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THE

PREFACE.

THE

HE Author of the following Difcourfes was born in the City of Canterbury, and educated in the Grammar School there, founded by King Henry the 8th Being thoroughly inftructed in the Learned Languages, and fuch other Parts of Literature as are ufually taught in those publick Seminaries to the best Advantage; He removed to

that

that Celebrated Houfe of Learning Chrift-Church in the Univerfity of Oxford. His eldeft * Brother was at that Time an eminent Tutor there; under whofe Care he was admitted a Commoner in the Year 1707. As his Natural Endowments were good, and his Industry very great, He foon made a confiderable Improvement in the whole Circle of Human Learning. Having taken two De-: grees in Arts, and being ordained a Deacon A. D. 1714, he returned to his Native City; where, his ill Health not per

mitting

*The Rev. Thomas Terry. afterwards D. D. Canon of Christ Church, and King's Profeffor of Greek in the University of Oxford.

mitting him to engage in any Parochial Cure, he pafs'd the nine following Years in great Retirement. But during that Interval his Time was moft usefully employ'd in fuch Studies as are requifite to form the Character of a Compleat Divine; I mean the Holy Scriptures, and the Writings of the Primitive Fathers, with which he was much converfant; as indeed he could read them in their Original Languages with equal Eafe and Pleasure. In the Year 1723 he was ordain'd Prieft, and officiated at Chartham near Canterbury the remainder of that and the two following Years.

In

In the Year 1729 he was, without any Application of his own, presented to the Rectory of IronActon in the Diocese of Gloucefter; but this he quitted in the end of the Year 1735, upon being collated to the United Livings of St. Mary Bredman and St. Andrew in the City of Canterbury. After a long and gradual Decay of Nature, he departed this Life Dec. 9th. 1744, in the 55th Year of his Age. He was a Perfon of unaffected Piety, great Probity and ftrict Virtue. It is well known to all who remember him with what Fidelity he difcharg'd the Duties of the Paf

toral

toral Office whilft his Health permitted him, and how univerfally he had acquir'd the Character of a folid and useful Preacher. And it is chiefly in Compliance with the Request of feveral who heard them, that these Discourses are now offered to the Publick; to which per haps more may be added, if these meet with a favourable Reception.

ER

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