bation. Socrates used to say, that the statuary found his figure in the block of marble, and striking off with his chissel the superfluous parts, the form presented itself gradually to view! In imitation of the sculptor, have I here endeavoured to divest the several denominations of the extraneous matter which had been attached to them, either through ignorance or malignity; thus holding them up to the eye of my reader in their just and regular proportions! Mine, therefore, has been an humble, though laborious province; but the concurrence expressed -by the wise and good, even from among the most opposite sects, has proved my reward. To use the words of Gilbert West, a worthy member of the church of England, "Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God-an appellation, infinitely more honourable than that of pastor, bishop, archbishop, patriarch, cardinal, or pope; and attended with a recompence infinitely surpassing the richest revenues of the highest ecclesiastical dignity." Cyprian, likewise a pious father of the church, ranks a contentious Christian among the twelve absurdities to which the life of man is exposed. Indeed, Sir, the flattering reception of this little work, by DENOMINATIONS of every description, cannot fail of affording me satisfaction. This circumstance, in conjunction with the extent of its circulation, has raised pleasing sensations in my breast. For it inclines me to hope, that the execrable spirit of bigotry is abating among all parties, and that the professors of Jesus are becoming more intent on the great essentials of Christianity. The pro bationary condition in which we are placed, powerfully inculcates such a conduct. It was a saying of the pious Richard Baxter, recorded by himself in the History of his Own Times→→→ While we wrangle here in the dark, we are dying and passing to that world which will decide all our controversies; and the safest passage thither is by peaceable holiness. "Hence jarring sectaries may learn Their real interest to discern, "That brother should not war with brother, Shunning division here below, "That each in charity may grow, "Till joined in Christian fellowship and love, "The church on earth shall meet the church above!" COWPER. Soon after the first appearance of the Sketch, leisure, Sir, was found, to lay before the public the SEQUEL, being the second and concluding part of this work*. There it is largely shewn, both in a preliminary Essay, and in the numerous Extracts, that MODERATION is the genuine offspring of Christianity. To avoid the imputation of partiality, the authorities, amounting in number to one hundred, are taken from divines of the Church of England, of the Kirk of Scotland, and from among the Protestant Dissenters. The drawing up of this latter work, was with me a favourite object, and no small pains were bestowed upon it. The Sketch and Sequel *The third edition of the Sequel has appeared, with considerable augmentations and improvements. The number of testimonies are now one hundred! It is also embellished with the heads of Tillotson, Clarke, Jortin, Watts, Doddridge, Chándler, Robertson, and Blair; and enriched, at the conclusion, by certain poetical pieces, illustrative of the spirit and genius of Christianity. complete my design on the subject. May the effort be attended with a divine blessing! I am, however, aware, Sir, that for the same reason that the passionate charge the mild and unassuming with a want of spirit, zealots are reproaching the advocates of moderation with a propensity to indifference. But this is an iniquitous charge, since it is known, that liberal characters have been distinguished for their zeal, in support of what appeared to them to be the interests of truth. That the candid have fallen into lukewarmness, and that the zealous have been betrayed into persecution, cannot be denied; but surely no man in his senses will, on that account, seriously maintain, that candour and indifference, seal and persecution, are inseparably connected. Against a spirit of indifference, I here solemnly protest; nor indeed will any person accuse me of such an intention, who has attentively read my Address to the General Baptists on the Revival of Religion amongst them. While with our blessed Saviour, Christians are exhorted to love one another; so on the b other hand with the apostle Paul, are they lo called upon to contend earnestly (but not intemperately) for the faith once delivered to the saints. Dr. Prideaux (a learned clergyman of the church of England), in his Life of Mahomet, speaking of the dissensions of the sixth century, remarks" Christians having drawn the abstrusest niceties into controversy, did thereby so destroy peace, love, and charity among themselves, that they lost the whole substance of religion, and in a manner drove Christianity quite out of the world; so that the Saracens, taking advantage of the weakness of power and distractions of councils, which those divisions had caused, soon over-ran, with terrible devastation, all the eastern provinces of the Roman empire; turned every where their churches into mosques, and forced on them the abominable imposture of Mahometanism." From this lamentable fact, Sir, Christians ought to learn an instructive lesson. In an age like the present, when Atheists and Deists are, both in this country and upon the |