PREFACE.

Hope I shall have no occafion to make any Apology for publishing a Difcourfe of this Na

ture. To represent the Beauties and Excellencies of the Beft conftitu ted Church in the World, under the moft aufpicions Reign of the Best of Kings, and the Best of Queens, (whofe Exemplary Lives daily confirm, by repeated Inftances, Their Majefties Adoration of her Charms, and their Incouragement to her Support) can difplease none but those who are Enemies to A 4

our

our Happy Eftablishment, or thofe, who profefs no Religion at all.

I must confefs, that it was always a standing Principle with me, to have a confcientious Regard for thofe, who differ from the Communion of the Church of England, purely out of Principle and want of Conviction, and not upon any private Views of fecular Interest, or temporal Confideration, or any innate Malice they may bave conceived against it. For there is no dealing with these kind of Men with Argument. Paffion, Prejudice, Self-Intereft; nay, even Fancy, Humour, and a Refolution not to be convinc'd, run away with their Fudgment, fo that they will not be perfwa.

ded

ded to recant an Error, though filenc'd with Reafon.

The Author, when he wrote this Difcourfe, had another Intendment in the Publication of it; which was not only to fettle and confirm the Orthodox Church of England-Man, in a steady Adberence to our Excellent Liturgy, and our pure primitive Way of Worship; but also by the most gentle and perfuafive Motives, to prevail upon, if poffible, the Cool, the Thinking, the Moderate, the Ingenuous, the Christian Diffenter, to make the following Reflec tions with himself; as, Whether bis Belief that fuch a Way of Worship is the right Way to Heaven, barely because he has thought

it

it to be fo, through the Prejudices of Education for fo many Tears, be a fure Foundation to build upon; and unless be pretends to Infallibility, whether he may not be miftaken in fome one or more Points; and if fo, whether he can with fafety continue in them? And if be find himself in an Error in thefe Inquiries, whether or not, fome more fafe and more fatisfactory Way may not be found out, to direct him in his Progrefs to Heaven?

After which, I would earnest ly advife him to lay afide all Partiality, to confider the Nature and Danger of Schifm, and the Neceffity of a better Choice, and calmly, and cooly proceed upon the Arguments offer'd in the following Sheets, pray

ing fervently to the Most High God, for his continual Aids and Blessing, in determining him aright.

This, as far as I could ever obServe, is the most unbyafs'd, and moft Christian Way of Conviction, fuch as takes hold of the very Hearts and Confciences of Men; whereas a furious Temper, Invectives, and Railery, ferve only to inflame their Paffions, to widen the Controverfy, and to fet the contending Parties at a greater Distance.

As I always had a strong Averfion to this Way of bringing over others to my Opinions, fo I have endeavour'd, both in my Practical Difcourfes, and in the following Treatife, carefully to avoid it.

I am

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