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PREFACE.

T

HE following Sermons, as to the substance (for most of them are confiderably abridged) were preached to a public and numerous affembly. And, therefore, an accurate and logical difcuffion of the feveral fubjects, was not aimed at. They are rather popular difcourfes; in which, the Author, though he wished not to treat the politer part of his auditory with difrefpect, thought it likewife his duty, fo to adapt his manner to the occafion, as to be intelligible to perfons of weak capacities, and in the lower ranks of life. He conceives himself to be a debtor to

every

class of his hearers; and that he ought to endeavour to please all men, with a view to their edification; but, farther than this, not to be greatly affected, either by their approbation, or by their cenfure.

Many of the fubjects, are fo nearly coincident, that repetitions could not be always avoided,

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avoided, without the appearance of affectation. Befides, as it may be expected, that in a large congregation, there are always fome perfons prefent for the first time; with refpect to these, an obfervation may be new, though, perhaps, the more stated hearers, may recollect its having been mentioned before. For a fimilar reason, such repetitions are not improper, in print. Many perfons read part of a book, who may not have opportunity, or inclination, to read the whole. Should any one, by opening these sermons at a venture, meet with a paffage, which, by a divine bleffing, may either awaken a careless, or heal a wounded spirit, that paffage will be exactly in the right page, even though the purport of it fhould be expreffed in feveral other places. Farther, fince we do not always fo much stand in need of new information, as to have, what we already know, more effectually impreffed upon the mind; there are truths which can fcarcely be inculcated too often, at least, until the defign, for which they were mentioned once, be effectually answered. Thus, when the ftrokes of a hammer are often repeated, not one of them can be deemed fuperfluous; the laft, which drives the nail to the head,

being no less neceffary, than any of those which preceded it.

From thofe Readers, whofe habits of thinking on religious fubjects, are formed by a close attachment to particular fyftems of divinity, the Author requests a candid conftruction of what he advances, if he ventures, in fome inftances, to deviate a little from the more beaten track. If he is, fometimes, conftrained to differ from the judgment of wife and good men, who have deserved well of the church of God, he would do it with modefty. Far from depreciating their labours, he would be thankful for the benefit which he hopes he has received from them. It is a great fatisfaction to him, that in all doctrinal points of primary importance, his views are confirmed by the fuffrage of writers and ministers eminent for genuine piety, and found learning; who affifted him in his early enquiries after truth, and at whofe feet he is ftill willing to fit. Yet, remembering that he is authorized and commanded to call no man Mafter, fo as to yield an implicit and unqualified fubmiffion to human teachers; while he gladly borrows every help he can, from others, he ventures, likewife, to think for

himself. His leading fentiments concerning the grand peculiarities of the gospel, were formed many years fince, when he was in a state of almost entire feclufion from fociety; when he had scarcely any religious book, but the Bible, within his reach; and had no knowledge, either of the various names, parties, and opinions, by which, Christians were distinguished and divided, or of the controverfies which fubfifted among them. He is not conscious, that any very material difference has taken place in his fentiments, fince he first became acquainted with the religious world; but, after a long course of experience and observation, he seems to possess them in a different manner. The difficulties, which, for a season, perplexed him, on fome points, are either removed, or confiderably abated, On the other hand, he now perceives difficulties, that constrain him to lay his hand upon his mouth, in fubjects, which, once appeared to him obvious and plain. Thus, if he mistakes not himself, he is lefs troubled with fcepticism, and at the fame time, less difpofed to be dogmatical, than he formerly was. He feels himself unable to draw the line, with precision, between those essential

points,

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