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Many men are much diffatisfied in their minds, with doubts concerning the true nature of faith, and difficulties which arife concerning my prefence in the facrament. Thefe doubts are not always finful, nor always from themselves; but frequently owing to the temptations of the devil, and induftrioufly inftilled by him, with wicked artifice, and malicious defign. Be not therefore too anxious upon these occafions. Trouble not thy felf to argue nicely, nor employ thy thoughts upon the matter; nor hold thy felf concerned to be able to answer every objection, which he puts into thy head: But keep close to scripture, and do thy duty; and the enemy will foon retreat, when he finds thee neglect his attempts. Think not these inward distractions a fign that thou art forfaken of God. They are rather the contrary, and a mark of grace. God fuffers them to exercife thy patience, to try thy conftancy, and to promote thy fpiritual advantage. Wert thou a reprobate, thou would'ft not thus be affaulted; for fuch the devil is fure of already, and temptations are thrown away upon them. They are the faithful, the fincere, the devout chriftians, whom he disturbs and torments; for, in fo doing, he hopes to enlarge his dominion, and to feduce those who were not his before.

Proceed then in thy chriftian course with refolution and patience, and ftill frequent the facrament, with stedfast faith, and humble veneration. Whatever there thou findeft to exceed thy understanding, put it to God's account; and leave him to make it good, tho' thou can'ft not conceive, how it should be done. He will not deceive thee, but they, who

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Jely upon their own understandings, are fure to deceive themselves. Remember, God hath faid, that be walks and dwells with the humble, and fhews his ways to the meek; that he reveal'd himself to babes, that he opens the eyes of the honest and fincere ; but hides his grace and knowledge from the proud, and wife in his own conceit. Reafon (experience proves) may both deceive and be deceiv'd, for it is but human. But faith has God for its foundation, and cannot err; because it depends upon one who is truth it self, and confequently incapable of mistaking, or of impofing upon others.

"Tis therefore highly fit, and in matters of religion abfolutely neceffary, that these two principles fhould know their order, and refpective ftations; and each contain it felf within its proper limitation. Faith (which supposes a revelation received and acknowledg'd) challenges the highest place, and reafon ought to keep her distance, to ferve and follow after, not to fet bounds to, or affume, and encroach, and ufurp over, the other. For faith and charity are the two pillars, upon which christianity is fupported; the two governing principles of a good man's opinions and actions. And their authority and influence is, in no one inftance, more confiderable, than in this of the bleffed facrament. God is infinite and eternal, his power unbounded, and incomprehenfible. He does what foever pleafeth him in heaven and earth, and who can understand his counfel, or find out all his methods? If the works of God were fuch, as human reafon could penetrate with ease, they would lofe great part of their glory. We should foon abate of our awe and veneration for their author, if his dealings were not above the

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power of our tongues to exprefs, and the utmost extent of our imagination to conceive. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and confefs the wonders that he hath done for the children of men! Pfal. cvii. For great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Rev. xiv. How unfearchable are thy judgments, and thy ways paft finding out! Rom, xi.

THE END.

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To make this as compleat as the London Edition, it is thought proper to add Dr. Stanhope's Meditations and Prayers for Sick Perfons; for which Reason take the Preface to it as follows.

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HE Publisher of this Edition, being defirous to render this Book as generally ufeful as it was poffible; and confidering, that the two great Occafions of Extraordinary Devotion are the Seafon of receiving the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and that of Sickness; thought the Former reafonably well provided for, in the Fourth Book of the foregoing Tranflation. And I was more willing to provide for the Latter,in regard a great part of that which follows lay by me, fome time fince compofed at the Requeft of a Lady (now I hope with God) who defired my Afiftance in preparing fome Meditations, that might be proper for her then very weak and languishing Condition. The manner in which they were drawn, feemed not ill to fuit with the Temper of the Author, to which they are fixed. And the Defign of cafting them into this Form is to promote, in fome measure, thofe Reasonings with a man's own mind, which at all times indeed, but especially in fuch Circumftances, would prove of excellent Advantage, if frequent Ufe did but render them more familiar.

I am far from thinking, that these few Sheets have any thing in them of equal Perfection, with those many pious and well weighed Treatifes, written by Others upon this Subject. Much less would I have the Reader imagine, that either This, or Thofe, can fuperfede the Neceffity and Benefit of the Prayers of the Church, and the Advice of our Spiritual Phyficians. Thefe ought always to be confulted in the first Place, before Mat

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ters come to Extremity; and a confcientious Perfon, after all his own Care, will find Bufinefs enough for them. But the Exercifes of Piety prescribed in fuch Tracts will be good Helps, and fill up their Intervals very well, which the Languifkings of a Sick Bed many times allow, when it cannot be expected, that the ordinary Guides of our Souls fhould be ready with their Attendance. Whofe Directions in the Meafures of Mens Repentance, while under the afflicting Hand of God, and the proper Methods of expreffing their Thankfulness when deliver'd from it, as well as their prudent Comforts adminiftred to wounded and contrite Hearts, will notwithstanding be always feafonable and neceffary:

The devout Chriftian, who converses much with the Word of God, and the Offices of the Church, will find bimfelf able to make large Additions to the following Devotions. In which it was much more difficult to reftrain my Pen, than to expatiate a great deal farther. But I confidered the Condition of the Perfons they were intended for; and therefore contented myself with fuch Short Hints under each Head, as the Weakness of that would bear. If what I have offered here may tend to the promoting of Piety, and the fanctifying fuch Difpenfations of Providence to any one of my Chriftian Brethren, by kindling in them a holy Zeal, and inSpiring good Purpofes, I have my End. And this, with God's Bleffing I hope it will, and heartily pray that it may in fome Degree be capable of.

GEO. STANHOPE,

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