PREFACE. THE mode of illustration adopted in these Lectures, although it has not been wholly disregarded, has nevertheless been but partially pursued, by those, who have gone before upon the same subject, Much has been written, and satisfactorily written, to prove, that the Predestinarian system of Calvin is totally inconsistent with the doctrine of our Articles; that it is equally irreconcileable with our Liturgy and Homilies; and that the private sentiments of our Reformers were likewise inimical to it. But complete in all points as such evidence may appear, (the force of which its opponents have been unable to invalidate,) the Author still conceived, that an elucidation of another kind was wanting; that the weight of testimony might be augmented by an attempt to trace the Articles, usually b vi controverted on the occasion, up to their genuine sources, to compare them with the peculiar opinions of their own times, and thus to determine their meaning with more certainty, by ascertaining the precise objects, which their compilers had in view. This attempt he has made in the Bampton Lectures of the year. As, however, in compositions of their nature a minute detail of particulars was not practicable, and yet as he felt himself both in. reason and in duty bound to fulfil the intentions of the Founder, by printing professedly as Lectures) only that, which in point of quantity and form, as well as substance, was actually delivered from the pulpit, he has been under the necessity of adding notes; and of adding them to a considerable extent, because his argument principally rested upon authorities, derived from productions not generally read, nor every where attainable. EXTRACT FROM THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE LATE REV. JOHN BAMPTON, CANON OF SALISBURY. “I give ̈and bequeath my Lands and "Estates to the Chancellor, Masters, and Scho"lars of the University of Oxford for ever, to “have and to hold all and singular the said 66 Lands or Estates upon trust, and to the in“tents and purposes hereinafter mentioned; "that is to say, I will and appoint that the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford "for the time being shall take and receive all the rents, issues, and profits thereof, and 66 (after all taxes, reparations, and necessary "deductions made) that he pay all the re"mainder to the endowment of eight Divinity "Lecture Sermons, to be established for ever "in the said University, and to be performed "in the manner following: "I direct and appoint, that, upon the first "Tuesday in Easter Term, a Lecturer be yearly |