the Occafion of asking them at that time: All of them agree, in justifying these Prayers, in expofing the Weakness of those who fuffer themfelves to be deluded, and the Difingenuity of those who go about to deceive the Vulgar, into a Diflike of our Liturgy. And this, upon a frivolous Pretence of thefe Forms being taken out of the Romish Mafs Book. Whereas the being found there neither is to Us, nor was any Inducement at all to our wife and pious Reformers heretofore. But they confidered, that we ought to depart from the Corruptions only of that Church; And when thefe were entirely Corrected, or caft off, they rightly judged, that it would have then argued a ftrange, and even Scandalous, Perverfenefs, not to retain thofe Parts or Offices, the Soundness whereof was evident, by their being either exprefly contained in, or undeniably founded upon, the Word of God himSelf.

The Epiftles, (for fo the Whole Collection of them is commonly called, taking its Denomination from the far greater

Part,)

Part,) are Portions of Scripture, chiefly confifting of Moral Precepts. Some few indeed, must be excepted; which are, either Paffages Prophetical of our Blessed Saviour, with regard to his Firft or Second Coming; Or else Hiftorical, relating the memorable Acts of the Saints, whom the Church commemorates; Or Doctrinal, illuftrating the Ends, and Ad-· vantages, of our Lord's Actions or Sufferings. Amongst thofe Epiftles (ftrictly fo called) fome have a more immediate regard to Questions of great Importance, between the Jews and Chriftians, at the time when they were written. Yet are they not fo confined to the Controverfies then depending; but that they, at the fame time, help to explain many essential Points and Privileges of our Religion; Such as are highly neceffary to be underftood, and capable of bringing Improvement to Ours, and to all Ages of the Church.

In treating of Thefe, I have made it my Endeavour to fet forth, First, their moft Literal Senfe, in Agreement with the

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Occafion, which the Writers feem to have bad next in View. And afterwards, to deduce from thence fuch Applications, as may render them of general Benefit, and Thew Us Our Concern in them. And, for the reft, it has been my Care to enforce the Duties contained in them, with Arguments fo fuited to the Subject; That every Member of our Church may eafily be convinced, how greatly thofe among us are to blame, who lead vitious Lives: Efpecially, how falfe the Pretence of Ignorance to do better, muft needs be, when this short Collection alone presents them with so plain a Summary, fo complete a Body, of Practical Religion.

In the Gospels we are furnished with the ftrongest Evidences of our Faith. The Myfteries of our Lord's Incarnatioa and Nativity, The Miracles he wrought, The Parables he spoke, The holy Exhortations he has left us, whether in Publick Difcourfes to the Multitudes, or in Private Conferences with his own Difciples; The Hiftory of his Life and Death, Refurrection, and Afcenfion into Heaven; The Pro

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Promifes of his Holy Spirit, and PrediEtions of the many wonderful Things, which bis Followers, thus affifted, should be enabled to perform, in Confirmation of the Truth: Thefe, upon the matter, make up the Subftance of this part of our Service. Which gives us a perfect Syftem for the Establishment of our Faith, as the Epiftles have been obferved to do, for the Direction of our Manners.

It were therefore heartily to be wished, that the Excellency and Usefulness of thofe Scriptures, chofen for the Inftruction and Edification of our People, were more generally laid to Heart: That Men were duly fenfible of the Happiness of that Communion, in which fuch effectual Care is taken for their Souls; that All, who frequent our Publick Assemblies, are fecure of being taught, even there, the whole of That, which is necessary to their Salvati

on.

And I hope, I may take leave to recommend this (as I conceive) very reasonable Inftance of Modefty and Prudence, that fuch Deference may be paid to the Authority and Wisdom of our Governors;

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as for our Flocks to make thofe Paffages of Scripture, the Subject of their Private Study and Meditation, which have been judged moft proper for their Publick Inftruction. For, although our Church do, as indeed She ought, indulge the free Ufe of the whole Book of God to all Her Children; and as liberally impart unto them, in the Courfe of daily Leffons throughout the Year: Yet, fince thefe Paffages are fingled out, for fuch Times, as are fuppofed to draw the greatest numbers together; This, methinks, is a fair Intimation, and fit to be taken by the generality of People, that fuch Portions of the Bible are not only of fingular Profit, when rightly underfood; but that they are likewife beft fuited to the Capacities of Common Men; and confequently, if attended to with Diligence and Honefty, in lefs Danger of being misunderstood.

It is in order to render thefe publick Provifions more effectual, and to affift Men in the more effential and ufeful Parts of Religion, that the following Treatife bath been composed and published. A Work,