revive this dreaded Doctrine, and attempted to refcue it from fome of the ugly confequences ufually ascribed to it, has offered fuch hints, both from Scripture and Reason, as may enable those that are disposed to view it with impartiality, in either light, to come at a fair decision: being perfuaded, that if every one who takes the subject in hand, were as calm and dispassionate as the Letter Writer, (the Rev. Mr.Brifted;) this and all points of the like nature might foon be brought to a fatisfactory conclufion, without endangering the publick peace: and if we still happened to differ in interpreting fome parts of the Gospel, we should nevertheless unite in the genuine fpirit of it, by bearing with and affifting one another in love. But if he has judged wrong of the general temper of the world; or if at this day, prudential reafons render it improper for fuch questions to be agitated; he readily fubmits to better judgments, nor would affect to appear more wife than his superiors. He is very far from being contentious; yet has an ardent defire of doing some service to the Caufe of Christianity in this day of distress, when it is closely attacked on all fides, but ever (as has been frequently obferved) with most fuc-* cefs through that impure mixture of human doctrines and heathen traditions, by which it appears to have been very much difguifed and defiled: and he must esteem it his duty to promote and encourage every fair, modeft enquiry, how far this may be really the cafe, and what may prove the most effectual method to relieve it. He hopes to be be excufed for dwelling fo largely on these two capital points, our Fall in the firft, and our Recovery by the second Adam; together with that account of our frame and destination, which he has long conceived to have a juft foundation in the Scriptures, and to be of confequence in explaining the true use and import of Christianity, as there delivered; and how far he has fucceeded, he now leaves to the publick judgement, without more debate; being not very eager of obtruding his fentiments, where they are obferved with reluctance; or fond of forcing his way through a crowd of adverfaries; or pleased with continuing in a fituation like that of the Jews under Nehemiah, obliged to work with one hand in the rubbish, and with the other to hold a weapon. He had fuch a favourable opinion of the prefent times, as to make some trial of their difpofition; and was tempted to rely upon that liberty of prophefying, which feems to be wifely indulged by our Governours, to their own great honour, and the publick benefit; and which has remarkably accelerated the progrefs of religious as well as all other knowledge in this, above any former age: but if he has mistaken either their Temper, or his own Talents, which is very poffible; prefuming too much on appearances, and pushing matters beyond what even the prefent times, greatly improved as they most certainly are within our memory, will bear: if he has deviated too far from the common road, fo as to have given unnecessary offence to thofe that are otherwise minded; such will find him willing to make all the reparation in his power, by affuring them that they may rest secure as to him, from any more disturbance of this kind; fince he is equally unwilling, to rob any good men of the fatisfaction they enjoy in popular opinions, as to expose himself to popular odium by perfifting in drawing the Saw of contention upon this or any other point of unavailing controverfy. Comp. S. Bourn's Advertisement prefixed to his Discourses in 2 Vols. with Serm. x, xi, &c. and the late excellent piece, entitled, A Short historical View of the Controverfy. 2d Ed. or, A warning against Popish Doctrines, 1767. THE END. A: AR BEL, the diftinction between his offering, and that of Cain, on Abilities of perfons in general fuited to their state, 8-10. An equa- ABIMELECH, two kings of Gerar of that name; fhew a proper fense Aborigines, the pretence of being fuch in any people founded on their ABRAHAM, the reason of his call, 68-72. The general covenant Abfolute perfection, in what fenfe it may be afcribed to the law of Academies flourish among the Jews in the moft corrupt times of their Acta of the Roman procurators, 130. Action often implied in the attainment of knowledge, 18. Hence ADAM, his state of innocence, 48, 49. Held frequent communica- Not Not fuperior in knowledge to his pofterity, 64. A state of more 329. ESCULAPIUS, the tradition of his going about the country with a Affections, whence they arife, 10, 11. Whence their diverfity, ib. Age golden, what, 202. Age of men. vid. Longevity. Age of the world, compared to that of a man, 42. advancing in per- Alcoran. vid. Mahometans. ALEXANDER Comes to Jerufalem, 97. admits many Jews into his ALEXANDER (Mr.) 425, 435. Allegory, Chriflian writers borrow that way of interpreting Scripture ALLIX (Dr.) cited 89. 102. 134. Allufions made by Chrift to the things before him, the time of the day, Alphabetical writing, when firft discovered, 147, 148. vid. Letters. Amufements. vid. Elegance. Analogy between religion and the courfe of nature, holds in refpect Anatomy, its ftate among the ancient Egyptians, 216. Ancients, |