in general, to those who fo far mistake its nature as to think it is gloomy and melancholy, and are fo ignorant of its beauty, as to esteem it deformed, and altogether difagreeable, I fend the following Sheets abroad. Should this defign fucceed in a moderate degree, I fhall rejoice with any who rejoice in my labours, and I trust be thankful to him, to whom alone all thanks are due. I had no defign in the beginning of this work, of introducing the character of Theologos, nor of troubling myself at all with the writings of the gentleman intended by that character, (whofe religious Sentiments appear to me to have little or no foundation in the word of God,) had not a fecond publication appeared, intended in part to confirm the errors of the firft, and more efpecially to expofe and fubvert (if it were poffible,) the fundamental doctrines of the holy fcriptures. This gentleman I obferve in his late pamphlet complains of illiberal treatment from his antagonist; I hope Amyntas will not offend, at leaft in this particular, who although he affumes not the character of a gentleman, yet be defires to act up to that of a christian. If If the fixth Dialogue appears dry and barren, the reader must be told that writ ings of the polemical kind, feldom produce much food for à hungry foul. Such of my readers as know, and love the Lord Jefus Chrift, will I hope in the course of the chriftian converfation, the fubject of thefe Dialogues, meet with fome refreshing ftreams which may chear, animate, and infpire them with renewed ftrength and purpose to urge their way to Zion. It will appear throughout the whole that I regard brotherly love, and the proper expreffions thereof, as fo principal a branch of our holy religion, that without it, it is a non-entity; and therefore have endeavoured to enforce it from various confiderations. Love is the very foul of chriftianity, Spiritual in its nature, and immortal in its existence. God is love, and love alone can denominate us chriftians, by this fhall all men know that ye are my difciples, if ye love one another, faith our Lord. Nor is true chriftian love that which is in word only, but in deed and in truth. A benevolence manifefting and exercising itself in a God-like beneficence to all men, but especially to the houfhold of faith. A 2 This This heavenly and divine difpofition is re- commended to us from the example of our common father, who maketh the fun to arife on the evil and on the good, and fendeth rain on the juft, and on the unjuft; from the practice of the Patri- archs, and boly men of old, who in re- turn for their hofpitality had angels for their guests; and from the pattern fet before us by our adorable Jefus, whe though he was rich, yet for our fakes Amyntas walks into the fields to meditate. A DIALOGUE H. Amyntas begins the day, with God, fettles his domeftic concerns, and is waited on by Phi- letus at the hour appointed. Reflection on the usefulness of horses. Of Chrift riding on an afs. On his wonderful love, and fal- vation by him. Sweating reapers remind of the fall of Adam, All bleffings bought with blood. A finall veffel failing at a dif tance. Bleffings of commerce. The gospel imported by means of fhips. The bleffing of the gofpel. The advantages of Piety. bOf Philoxenus himfelf. Who fitting at the DIALOGUE III. A walk into the fields propofed. Time of har- |