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between Things Natural and Divine, added to profound Skill in the original Language of the Old Teftament, pouring Light on the Mysteries of the New: A third Sort urging evangelical Doctrines in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power, to the Conviction and Converfion of their Readers and Hearers: And lastly, fome enabled by long Experience in fpiritual things to help the Chriftian on his way thro' the fecret myfterious Paths of that Life which is hid with Chrift in God. The chief of thefe both in Number and Strength we challenge for our own Members of the fame Communion - Sons of the Church of England, and an Honour to our Church: For are they not faithful Soldiers of Christ, mighty thro' God to fight the Lord's Battles, and fuch as both defend and adorn it by their Faith, by their Doctrine, and by their Lives? But what kind of Reception and Encouragement have many of them met with from us? Have we given them the Right Hand of Fellowship, and the Honour due to Champions for the Truth, and Men of Renown? or have we not given them Cause to complain that they have been wounded in the Houfe of their Friends? Have not opprobrious Names and Distinc

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tions been faftened on them to make them país for Sectarifts and Schifmaticks? Has not every Door to Favour and Advancement been shut against them, and, whilst Church Preferments are daily fold to the highest Bidder like Fishes in a common Market, have we not feen fome of them ftarving in little Schools, Curacies, and Lectureships, or depending on occafional Benefactions for their Subfiftence? And have we not feen of these able Minifters, not of the Letter only but of the Spirit alfo, fupplicating Votes to be received for their Paftors by those who, had they known their true Intereft, would first have fought this Honour and Bleffing of them; and have we not seen them fupplicate in vain, whilst others have been preferred before them? These things ought not to be faid, if these things were not fo: But it is not the Defign of this Preface to be particular. O when shall we learn to distinguish better! When shall we rightly know the Things that belong unto our Peace!

What Caufe fhall we affign for that Op pofition to Gospel Truths that appears a mongst us, and for that Diflike to thofe who urge the Neceffity of Regeneration

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and of the Spiritual Life? The true Reason is nigh at hand, tho' others are pretended: Such Doctrines are contrary to the Maxims and Principles that govern the Hearts and Conduct of the Children of this Generation, are at Variance with the falfe Interefts of Flesh and Blood, declare open War against the Kingdom of Self, and ftrike at every thing that is most near and dear to corrupt Nature; and therefore carnal Men of every Denomination think themselves concerned in Character to oppofe and difcredit fuch a Representation of Chriftianity. They can be zealous for Opinions, Forms, and an external Worship of any kind, because these leave them in quiet Poffeffion of their Ambition, their Covetoufnefs, their Love of themselves, and their Love of the World: They can readily take up a Profeffion of Faith in a fuffering Saviour, nay bring themselves to trust in an outward Covering of his Merits and Righteoufnefs for Salvation, because this cofts them nothing; but to be cloathed with his Spirit of Humility, Poverty and Self-denial; to renounce their own Wills in his Lowlinefs, Meekness, and total Refignation to the Will of God, to mortify the fleshly Appetites; to be crucifi

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ed to the World; to ftrip themselves of all Complacency and Satisfaction in those Endowments, whether natural or acquired, which appear great and glorious in the Eyes both of themselves and others; and, in a word, to take up their Crofs, and nakedly follow a naked Chrift in the Regeneration:

These are hard Sayings, they cannot bear them: But Wisdom is justified of her Children: unacceptable as these Doctrines are to others, yet to them, and in them too, they are the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God. It was by fuch Foolishnefs of Preaching that Chrift's Kingdom first prevailed over the Kingdoms of this World, and it must be by the fame Doctrine, under the Influence of the fame Spirit, that we can only hope for its Continuance to the End of it. Evangelical Preaching is the most proper Means of producing Evangelical Fruit, fuch as a living Faith in Jefus Chrift, Heavenly-mindednefs, and Holinefs in the inward Parts; and unless the great Gospel Doctrine of Regeneration be mainly infifted on, the People in general will be fo far from feeking a new Nature, that they will not know that they want it: But thefe Truths affectionately urged en

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lighten the Understanding, convince the Sinner, warm the Heart, and thro' Grace are powerful to convert and change it: And accordingly we find, that where this great Mystery of Godlinefs, God manifeft in the Flesh and' revealed in the Heart by his Spirit, is preached with Energy, and from an inward Experience of its Power, the Word prevails mightily, and is receiv ed into every fitly prepared Heart, not as the Word of Man, but, as it is in truth, the Word of God, who ftill bears Teftimony to the Lord of his Grace with Power from on High.

That the Doctrine of Regeneration, or a new Spiritual Birth of a Divine Nature in the Soul, together with other Matters of inward Religion, as well as they that preach them, have of late Years fallen under the Difgrace and Reproach of Enthufiafm with many will not be denied: But that this Charge is nothing new, or contrary to what might be expected, the pious Mr. Burkitt declares, in his Note on that Paffage in St. Mark where fome are faid to have gone out to lay Hands on our Lord, faying that He was befides himself, "Learn hence (fays Mr. Burkitt) that the forward

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