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perceive much cause to be ashamed of my unteachable temper; for with such opportunities as were afforded me, if I had improved them I might have been led to the knowledge and belief of the same truths, in much less time. But the Lord, I trust, led me in this way, 'and left me thus far to my own natural pride of heart; that it might more evidently appear, that I received not my doctrines from man, but that indeed, in the first instance, I learned them from the word and Spirit of God.

III. Thirdly, I would observe, that as I changed my religious views deliberate ly, so I did it without teaching from the persons, to whose sentiments I have now acceded. For a considerable time after the commencement of my enquiries, I would not so much as read what they had to urge in their own behalf. I entered indeed into a correspondence with Mr.

but my intention was not to learn from him, but todispute with him, which, when he waved, I dropt the correspondence, and utterly neglected his letters, as not considering them worth a re-perusal. From that time I avoided his

company, and all the time I would not hear him preach. I would not be understood to insinuate, that Mr.

But this

hath not been useful to me; he hath been, and continues to be eminently so; and I continually see great cause to bless God for giving me such a friend, to be so near at hand on all occasions. I assuredly believe, that had I never seen him after the time, that his example had put me upon considering my conduct, I should have arrived at the same views of gospel truth which I now have. His usefulness to me, hath all along been in those matters, wherein we were in some measure agreed, not in those wherein we differed; for in these my proud heart scorned to have him for a teacher.

At the same time, though I had the offer of several books written by Dissenters and Methodists, I declined them; and did not for near two years, peruse any of them with sufficient attention, to recollect any thing of consequence in them. I say not this, as slighting these books; justice requires me to acknowledge, that many of them, which then I ignorantly despised, contain as solid and

judicious, and excellent divinity, as hath been penned since the apostles' days. But I did not get my system from them, for that was nearly completed, before I was prevailed upon to read them. My studies, besides the bible, were mainly confined to authors of allowed reputation in the church of England, several of which I have mentioned. Wherein they differed from each other, (as certainly Tillotson and Hooker, Jortin and Beveridge, Bull and Hall do differ very much indeed,) I endeavored to judge for my seif, comparing all of them with the word of God, and with the articles, homilies, and liturgy of the church of England; and from such authors thus compared, as far as the writings of uninspired men have been instrumental to this change, I have received the greatest part of my present opinions.

But let it be observed, that the farther these streams are traced upward, towards the fountain of the blessed reformation, the purer they flow, according to my present judgment; and I have no doubt, but I could, were I to go about it, with proper helps, prove undeniably, that

there is nothing material preached by me, under the scandal of Methodistical, which was not preached by those excellent persons, who having laid the foundation of our church-establishment, gave their bodies to be burned, in confirmation of the truths they taught. It is much to be wished, that their lives, and discourses, living and dying, and their remaining writings, were more generally known amongst us, and did not remain locked up from the world in large folios, in the learned languages, or in books out of print, or exceeding scarce; the effect of which is, that the members of our na tional church are in general utterly ig norant of its standard doctrines, and ignorantly brand those as Methodists and Enthusiasts, who preach zealously the very doctrines of the first Reformers.

IV. In the fourth place, I would observe the great influence, which the study of the Scriptures had in producing this change.

We are too apt, without careful examination, to take things for granted; and to collect our scheme of divinity from other authors, and only to fetch a few

detached texts from the Scripture, which appear to countenance our preconceived opinions; neglecting, or very slightly considering such parts of the word of God, as seem incapable of being made use of to our purpose, we are too prone in availing ourselves of the labors of critics and expositors, to resign up ourselves implicitly to their guidance, and to imagine, that we have proof enough of our doctrines, if we can produce the sanction of some great name, which hath espoused and maintained them, without carefully examining whether they be right or wrong. But this is to pay that deference to the human interpretation, which is only due to the divine book commented upon. We ministers especially, though at ordination we solemnly promise to turn all our studies, as much as may be, into this channel, are very apt to suffer our time, and thoughts to be engrossed with such studies and employments, as are foreign thereto, interfere therewith, and leave, at most, but a secondary atten. tion for the study of the word of God. Hence it comes to pass, that frequently we do not bestow so much pains in me

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