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Mrs. Wright, of Welford.
John Wright, Efq. Piccadilly.
Mr. Wrighton, of Daventry.

Mifs Wynter, Bath.

N. B. Several of the Subscribers Names came

too late to be inferted.

The Reader is defired to attend to the following Errata, more particularly to that in page xciii of the Preface, Line 20.

ERRAT A.

In the PREFACE.

Pag. xvii. last Line but four, after of, for then read than without a Comma between.

xlv. Line 13, for Lord read Word.

lv. laft Line but three for Boyle read Bayle.

Ixiv. Line 21, after more add than.

lxvii. Line 6, after corrupt Nature add to mislead us. lxxiv. Line 21, for where read whose.

xciii. Line 20, for run read Ascribe it.

In the SERMON S.

Page 47. Line 21, for Sons and Daughters read Creatures. 119. Line 18, after wash add away.

Ibid Line 21, after it dele to.

158. laft Line but two, for read we.

you

224. Line 1, for as fashionable read and fashionable.
251. Line 19, dele the former in.

272. Line 16, for to read so.

PRE

PREFACE.

T

HE main Defign of the Sacred Writings is to bring us acquainted with our left State, under the Corruption and Apoftacy of the Human Nature, by the Fall, and with our Redemption by Jefus Chrift. The Rules and Precepts laid down both in the Law and the Gospel were given primarily to restrain us from Sin, which, as it was the Occafion of our Ruin, fo, if continued in, will be the certain Hindrance of our Recovery: And the Doctrines therein contained, inftruct us in the Nature of that Grace which bringeth Salvation, and teach us to turn to it as our only Help and Remedy: Thus in refraining from Evil, and being fubject to Grace, we are in the way of practical and acceptable Obedience to all God's Commands. To deny that Man is by Nature wretched and finful argues extreme Ignorance of Perverfenefs, and to affirm that he

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came fuch out of the Hands of his Creator is to contradict the Teftimony of the Scriptures, and to charge God both foolishly and impiously: To deny therefore Qriginal Sin, in the Senfe of our Church, is the most complicated of Herefies, as it makes void the Covenant of Grace, and faps the Foundation of revealed Religion, Every one carries in his own Bosom a Witnefs to the Truth of this Doctrine, as every one finds in himself, in a greater or lefs degree, a want of due Love both to God and his Neighbour. ad restin

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The Gofpel of Chrift is a Difpenfation of Peace, graciously calculated to reconcile us both to God and one another, but how it has failed in general of these blessed Effects, through the prevailing Power of Corruption and Sin, let the Annals of Church History testify, which inform us how often Chriftendom has been turned into a Field of Blood, and represent the horrid Barbarities of Chrif tians, fo called, towards their Brethren, as equalling, and in fome Inftances exceeding the tyrannous Hatred of perfecuting Hea thens: And therefore all thofe Prophecies which fortel the peaceable happy State of Christ's Church on Earth fuffer Violence

when

when expounded as already fulfilled: The outward Establishment of Christianity has in

no fufficient Senfe yet answered the glorious Description, and confequently they must refer to fome future joyful Time when Men fhall not only live fafe under the Profeffion, but alfo in the Temper and Spirit of the Gospel. Then, and not till then, shall Nation cease to lift up Sword against Nation, and they that are called by the Holy Name, depart from Iniquity and love as Brethren.

The bloody Sword of Perfecution hath indeed for fome time flept in its Scabbard, but the Spirit of it neither flumbereth nor fleepeth: The Animofities that prevail among the feveral divided Parties of Chrif tians in the World are an indubitable Proof of this; nor can we hefitate to pronounce that they have War in their Hearts, whilst they sharpen their Tongues like a Serpent, and fhoot out their Arrows, even bitter Words. If we go to and fro among the outward Churches of Christendom, and fix our Attention on the wrangling Difputes, of the Learned, and the bigotted Zeal of the ignorant Multitude, inftead of faying, lo here is Chrift, or lo, there! we shall be tempted to fay, that He is neither here

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