In this fituation it will, I prefume, become me to address your Grace rather under the form of preface than in the style of dedication. My flender pretenfions to your favour are grounded in the earnest endeavour of the following fheets fully and circumftantially to vindicate that faith which, I need not tell your Grace, is not barely attacked, but infulted every day. The Charity which is not eafily provoked muft refent the freedom, I had almost said the audacity which distinguishes the infidels of the present generation. Thefe Gentlemen affect to be the party aggrieved; and to confole themselves at the fame time with a hope, and fometimes a perfuafion of the speedy abolition of confeffions and systems, and, in confequence quence of it, the revival of evangelical doctrine in its native fimplicity. I cannot think opinions openly and arrogantly hoftile to the national eftablishment can be juftified even by their fincerity. But infidelity in general is without this excufe: it has been repeatedly fhewn to draw its principal resources from the vigilance of captiousness, the popularity of profession, the artifice of diffimulation, the confufion of things not really connected, and the occafional fuppreffion, or adulteration of truth. To thefe I am forry, for our own fakes, to add the inconfiftency between certain controverfial terms, and the imprudence, or unwariness of conceffion. Such refources as these are indeed inexhauftible. Mr. Bampton's wife and pious inftitution, and every other a 3 other of a fimilar nature, fuppofes as much. We contend with enemies, who, though with unequal forces, will always be able to take the field. However, my Lord, I flatter myself I have happily chofen more advantageous ground than many of my fellow-foldiers in this warfare; to whose names on other accounts I look up with deference and veneration. After all, the event must be left in the hands of Providence. I have only to beg the favour of the intelligent reader to peruse these difcourses and the annexed annotations, (which will be equally neceffary,) with an inclination to be fatisfied; and in that spirit of candor and impartiallity with which, I truft, he will find them to have been compofed. I requeft his attention throughout the performance, and reafonable allowances for the in accuracy accuracy, or inequality that may be discovered in it. I hope he will be biaffed, not by speciousness of principle, or habit of attachment, but by preponderance of argument. I fubmit it to his judgment, whether I have in any instance fhewn an undue warmth, or unwarrantable refentment; and defire him finally to determine, as he fhall upon the whole be perfuaded, not of the abilities of the advocate, but the merits of the cause. Open to conviction myself, I shall always be ready to rectify an error, or to renounce an opinion, on competent representation; but shall not pay the leaft regard to any cenfure or animadverfion, the features of which shall manifeftly betray it to be the offspring of prepoffeffion, chagrin, or malevolence. With a 4 |