a reason for the hope that is within them. That it will help ministers of the gospel to more "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints" [Jude 1:3]. And it is sent forth with the hope that it will be as great an inspiration to those who read it as it has been to those who had the pleasure of hearing it delivered.

      I think this treatise on the Philosophic Basis of Ordinances is the strongest thing ever published on that line.

      After arrangements had been made to publish The Philosophic Basis of Ordinances, a petition signed by a number of ministers and laymen was presented by Rev. F. Y. Weidenhammer, requesting the publication of The Bible Doctrine of [3] Sanctification in the same volume. This petition was granted; therefore the book has two subjects. These two subjects are by the same author and are both of vital importance.

      This book will be made a part of the Theological Course of Findlay College and ought to be in every Eldership Course.

[PBO 3-4]