which he has treated the great authorities from whom he differs, he can neither have inflamed hatred, nor irritated refentment, he can neither have added fuel to oppofition, nor even strength to prejudice. For, though he has never permitted any authority to outweigh argument, he has always bestowed upon the writers, the praise to which they are justly entitled; and never made, as is no uncommon practice, their defect in a particular argument, the criterion of their general ability.

It will be expected, perhaps, that some reason fhould be affigned for the FORM, under which, the following performance

performance is given to the public. That it was firft delivered in LECTURES, depended in fome measure, upon private and local circumftances, with which, the public at large have no concern. Juftice, however, compels the author to obferve, it was from the unanimous and unexpected bounty of the CORPORATION of this Burgh, foon after his refidence amongst them, as Minifter of the Parish, that he thought himfelf bound in duty, to make an addition to the ordinary fervice of the Church, during fome of the fummer months, by an Evening Lecture.*

* Whatever might be the effect of fuch an acknowledgement, in a town, fo violently agitated by

In the years, 1783 and 1784, he gave, therefore, fome occafional Lectures upon Baptifm, Confirmation,+ &c. &c. But, in the year 1785, he formed a refolution, of beginning a regular courfe of Lectures on the

New

the conflicts of party, as it is too well known, and too much to be lamented, ---this is ;---the author would never facrifice his gratitude to any personal confideration. But, much as he fincerely laments, and much as he wishes, though most ineffectually, to heal thefe divifions, he muft either be infenfible of his happiness, or guilty of injuftice, not to confels, that the general behaviour of the individuals of BOTH PARTIES to him, entitles them to his unfeigned regard and esteem.

+ One of which was afterwards published, intitled, AN ADDRESS AFTER CONFIRMATION.

New Teftament; and all which he delivered in every fummer, he then intended to have published in the following winter. The latter part of the plan, however, he foon found, was the reverie of one, who had not taken into confideration all the duty, required of the Minifter of a place, in which, an extremely populous Burgh, forms only ONE parish; and who had likewife, made no allowance for any inroads on his time, from the vexations and difquietudes of human life. Content, therefore, with carrying the former part of the plan into execution; when he had once delivered the Lectures, he put them to other manufcripts,

(many

(many of which have lain up almoft three times "the ninth year," ) without forming any determination, whether he fhould himself produce them to public view, or defer the publication of them 'till that time, when the author, awaiting only the awful and final fentence of a "faith"ful," or a "flothful fervant," must certainly be equally indifferent to human cenfure, and human praise.

But, the perufal of Mr. Blany's Sermon, upon the famous prophecy of Ifaiah, at once determined him to felect, to revife, and to publifh the two following Lectures.For, finding fo learned a writer, in