holy fcriptures, by the church, by the tenets of the most learned and virtuous of the diffenters, and the greatest divines of this country, who have difplayed their abilities either by the prefs or the pulpit. I claim no merit, but that of endeavouring to refcue the true and moft momentous doctrine of the Gospel from the neglect and contempt in which it has been involved, during this century, by falfe policy and partiality, expreffing their rancorous hatred to fects, deemed, at various times, injurious to certain worldly interefts and temporary purposes of state. Christianity itself has been wounded by weapons, aimed only at men, whose political fentiments might perhaps be wrong, though their religious were, for the most part, ftrictly conformable to fcripture †, and beneficial to every community. I confefs myself, in this attempt, to be only the pupil of those GREAT MASTERS whofe opinions I have copiously cited, that they may be both an ornament and defence to my imperfect manual of CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY. Some of the greatest deceafed divines of the church of England, next to the fcriptures, are my chief authority. Happy am I to fit at the feet of fuch inftructors; men, whose learning and abilities were of the first magnitude, and whofe piety and goodness of heart "He who doubts it, quarrels not with our creed, but our "grammar; and instead of going to church to be inftructed better, "he ought to be fent to fchool." Bp. HICKMAN. The pure word of God neither is nor has been the fole criterion "of orthodoxy." Many who diflike the difcipline and communion of our church, firmly adhere to the articles of it. If fome appear to think the husk and fhell of more value than the kernel, is there not reafon to fuppofe that they are warped in their judgment of things by fome corrupt principle, fome narrow, worldly motive? seem seem to have vied, for excellence, with their vi gorous understandings, and accurate knowledge of fcriptural theology. It is honour enough to be merely inftrumental in republishing their falutary doctrines, and giving them the inconfiderable fanction of my public, though fingle vote. If they were now alive, they would be most anxiously diligent, in the present state of Christianity, in exciting the true fpirit of vital and experimental religion. Never was there more occafion for their zeal and activity than now; and it appears to me, that their mode of recommending Chriftianity was a right mode, because, among other reasons, it has the teft of experience in its favour. The fact is incontrovertible, that in their times it was greatly fuccefsful. The true spirit of Chriftianity, during their miniftry of the Gospel, mightily grew and prevailed. Infidelity was uncommon and infamous; and the mild, meek, placid temper of the Gospel was deemed, even in the highest ranks of society, not only conducive to happiness, but ornamental. Religious grace was valued above all graceful accomplishments. Men gloried in maintaining, openly and confiftently, the Chriftian character; and the force of truth, not weakened by false politics, made it even a fashion. I have laboured to revive the principles of those times; not without a hope, that they may have fimilar fuccefs in our day, if duly encouraged by high example. Men are doubtless, Now as well as ever, fufceptible of religious impreffions, if properly enforced on EVANGELICAL authority. The times, it is faid, are altered; but let it be remembered, that men make the times, and that men are very much modelled by books and all public inftruction. It is certainly unwife, in the present adverse circumftances of Christendom, to neglect or difcountenance any mode of effectually diffeminating and confirming the Christian faith, more especially a mode which like this has in paft times been found fuccefsful, and is authorized by fcripture. For myself, I must beg leave to fay, what is indeed fufficiently evident, that I have been in fearch of truth, not of favour or advantage. I have deemed religion lovely enough to be wedded without a dowry. I have had no finifter view, but have employed my hours of leifure in a way which I thought might be moft beneficial to my fellow-creatures and my country. If I am wrong in my doctrine; if my GREAT MASTERS have inftructed me erroneoufly, I am open to conviction, and fhall rejoice to be better informed. I will fay with the poet, addreffing the Father of Lights, "If I am right, thy GRACE impart, "Still in the right to stay; "If I am wrong, O teach my HEART In the mean time, I make this offering to my fellow-mortals, labouring, like myself, in pursuit of happiness, though, many of them, in a different mode; and I dedicate it, with fincere devotion, to TRUTH, PIETY, AND PEACE. APPENDIX. No. I. Curfory Remarks on one or two Objections in Mr. Paine's laft Pamphlet, against the Authenticity of the Gospel. IT T is much against my opinion of propriety to recommend to public notice the writings of infidels, by animadverting upon them; it is ftill more fo, to quote their cavils, though with an intent to refute them. What is this, indeed, but to contribute to the diffemination of their errors, while it gratifies their vanity? Mr. Gibbon avowed that FAME was his object; and it may be fufpected, that the greater part of fceptical or infidel writers are pleased with thofe answers and refutations, which, though they are meant to discountenance them, yet do, in fact, contribute, more than any thing elfe, to their publicity, notoriety, or, as they may conceive, to their GLORY. But with refpect to Mr. Paine, his notoriety is already fo great, as scarcely to admit of increase; and there is too much reafon to fear, that his infidel writings will attract general notice, at least among the lower claffes, without any aid from controverfial oppofition. I think, therefore, I fhall do no harm, if, unfortunately, I fhould do do no good, by making one or two remarks on his recent attack on Christianity. Mr. Paine is fuppofed, by his partisans, to have laid the axe to the root of revealed religion. His blows, indeed, are violent; but they mifs their aim. His weapon is blunted and repelled, by ftriking against a folid fubftance. Many fuch ftrokes have, at various times, been levelled at Christianity; but the hardy tree, rooted deeply in the hearts of men, and watered by the dews of Heaven, has vegetated with fresh vigour, and, after the operation of lopping, diffused its branches with additional luxuriance. In Mr. Paine's theological works there is, indeed, little NOVELty. His objections have been frequently confidered, and, for the most part, removed. They are, however, NEW to the young and the unlearned, who feldom poffefs time, books, or inclination, fufficient to qualify them as judges of their folidity. Mr. Paine's political opinions contribute much to recommend, among many, his theological; and thus party zeal is unfortunately excited in favour of religious scepticism or actual infidelity. From a variety of caufes, peculiar to the prefent times and circumftances, there is too much reafon to apprehend, that Mr. Paine's theological pamphlet is too favourably received; and that it will contribute to diffuse licentiousness, both of principles and practice. It is not from real novelty, or the peculiar ability of the author, but from temporary circumstances, that it will derive its malignant efficacy. I am not prefumptuous enough in my own powers, to fuppofe myself able to counteract it. But I have attempted it throughout this book, not doubting that fome of thofe many learned and ingenious divines, who, by their high situation in the church, enjoy |