THE

PREFACE

HE following Difcourfe was compos'd with a Defignto revive practical Christianity, which is every where too vifibly in à declining State; and in or

der to this, to prevent all uncharitable Difputes, and unchriftian Contentions, which have certainly been one great Cause that practical Christianity is at fo low an Ebb as it is. That the Difcourfe might not mifs of its End, the Author (though

be was for treating Things which defer ved it with a juft Severity) would no way meddle with perfonal Reflections ; all Care was taken to guard bis Difcourfe. Accordingly, after it was finifbed, becaufe be would not truft wholly to his own Fudg ment, he had the Opinion of other very capable and impartial Perfons, as to fome particular Sentences which might be fo cenJured. Their Sentiments were, that there was no Foundation for fuck a Cenfure. Indeed, as to the Difcourfe itself, no Man ever fam it till it was preached. When it was preached, in the Afternoon it being moved to give Thanks, as ufual, several Objections were made. One, as I remem ber, mas, that I had spoke against all Controverfies as Metaphyfical: But this 'tis evident I had not; and what I had chiefly fpoken against with respect to Controverfies in general, was, the unchriftianand fcandalous Management of them. Another Objection was,that it was a Sermon of Works without Faith. What fuch Perfons mean by Faith is best known to themselves;

but

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but certainly that Man must be exceeding weak, who fall attempt to prove, that the practical Chriftianity I had been treating on, and indeed which runs through the Difcourfe, can poffibly be without the Faith of the Gospel. Befides, the Reader will find fch Expreffions as thefe, that Faith is a vital Principle of Holiness, the great Foundation of, and Encouragement to it; that Holiness of Heart and Life, founded on Faith in our Lord Jefus Chrift, is the fure, the only Way to Heaven; with other Ex preffions to the fame Purpofe. The Rea der will find alfo the feveral Doctrines of the Gospel treated on, and 'tis much if thefe fhould contain nothing of the Faith of the Gospel. But the great Objection was, that the Sermon was full of Reflections: Not one Inftance was produced; a calm Debate was offered as to any thing that should be objected; and this not only by the Author, but by feveral of the Brethren : No fuch thing could be admitted: No, the eafieft the fureft, (for the Oppo

nents

nents were feen to be strong enough) but I'll leave it to the World to judge, whe ther the most justifiable Way, mas, to car ry it by a Vote that the Preacher bould have no Thanks. Accordingly it was carried by (I believe) about three; and this (though oppofed) must be done without Delay, when not more than half the Minifters were come together; and as it was done in fuch a Manner, I think it is not much to be regarded. Surely it should have been heard what a Perfon had to fay for himself: If any thing faulty could have been produced, it might have been try'd, whether on Conviction be would not have retracted it. It might have been confider'd, whether there was nothing in the Sermon to make fome Atonement for what was amifs. But to lay no more of thefe Things, I declared, if I was not honourably dealt with, I would vindicate my felf, and publih my Difcourfe; which accordingly I have done; and do promise my self that all impartial Perfons will judge it did not deferve fuch Treatment. As to the laft

Thing

Thing objected, that the Difcourfe was full of Reflections; General Reflections indeed there are, but I did not know thefe were criminal; and if we must leave them wholly off, I think we might even fave our felves the Trouble of Preaching any more. As to perfonal Reflections, to what I have faid already, I add, I declare I know not of any fuch; and it is to my great Satisfaction, that fo many of my Brethren are of the fame Sentiments, who have indeed beard the Sentences, which might be fo cenfured, more than once, and, which may be taken as one Reflection more added to the many already (though not fo intended) are Perfons of as much Senfe and Integrity as thofe on the other fide of the Question: The Inference from which is, that those who pass fuch a Cenfure, must be either the Miftaken or the Guilty. Had this Difcourfe been at firft defigned for the Prefs, fome Things might have been altered, and others put in a better Drefs; but now it must be publifhed as it was preached, and according

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