Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-11-05
Autauga County, September, 1881.
At the request of Layman we publish the fol- lowing article:

At the request of a Layman we publish the fol- lowing article:
 AMERICAN TRACT socIErY-rRAcr NO. 214
 The strictures of Nayland this tract, Tn some of the late numbers of the Gospel Messenger, led the writer of this article to examine for himself that part of the tract to which reference had been made. The first view excited suspicion that there had been want of fidelity, if not of moral honesty in preparing the twentysixh page of that tract. The writer fit, by placing Simpsons Plea" at the end of his ex- tracts, would leave his readers to conclude, that he had been using the language of clcrgymen of the church of Engand for il Is not known that there is any work designated by that title, except "a Plea for the Deity of Jesus Christ, by the Rev David Simp- son, A. M., late of St Johns Collage, Cambridge Minister of Christ Church, Macclesield," &c A comparison of the historical notices which this author gives of the fathers, with the notices exhibited in
 tract No. 2l4, as the language of this author, will show how far the suspicion of dlsngenuousness and dishonesty is supported by facts
 Smbsons Pea according to Spsons Plea, according to the London editOn erlsl2. Tract No. 2l4. sIgnatius disciple off "Ignatius disciple of John-was appointed Bishop John, and of the church of Antioch by PsuI-was a Antioch and honored with proved of by Peterand had maryrom the year of the honor of dying martyr in Lord lo7." Page 26 the year of our Lord lo7'- Page 4o7. ...,.r |. I'll. John, and by him made bishop disciple of John born A. D. of Smyrna, A. D. 82. He was82, and called a martyrs burnt alive the Tooth at the advanced age of of his age and in the year Of 1oo hnshed, Sc. 26 our Lord l66." p. 472.
 "Justin Martyr of the Justin Martyr-bom A. D. eminent christians and 1o3 and behcaded Rome scholars in this period He 167 has the following was born A. D. lo3, and be- tence." 26. headed at Rome A. D. l67.''
 D. 488.
 Theopilus being a studi- "Theorhilus was ordained Ous pastor the Church convinced about the middle of the tianity, and made Bishop second century," D. 26. of Antioch about the year of
 our Lord 468. p. 4o3.
 Iren@us, the disciple of Irenaus suffered martyr Poyeap, made Bishop of dom under Severus A. D. POP Lyons in France, D. 17s, dscibe of Poycarp- and beheaded by Severus, disciple of John, and says D. 202." p. 4o5 SSc. D. 26.
 "I have given the testimony
 Of this learned Bishop andl
 marty prsty much ut large hl
 P. 502.
 About the close of the "Cemens Aexandrinus the cond century, the begin friend of IreDaus, says, Re- ming of the third, ourishedl1his father ourshed about Clemens Axandrinus, thethe close Of the second cenu friend of Ireneus scholar oflry." p. 26. Pananus, and tusor of the fla
 nous 0rigen." P. 5o2.
 Here are notices of six of the fathers-four ofhem were bishops of extensive Churches, and have re- ceved their appropriate tes from all writers, an- cieni and modern, who have any claims to fidelity as authors. All history declares what Simpson does- that Ignatus was appointed bishop of Antoich. But tract No. 2l4. makes this writer of the Episcopal Church say. that Ignatius was pastor of the Church at Antioch. Simpson says, that Poycarp was made bishop of Smyrna, A. D. 82. The writer of tract Mo- 214, omits this fact, and chooses to make this clergyman say he was born A. D. S2.
 The whole christian world, as well as Simpson, has said, that Theophilus was made bishop of An