men, who write upon moral and divine Subjects in Latin, wou'd dili gently read and study these two ChriJian Writers, together with Tully's Philofophical Works; that they might gain to themselves a Style neatly expreffive, and fuitable to the Nature of their Subject...

Some learned Men, not duly con-> · fidering that every Subject has its peculiar Style and Method of Management, have jumbled together the Expreffions of Poets, Moralifts, Hiftorians and Orators, with fuch an odd and unnatural Confufion, that tho' most of the Words, and fome of the Phrafes and Modes of Speech have > been Roman, yet the whole Piece has been barbarous. So that by im-proper Expreffion and very faulty Language they have loft the Reputation, and the World the Benefit of good Learning. We have in our own Language a happy Variety of very excellent Books of Morality and ReliG6

gion

gion, which fhou'd be uppermoft in our Thoughts and nearest our Hearts; as, to name a few out of great numbers, Dr. Stanhope's Commentary on the Epiftles and Gospels, and his admir'd Verfion of the Imitation of Chrift, Dr. Goodman's Winter-Evening Conferences, and Parable of the Prodigal. I cannot but very earneftly recommend to my young Scholar the Whole Duty of Man, Mr. Nelfon on the Feafts and Fafts of the Church of England, Bishop Pearfon on the Apostles Creed, Mr. Trapp's Difcourfes against unfettled Notions and want of Principles in Religion,. and Dr. Biffe's Beauty of Holiness in the Common Prayer. The Whole Duty of Man will be of wonderful Ufe to form the young Scholar's Style, and fettle his Morals. The Method: and Divifions of that Book are clearand regular; the Arguments refiftless, and the Language fuperlatively pure and unaffected. 'Tis eafily underftood:

by

by the Ignorant, and extremely admir'd by the Learned.

In Mr. Nelfon's excellent Book there is a good Account of all the Ef fential Articles of Christianity, and the venerable Customs of the univerfal Church. He was accurately acquainted with the Writings and Livesof the Primitive Chriftians; and ex-prefs'd their heavenly Zeal and devout Spirit in his own. In this Book and the rest of his Writings, you will find the Reading of a judicious Scholar, the Piety of a ferious Chriftian; and the Politenefs of a fine Gentleman happily united. Bifhop Pearfon had a wonderful Genius and folid Judgment, with an immenfe Collection of Reading, and acquir'd Learning throughly digefted and happily apply'd. His plain and mafculine Style fully and adequately expreffes his noble Senfe, and keeps the true Medium betwixt Negligence and Affectation. His Explications and Proofs of the Articles

of

of our holy Faith are fo bright and ftrong, fo orthodox and compleat, that a judicious Reader will fcarce expect any farther Satisfaction in this State.

Mr. Trapp's divine Difcourfes are a glorious Confirmation of the moft" awful Points of Chriftianity, and a vigorous Confutation of the Cavils of the Men of Latitude and Free-thinking; the canting Terms by which they varnish over their Loofnefs of Notion, and Infidelity. This Gentleman has a peculiar Talent fairly and clearly to ftate his Cafe, and to bring his Argument to an Iffue in a few clean and choice Periods: His Judgment and Wit are so happily temper'd, that his most abstracted Reasonings are clear and plealant; and his Performances in the. gayeft and politeft Parts of Learning, are fubftantial and rational. As he has the feveral very valuable Qualifications. of an excellent Critic, Poet and Divine, in his Writings you will find: fure Prefervatives against unfettled,

Notions s

Notions both in Religion and Learning; and be inftructed in the fundamental Rules and Principles of regu lar Thinking, Writing and Living: Dr. Biffe's Book is a fhort, comprehenfive and beautiful Rationale on the Common Prayer which he admires with pious Zeal, and defends with convincing Argument. His found Reasoning and felect Reading. are enforc'd and adorn'd by a pure and. emphatical Style, by graceful Turns, and variety of elegant and proper Al lufions. I cannot but here repeat what I faid before, of the Advantage of reading the best Authors feveral times over. There must needs be pleasure and improvement in a Repetition of fuch Writers as have fresh Beauties in every Section, and new Wonders arifing in every new Page.

One fuperficial Reading exhausts the small Stores of a fuperficial Writer; but the genuine Ancients, and those who write with their Spirit, and

after