THE STRIPLING PREACHER, OR A SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER, WITH THE THEOLOGICAL REMAINS OF THE REV. ALEXANDER S. BYRNE, BY REV. JOHN CARROLL. WRITTEN AND COMPILED AT THE REQUEST OF THE CONFERENCE. "While he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of E Coronto: PUBLISHED BY ANSON GREEN, AT THE No. 9, WELLINgton Buildings, King STREET. 1852. INTRODUCTION. HISTORY in general, but especially personal history, or biography when written with propriety, abounding so much in incident, and furnishing so much variety to the mind, is an interesting sort of writing to most readers. And it must be as instructive as it is interesting. "History," it has been said, "is philosophy teaching by examples." Yet what are the "examples" in general history so instructive, but instances of individual biography with which it is interspersed, or, we might even say, of which it is composed? If, therefore, the instances of personal history, incidentally brought out, in works of a general character are so pleasing and profitable, may it not be reasonably inferred, that works written expressly to illustrate the principles and actions of individual men must be preeminently so? The experience and testimony of all confirm this. It is freely granted, that many productions of this kind, through defects in the subjects of which they treat, or in the execution of the works themselves, even where the intention is manifestly good, are futile, |