merian, Lutheran, or Calvinift. Chrift is my mafter, and the holy fcriptures my rule "and only standard of divine truth. Fa"thers and councils, fynods and convoca"tions, ancients and moderns, both learned

and holy men, are my fellow-fervants : "I embrace them as helps, but I will not "follow them as infallible guides: I know "none fuch but the holy fcriptures, &c."

The fheets now offered to the public were in the prefs before the author died, and his manuscripts were delivered to the editor with his own hand. Had he lived, he defigned to have made the work much more extenfive, and to have confidered the various parts of the chriftian religion, in the fame manner as he has confidered the attributes, &c. of GOD.

That part of his defign which is perfected, I, in compliance with his earnest request, prefent to the public, defiring that the book may be read with candor and attention, and (as the author expreffed himself a few days before he died) "moft ardently with, that it may have the fame good effect upon the

well

well-difpofed minds of the prefent learned "and inquifitive age, as it had upon him"felf." I have nothing more to add, but that I have honeftly published the work, just as the author left it, without making the least alteration, even in favour of my own fentiments.

THE

PREFACE

ΤΟ ΤΗΣ

SECOND EDITION.

ner.

The defign of the book. A fample of its manThe author's name. Connected with Sir Ifaac Newton. The religious opinions of that great man. The former edition very

little known.

THE

HE reader is here prefented with a book of extraordinary merit. Its fubject is important, if any can be fo called; especially in the prefent ftate of things, in the chriftian world, and in our own country. The defign of it is to fhew, from the facred writings, that there is but one GOD, one fingle perfon, who is the GOD, and parent of the

universe,

univerfe, to be acknowledged and adored by all; and at the fame time alfo to vindicate his moral character and perfect benevolence; that he is of himself kindly difpofed and propitious to his offending creatures, and requireth no interference of any other being, nothing but their own repentance and amendment, to restore them to his favour.

The proof of these points, but chiefly of the former, is attempted, not merely from the illuftration of thofe particular paffages of fcripture, which are apprehended to have been commonly misunderstood and mifapplied in both these refpects; but from the confideration of all the paffages of any moment where the Divine Being is mentioned, and of all the qualities and titles afcribed to him; together with a difcuffion, where needed, of all the language that is used, and even of every word of confequence employed, on thefe fubjects.

And under the different heads treated of, (which, barely to read over in the Table of Contents, cannot but excite fomething more than curiofity,) the conclufions are strictly drawn

A 4

drawn from the premises, with the precifion and accuracy of a geometrician, and with a plainnefs and clearness level to the moft ordinary capacity, and fuch as will fatisfy the higheft.

And although the book, upon the face of it, carries the appearance of deep learning, from the explanation of fome Greek terms in the New Testament, which may at first fight affright thofe from the reading of it, who are unacquainted with the dead languages; yet there is in reality hardly any part, which may not be useful to and readily understood by the attentive English reader.

The like method is obferved, in the fecond divifion of the work; in what relates to the character and offices of Jefus Chrift. And the feveral different propofitions, concerning this appointed faviour, and lord, and mafter of christians, are fupported by circumstances of internal evidence, which are eafily comprehended, and afford the moft folid and convincing proof of all others.

In short, here are the materials, collected with great labour, and fkilfully arranged and

put