harrow will be sharp enough to break it in pieces. But above all things remember, that the only way to remove the ignorance, either of young or old, is to instruct them publicly and privately in the principles of the Gospel*. When wickedness is epidemical and in a manner triumphant, philosophical essays and empty lessons of morality without faith, will be of small force as preservatives against the contagion of vice and the machinations of the Devil. But the Gospel if delivered in its native truth and purity, will appear to be what it hath always been, the power of God unto salvation; and if the people hear it in the church, they will have no plausible pretence for wandering in search of it to other places.

Be not tempted then by any of the silly refinements of infidelity, to think that a condescension unworthy of a scholar which even in this world will never lessen your reputation with those whose good opinion ought to be valued, and will hereafter be accounted your greatest glory and honour, that you were not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. There is a day approaching, Sir, when it will be enquired not how we were thought of, or how we were spoken of, by the proud Arian or the heathenizing moralist; but whether we have added to the number of the righ

People are not to be harangued, but catechised into principles; and this is not the proper work of the pulpit, any more than "threshing can pass for sowing-It is want of catechising, which has "been the true cause of those numerous sects, schisms, and wild opinions, which have so disturbed the peace, and bid fair to destroy the religion of the nation. For the consciences of men have "been filled with wind and noise-So that amongst the most sera

phical illuminati, and the highest puritan perfectionists, you shall "find people, of fifty, threescore, and fourscore years old, not able to give that account of their faith, which you might have had " heretofore of a boy of nine or ten." South's Sermons, vol. v. p. 34.

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teous, and sought after that praise which cometh only from God.

4. Having now said as much upon this subject as I can expect you will attend to, and perhaps more than is necessary, I shall lay aside my pen for the present, with the expectation of employing it again in your service: for if this letter, in which I have a view only to your principles, should meet with your approbation, I may propose something at another opportunity for the advancement of your studies. In the mean time, I hope you will accept of what I have already offered, as a small pledge of that very sincere friendship and affection, with which I shall always remain,

Dear Sir,

Your obliged

And very obedient Servant.

PREFACE.

THE following Papers owed their Birth to an accident. The Author being at Church on TRINITY SUNDAY, 1792, heard a very able Divine of the Church of England, who is a celebrated Preacher, refer his Audience to the Natural Creation, for an Idea of the Doctrine of the Day: and he was thence led into a Train of Meditation which brought forth the first Paper, and so on to the fourth generation. They were printed separately, in order as they occurred, with design only to be handed from one Reader to another for experiment; till repeated applications determined the Author to send them about with less trouble to himself and his Friends under a public Advertisement from a Bookseller's shop.