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From the reduction of the type, and enlargement of the page, the work, as now published, contains perhaps more matter, and certainly more valuable matter, than when it occupied three volumes; and though no serious mistakes have been discovered in it, or pointed out to me by any sect or party, yet I humbly trust the present edition will be found to be much more correct, and less unworthy, in many respects, of the public attention.

Some may perhaps be disposed to think that I am become their enemy, because I have told them the truth; but, though candid where candour is a duty; though "most pleased to praise," I am "not afraid to blame:" nor can I lavishly dispense, as from the papal chair, indulgences to every error under heaven, And as I do not admit that I have done such people any injury, or given them any just ground of offence, they need look for no reparation, nor expect that I shall apologize or contend.

Let me be fully convinced of my errors and mistakes; let me be shewn clearly and candidly the "hay and stubble" of my performance, and I will not be backward to gather them into bundles, nor the last to set a match to them, that they may be burnt. But remarks grounded on facts or plain truths, if likely to do more good than harm, I will neither erase nor suppress. Fremant omnes licet, dicam quod sentio. Nor will I enter into controversy, aware how little is generally gained by it, while it seldom fails that much is lost; and that there is often more religion in not contending, than there is in that about which we contend. Were we to sit down and consider how we shall account for our quarrels and contentions, when at the end of

our journey, we should not be so apt to fall out by the way.

I have frequently adopted the sentiments, and sometimes nearly the language, of others, without acknowledging it, partly to avoid crowding my pages with notes, which are still unavoidably numerous; and partly as, in many instances, I know not, at this day, to whom I am indebted. But no one, surely, will complain that I have been sparing of authorities; nor is it likely that those authors, living or dead, whom I have chiefly consulted, would have grudged me the use that I have made of their writings.

So numerous are the quotations and references in the following work, that some of them must of course be from second-hand; and, in preparing for the press the present edition, nearly two-thirds of which have been re-written, I had not the same ready access to theological libraries as formerly, nor the command of many books to which I had made references. I cannot therefore take upon me to vouch for their being correct in every instance; yet I trust that mistakes of this nature are but few.

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I also beg leave to mention here, in justice to those who took the trouble of reviewing the following sketches of their respective denominations, that some alterations were thought necessary in several of those articles, after they had received their corrections: at the same time, I am not aware that I have made any alterations or additions that those gentlemen will not sanction, or that they will disapprove or condemn.

Viewing things as of far more importance than words, I have paid no great attention to the language in which these volumes are written. I trust, however, it will be

found to be in general correct and perspicuous. More indeed than this, the reader cannot reasonably expect, for the character of the work will scarcely admit of

ornament:

"Ornari res ipsa negat, contenta doceri."

In a work of this nature, every serious reader must stumble on many things that cannot fail to draw forth a sigh; but I have endeavoured to avoid, as far as possible, whatever might create a laugh, or tend to furnish matter of ridicule to the libertine and the unbeliever. With that view, as well as to leave room for new sects and fresh matter, I have left out some minor sects and parties, of recent date, eccentric character, and, it is hoped, of ephemeral existence. In short, I have laboured to entitle this work, in some measure, to such a character for orthodoxy and correctness, that it may not only be admitted into any library, but also safely recommended to my junior brethren in particular, "whom it behoves," according to Archbishop Drummond," to look impartially into the different controversies, and opinions, and Confessions of faith." And as to how far I have succeeded, I shall bow most respectfully to the candid opinion and judgment of my superiors, the governors of the church, of the regular organs of criticism, and of the public at large.

But, to pass from the work and its author, compiler, or editor, as the reader shall be pleased to call him, to what is of far more importance, the subject of which it

treats

The perusal of these volumes may perhaps, in some

Letter on "Theological Study," subjoined to his Grace's Sermons,

8vo. 1803.

measure, gratify the reader's curiosity; but it cannot fail to be at the expense of exciting his serious regret: for he must here observe how busy the enemy has been in sowing tares among the wheat ;-he must behold a melancholy illustration of the Nineteenth Article of the Church of England, in the errors of many societies; and, what is more, he must even remark some, who call themselves Christians, cutting and carving our religion, to make it more grateful to unbelievers.

He who strives to reconcile differing parties, and to ameliorate opposite interests, deserves well of his fellowcreatures. Yet "let God be true, but every man a liar." However urged by circumstances, let us not sacrifice one iota of sacred truth to the caprice of the age, or to the relaxed opinions of many called Christians. Let us not, in our eagerness to conciliate, abandon a single article of "the faith once delivered to the saints," aware that such conduct would involve us in guilt of the deepest dye, while we should not thereby attain the object for which that guilt was incurred; for, as Christianity enjoins and requires holiness of heart and life, it will ever be opposed and rejected by the carnal mind that is enmity against God, and by the evil heart of unbelief.

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Besides, it is not, perhaps, so much because of our doctrines, as of our divisions, that infidels reject and despise our religion. Beholding the numberless divisions and contentions that have in all ages prevailed among professing Christians, they reject Christianity itself, and view it merely as an apple of discord ;-as a Babel, or as "a beast with many heads and horns, all pushing at one another." Fix on any period of the Christian Church; look into the ecclesiastical history of that period, as eccle

siastical histories are generally written; and what will you find it to be? Little more, I suspect, than the history of the struggles of different sects and parties to overturn the systems of others, in order to build up their own. And, whether the rent be reaching nearer to the foundation, or we of the present day be more disposed than those who have gone before us, to keep "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," I shall not now venture to say; but, from the data here laid before the reader, shall leave him to judge for himself.

It seems reasonable to expect, that they who bear the same name,-whose hopes are built upon the same Foundation,-who are led by the same Spirit,-who are opposed by the same enemies, and interested in the same promises, would agree to differ on many points; would look upon each other with mutual complacence,would love as brethren,—would bear each other's burdens, and so fulfil their Master's law, and copy his example. But has such been the character of professing Christians in any age? Alas! instead of this, a mistaken zeal for his honour, or a blind attachment to their respective peculiarities, has too often filled them on all sides with animosities against their fellow-disciples; split them into a thousand parties; given rise to fierce and endless contentions, and made them so earnest for their own peculiarities, and so prejudiced against those of others, that the love, which is the discriminating characteristic of his religion, has scarcely been found amongst them in such a degree of exercise, as to satisfy even candid observers, whether they bore his mark or not.

Hence it is that unbelievers keep aloof from the belief and profession of Christianity; and through these

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