To the READER. Το CANDID READER, T HERE hath been, and now is, fa great a Number of beretical and falfe Teachers in the Christian Church, that it would prove a difficult Thing particularly to name them all. For this our National Church is but a fmall Part of the Catholick Church of Chrift; and yet berein are feveral Selts, at this Time teaching different Ways of WorShip; which like fo many Scabs and Wens upon the Body, continually affli&t and disturb it. In the last Century feveral ordinary Mechanicks took upon them to be Founders of new Sects; one of which pretended to Infpiration, as did George Fox, the Founder of The Quakers. In like Manner in the prefent Age, there is a Set among us called Methodifts; who make as great Pretenfions to the Spirit as the Quakers ever did; but by their Doctrines it plainly appears, to be no other than the Spirit of Infatuation that doth poffefs them. By their Cant and Delufions they draw away many Difciples after them, fome of which grow mad and delirious: For which Reason many grievous Complaints are made to the Minifters of the Etablished Church, against thefe Seducers, by Parents, Masters, and Relations. And fince none of my Brethren have thought it worth their while publickly to expofe their Errors, in fuch a Way as might convince a Country Congregation; therefore I thought it might not be A 2 amifs, TO THE READER. amifs, in the plainest Manner, to shew the Danger of imbibing their Doctrines, or attending their Alemblies, or fo much as converfing with them. For this End 1 have collected fome of their chief Doctrines, from the Hiftory of modern Enthufiafm, and have briefly refuted them. May God grant his Bleffing to my weak but fincere Endeavours; and may you ever efcape the Snares of fuch as lie in wait to deceive, is the hearty Wish of JUDE, VERSES 17, 18, 19, But Beloved, remember ye the Words which were Spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Chrift; how that they told you, there should be Mockers in the last Time, who would walk after their own ungodly Lufts. Thefe be they who feparate themselves, fenfual, not having the Spirit. T HE chief Aim and Defign of St. Jude in this Epiftle, is to fortify the Chriftian Jews against thofe falfe and erroneous Doctrines, which were broached by fome Heretics in the Church's Infancy; whereby many were feduced from the Truth and Purity of the Gospel. These Seducers are called Mockers, because they separated themselves from the Church's Communion without any juft Cause; pretending to greater Sanctity than others, and looking_upon plain well-meaning Christians as ignorant Dotards knowing Nothing. But they thought themselves wife, and pretended to Infpiration, Extafies, Vifions, and extraordinary Communications with God; yet were they full of Pride, addicted to Senfuality, and deftitute of the Holy Spirit. They were called Gnoftics, who fprung from the Nicolaitans, and other antient Heretics; from whom they borrowed all their filthy, lafcivious, and blafphemous Opinions. And as there was scarce any Thing fo falfe and abfurd, or fo contradictory to the revealed Will of God, but what fome of thefe Heretics maintained, fo there have |