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Occafioned by the former's behaviour during fome part of the public fervice.

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Jefus answered; the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Ifrael! the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou fhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy ftrength. This is the firft commandment. And the fecond is like, namely this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf. There is none other commandment greater than thefe. MARK xii. 29, 30, 31. LUXE xi. 2.

When

ye pray, fay, Our Father, &c.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The following little tract (viz. the first of the two following dialogues) being now reprinted by the editor, with very confiderable alterations, it is no more than justice to the author to fay, that he is no longer answerable for the contents of it. His learning, and his christian spirit and temper, deferve all praife; his name is not mentioned, but his works will follow him.

January ft, 1784.

[Reprinted from the fecond edition, 1787.]

PREFACE.

THE following Dialogue is defigned for the use of common chriftians, who, by experience, are found competent judges of the doctrine heré contended for, when it is delivered in its native fimplicity, as it was first preached by Chrift and his apofties. Plain fcripture-facts are adapted to all capacities, and cannot be overthrown by all the learned fophiftry in the world. It is to be hoped, that there are amongst us many rational chriftians, who will diftribute fuch little tracts, in order to help forward the glorious work of another reformation, which, though the times are favourable in many respects, is very much obftructed by irreligion on one fide, and fuperftition and enthusiasm on the other.

то THE

SECOND EDITION.

A fecond is

THE unexpected demand which has been made for the former impreffion of the first Dialogue, has given occafion for the re-publication of it. now added to the prefent edition; and, in this laft difcuffion of the fubject, the author has conducted his two friends to a perfect agreement in opinion and practice, upon principles which appeared, in the end, equally conclufive to both of them.

The firft dialogue was re-printed in Philadelphia, in 1785; a circumftance which affords fome hopes that it may be useful on the other fide of the Atlantic: and more particularly as the wisdom of the American flates hath not impofed thofe impediments to the free progrefs of the true faith of the gospel of Chrift, which have been unhappily adopted and retained in Europe.

The writer has only to add, that his fervent prayer to God is, that in proportion as the knowledge of the truth fhall fpread, the greater purity of life and confiftency of conduct may prevail throughout the chriftian world.

October 15,
1787.

JOHN DISNEY.

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