PREFACE TO THE READ E R.. HE author of the following sheets was THE a gentleman of great worth, and confiderable learning; a pious and good man, who was defirous of worshipping GoD and forming his religious notions according to the inftructions of divine wisdom. Accordingly, he spent a number of years" in examining "the facred writings of the Old and New "Teftament, with the utmost desire, and "most ardent prayer, that he might be rightly informed in the trueft fenfe of the : "holy authors of those divine books." He was zealously attached to truth, and the honour of GOD, and these he endeavoured to promote, to the very utmost of his power. He was fully perfuaded in his own mind of the truth of his fentiments concerning GoD and JESUS CHRIST. He founded them upon the facred fcriptures, for which he had the highest veneration he confidered the facred authors of the Bible with great attention, and a fincere endeavour to understand their true meaning; and according to the refult of his most diligent and candid examination, he believed. He looked upon fcripture to be the best and moft infallible expofitor of scripture; and therefore paid but little regard to any human scheme or explanation: and he thought himself thoroughly juftified to his own confcience in taking his notions of GOD from the word of God alone. These are his words: "I think, I write, I speak, upon "this important article, viz. that the GOD "and FATHER of JESUS CHRIST is the only "true God, with a clear understanding and a clear a clear confcience. I have no doubts, no fcruples: no fear of offending God, or difpleafing Chrift: no fecret misgivings "that I am or may be mistaken: but a full " and entire perfuafion, that this foundation is moft certain and infallible. I doubted early of the vulgar fcheme; to folve my " doubts, I read the holy fcriptures, and "them alone, for many years, with the "greatest attention and caution; with all "earnest defire of finding the truth; without I any bias, prejudice, or prepoffeffion. "had been bred up in great reverence for "the ancient fathers, and the venerable "names of Lutber, Melanthon, Calvin, Cran"mer, &c. I preferve ftill a great but cau❝tious veneration for these excellent perfons: "their memories will always be facred with "me, for thofe glorious attempts they made "to refcue the Chriftian religion from Romish error, idolatry, and fuperftition. But they "can no longer impofe upon me with their authority, though they may affect me with "their reafonings. I will now be no Cran |