management of what is advanced upon faith and works, they appear with equal judgment to keep in fight the unfettled notions of the newly reformed papist, discovering the most exemplary caution against exafperating either fide: and hence it may fometimes happen, that while they guard against the errors of fome tenets fo recently exploded on one hand, they naturally may be thought, by the oppofite intereft, to lean to their opinion. But though I would have this to be understood as matter of private furmife, yet it seems to be fupported by a very celebrated writer *, who expreffes himself as follows on this particular head :

"The chief end of the book of Homilies," fays Bishop Burnet, "was to moderate the extremes "that prevailed in those days from the conduct of "two defcriptions of men. The first of them, "who ignorantly and fuperftitiously intrufted the falvation of their fouls to the fecret tricks of prieftcraft, which lurked in the remains of popish leaven, (but from which there is now no danger), and the other extreme was that of "fome corrupted Gofpellers; who thought, if they

magnified Chrift much, and depended wholly upon "bis merits and interceffion, they could not perish "which way foever they led their lives. In thefe

* Bishop Burnet, in his hiftory of the reformation of the church of England.

"Homilies

1

"Homilies therefore fpecial care is taken to rectify thefe errors. The falvation of mankind is on "one band wholly afcribed to the DEATH AND "SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, to whish finners

66

are taught to fly, and to truft to it as the only CAUSE, and to no other for pardon of fin: "but at the fame time they teach, that there is no falvation through Christ, but to fuch as repent,

166

" AND LIVE ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF 66 THE GOSPEL.'

Upon the whole, however people may differ as to their opinions, I am only accountable for a faithful adherence to what my best judgment represented to me, as the true fenfe of the difcourses I have tranfpofed and endeavoured to illustrate; my with having been purely to rescue them from the ruft of time, and by rendering the language more free and intelligible, to contribute an honeft mite towards the honor of the church, and the improvement of my fellow christians who belong to it. Thus much may fuffice as to my motive for this undertaking; I humbly reft the validity of my further observations. on the fubject, to the candid decifion of my readers.

In regard to the public ufe of the entire Homilies in their prefent obfolete form, I am aware that many objections may be advanced against the practice; but that the principal matter of thefe

a 4

thefe difcourfes might be occafionally employed to very great improvement of the people, and most excellent purpose, I am thoroughly perfuaded, and I will venture to maintain the affertion on the following fubftantial authorities : Ancient cuftom, and the confent of the church uniting with the fanction of established law, (faith the venerable Hooker) are themselves most fufficient reafons to defend a practice, unless fome extraordinary public inconvenience advises us against it. On this ground then, where no poffible inconvenience can arife, (but on the contrary much public advantage) I judge that it may be very eligible to refer fometimes to the model which our pious ancestors have left us, as a standard of found doctrine ; and to exhort, and urge the people, in the language of the church herself; and it is my further opinion, that when expediency for fuch experiment arifes, or where a profpect of any benefit prefents itself, in the adoption of the measure, it would be highly blameable to omit making trial of its fuccefs. For, fays an ancient father *, it is the dictate of most religious wisdom, that great is their number in the church of God, whom the very sanction of mens NAMES, doth preferve in the opinion they profefs already, or elfe is inftrumental to draw them unto that, which they have not hitherto held. And

Hilar. Epift. ad August.

I am rather inclined to hope I am not wrong in my judgment on this head, because that judicious and learned divine* I have lately quoted, (whofe authority no true churchmen will venture to difpute) thus delivers himself upon a fimilar fubject. For in fuch a choice we judge the FITNESS of speech may be fometimes as much refpected as worthiness itself; and if in what we read, there happens to be any accidental claufe, fentence, or expreffion which may soUND exceptionable, fhall the mixture of a little drofs oblige the church to deprive herself of so much GOOD, rather than employ due art and judgment to DIVIDE them? Now as the Homilies afford the most fcriptural definitions of our church doctrines, as in them the principles of our holy religion are recorded in the plainest terms, and precept with practice fo judicioufly united and recommended, as amply to filence the voice of contumacy, and fupprefs every species of material objection: I am content to abide by the general fentiments of those eminent advocates, in defence of discrete felections from fuch ancient and valuable stores, and should feel juftified in applying them whenever the exigences of the community seemed to require it . Upon the ftrength of this reason

ing

* Hooker's Polity, book v. p. 213, fol. + I am confident that in many places, (where, from a variety of circumstances) it is become neceffary to recur to firft

prin

ing it occurred to me, that I might poffibly be inftrumental to much general benefit, by republishing the fubftance of many of these excellent fermons, in fuch a manner as would remove the difficulties they labored under from their antiquated drefs, and embarraffed phrafeology; and finding myself very far from fingle in my opinion, the hope of being serviceable to the fpiritual interefts of the community, furnished ftrong encouragement to persevere.

Thus determined, the first step was to procure a genuine edition of the book of Homilies. This was no eafy matter; true copies of it being now rarely to be found, but in the libraries of the learned, or chained in a mutilated, and ufelefs ftate, in fome of our country churches. As foon however as I fucceeded in my fearch, I put my design in practice, and whatever may be the fate of the publication, I could wish to ftrengthen and close my apology with the following confiderations, which prefented themselves with much force to my mind, when I first deliberated whether to proceed or not.

principles, and to inculcate and inforce them with indefatigable affiduity; the cuftom of preaching the fubftance of the Homilies would prevent much further diffention among the seriously disposed portion of the common people, though it did not always immediately reform the evil that may have taken place.

I could.