gainst this Prejudice. But befides this, there is in fome Tempers a strong Affectation of appearing to be Perfons of fuperior Genius, able to break through the Force of Education, and common Prejudices; and this I doubt not has carried many who were not able to diftinguish themselves to advantage by their fuperior Virtues or Abilities, to endeavour to do it by oppofing and rejecting the Faith of Chriftians, and on this account affuming to themselves a Judgment and Penetration above the Vulgar, as if they could fee farther than the rest of Mankind. But the most powerful Prejudice of all against Christianity, and which has a much ftronger Force to incline fome Persons to reject it, than any or all the Prejudices in its favour to incline Men to embrace it, is that which arifes from the Byafs of their corrupt Lufts and Paffions. When Men are devoted to any of those Sins, which the Gospel forbids under the feverest Penalties, they muft either renounce the Scriptures, or condemn themselves. A Man that is under the Power of ftrong vicious Inclinations and depraved Habits, will of course be prejudiced against a Religion, which if it be true obliges him to counteract and mortify his darling Appetites, and will not fuffer him to be eafy in his licentious Courfes, and teaches him to expect a dreadful Punishment in a future State, as the Effect of his Ill-conduct in this. His Intereft and Inclinations naturally bribe his Judgment to pronounce against such a Religion, they

O 2

they give force to every Objection, and will hardly admit him calmly to confider its Proofs. And therefore in an Age of growing Diffolutenefs and Corruption of Manners, it is not very furprizing to fee an Increase of Infidelity too.

On the other hand, a Man of real Piety and Virtue, one who is a devout Adorer of the Deity, who endeavours to govern his Paffions, and is regular in his Life, can fcarce help approving and wishing well to a Religion of fuch an excellent Tendency, that raises him to the moft fublime Hopes, that gives him the most ravishing Discoveries and Affurances of God's rich Grace and Mercy, and of his wonderful Love to Mankind, and of the Glories prepared in a future State, as the Reward of a Life of fincere Piety and Virtue in this. I will therefore readily own, and let our Author make the most of this Conceffion, that a good Man will be apt to be prejudiced in favour of the Chriftian Religion. But then this Prejudice, if it must be called fo, is a juft and reasonable one. When a Man difcerns the Characters of divine Wisdom, Goodness and Purity in the Gospel, when he feels its Suitablenefs to his own Cafe, the happy Effect it has upon himself in purifying his Heart and governing his Life, in ftrengthening good Difpofitions, and ingaging him to abound in every good Work, this hath a natural Tendency to convince one of a fincere and right Mind, that the Gofpel is not the Work of Impoftors, that it is worthy of God, and

up

came

came from him. And it is a great Proof that the Christian Religion is founded in Reason and Evidence, when it has both fuch obvious Characters and Proofs of its Excellency and Divinity, as ftrike the Minds and internal Senfe of those who are not fo well able to carry their Views through a long Chain and Series of Reasonings; and when it is also confirmed by fuch a Variety of Arguments and Evidences, as taken in a more extensive View are capable of giving Satiffaction to those of the greatest Leisure and Penetration. These Reasons and Evidences have often been represented to the World with great Strength and Clearnefs, nor do I find this Writer has offered any thing to prove those Reasons infufficient.

I have now obeyed your Commands in communicating my Thoughts to you upon this Pamphlet, and have not left any thing in it unexamined, that feemed to me to deferve Notice. And as this Writer makes fome fhew of treating the Subject he has undertaken in a methodical Way, I have, that he might not complain of having his Arguments mangled or not reprefented in their full Force, followed him in the Order which he himself has chofen. But tho' I will not deny him the Praife of Wit and Ability, yet upon the most impartial Confideration of his Performance, I cannot help faying, that an Author that in any other Caufe would give himself fuch a Liberty of mifreprefenting

Things,

Things, and endeavour to impofe upon his Reader at the rate this Gentleman has done, or that would treat any other Book as he has done the Scriptures, would be justly regarded, as having forfeited all his Credit and Reputation as a fair and candid Writer; and it certainly aggravates it highly, when it is done with a View to mislead Perfons in a Matter of the highest Confequence. If you think the Remarks I have offered may be of use, I fhall not repent the Pains I have taken in them. I am with a real Esteem

Your faithful humble Servant.

THE FIFTH EDITION of the two following Books [For the Ufe of Families.]

Written BY THE LORD BISHOP OF SODOR AND MANN, and fold by John Osborn, at the Golden Ball in Pater-nofter-Row.

KNOWLEDGE and PRACTICE of CHRISTIANITY made eafy to the Meaneft Capacities, &c.-defigned for the Benefit and Inftruction of fuch CHRISTIANS, as have not well, confidered the Meaning of the Religion they pro fefs; Or,-Who profefs to know God, but in Works do deny him.

In feveral fhort and plain Dialogues. Together with Family and private Meditations

Short and Plain Inftruction for the better Understanding of the

LORD'S

SUPPER,

With the neceffaty Preparation requir'd for the Benefit of YOUNG COMMUNICANTS: And of fuch as have not well confidered this Holy Ordinance.

To which is annex'd-The Office of the HOLY COMMUNION: With proper HELPS and DIRECTIONS for joining in every Part thereof with Understanding and Benefit. N. B. Great Allowance will be made by John Ofborn to fuch Perfons as take Numbers of thefe Books, to difperfe at home, or in our Plantations and Colonies abroad.