measure given him reason to forget all those va luable Advantages, by receiving him into your own Colledge, where he enjoys those Comforts he left behind in France; and therefore all his Studies are but just returns of Gratitude, which your Kindness to him has strictly made your due. Since then, not only your Favours conferred upon me, but also the very Nature of the Subject it felf does in so especial a manner intitle this Dedication yours, be pleased to think it not presumption that I repair to you as a Patron, and give me leave to contribute this one wish to your Happiness, viz. That you may long adorn the Station you are in; or if your Vertues and great Qualifications call you to a higher, you may long enjoy it for the publick good, and the particular benefit of this Society, the Honour and Prosperity of which, is your constant Care and ConThis is the hearty Prayer of cern. New-College, in Oxford, Jan. nt, 169. Reverend Sir, Your most Humble, And moft Obedici HENRY LO 1 1 ERRATA. By Reason of the Translator's Distance from the Press, Several Errors are crept in, which the Reader is defired to correct as follows. Page 20,1 24, for we, r. you. p. 39, 1. 14. r. Ideas. p. 46, 1. 33, г. Becomes. P. 47, 1. 11, dele Being, 1. 34, r.by r. Slovaness. p. 72. 1. 8. r. Men. p. 74, 1. 27. r. not needs. p. 77, 1. 34, r. go to, &c. p. 89, 1. 34, dele That. p. 97, 1. 22, dele of. p. 100, 1.18, dele that. p. 127, 1.33, r. Irregular. p 136,1.29, for dos r. no. p. 150, 1. 2, dele but. p. 165, 1. 28, r. them. p. 199, 1. 30, r. is. p. 195, 1. 23, r. Seed of. p. 206, 1. 25, r. into. 1 28, dele betwixt. p. 242, 1.26, r. the only, 1. ult. r the fame. p.276, 1. 14, r. we had. p. 305, 1. 19, г. By. p. 307, 1. 8, r. Ezra's. l. 21, and other Places, corre& Zerubabell. p. 320, 1. 27, r. Pentateuch, and in other Places, p. 321, 1.6, r. Suppofititious. p. 324, 1. 5. r. and to. p. 325, 1. 2. r. Reply. 1. 35, Г. 250 p. 333, 1. 34, r. incamp'd. p. 334, 1. 33, r. if you. p. 336, 1. 18, г. in. p. 339, 1. 28, r. thar Nation. p. 342, 1. 34, г. 600000. p. 344, 1. 17, r. of Pharaob. P. 346, 1. 15, r. to nature. p. 371, 1. 8, r. Sight. p. 378, 1. 21, г. But we. p. 381, 1. 28, r. Dan. p. 387, 1. ult. r. Pilgrimage. P. 398, 1. 20, dele of. p. 406, 1. 10, r. Bare. p. 419, 1.9. r. if we. р. 422, 1. 33, г. Opposition. p. 428, 1. 11, r. Aflictions. p. 436, 1. 23, r. Applying this. p. 438, 1. 11. dele whether. p. 454, r. as in. p. 458, 1. ult. r. to God. p. 472, 1.6, r. Seven, p. 478, r. it. p. 485.1.26, r. and knowing, P. 510, 1.4, r. I do not. p. 513, 1. 4, r. Convince us. p. 514, 1. 24-г. us. p. 514, 1. 5, and p. 528, 1. 2, 1. Doubt but. p. 528, 1. 37. r. Spirit and, The AUTHOR'S PREFACE. VV 1 7 E are no fooner instructed in the Christian Religion, but we feel its Effects: and as it has a Clearness that en lightens, and a Power that sanctifies, so likewife there are two different forts of Proofs which evidence the Truth of it; the one we may call the Convictions of the Mind, the other the Demonstrations of Conscience: The former arising from Knowledg, and the latter from inward Sense and Experience... It is certain that the Proofs of the firft kind do naturally offer themselves to every Man's Understanding. These the meanest Persons perceive as well as the Learned, tho they talk not fo well about them and the Admiration which arises in their Minds upon occafion of those wonderful things that are revealed to them, plainly shews, that they perceive some Characters of Divi nity in them, though they are not able cleare ly to express the Knowledg they have of them. But in this Particular the Simple and Unlearned have the Advantage of others; that though they appear less capable of concei ving those Proofs which depend upon Knowledg, yet they are generally more apt to relish those which proceed from inward Sense; and their Minds not being distracted by the vain Speculations of Philosophy and humane Curiosity, dwell with greater Attention upon the Wonders of the Gospel; and their Hearts not being puffed up with their own Knowledg, dispose them the more easily to admire what they know, and to love what they admire. But though there are some Proofs of ReIigion which naturally offer themselves to the Understandings of Men, and others which Men are sensible of by the just Proportion they have with their Hearts, as Light is perceived by the Proportion it has with our Eyes; and though we might very well affirm of these Demonstrations of ConScience, that they are above all Expreffion, and rather lose something of their Force, than are ftrengthned by Arguments from Reason, we must not however consent to the imaginary Triumphs of the Incredulous, because they never felt the Power and y of Religion, will not admire the true ties of it, but openly dispute its Divi We beseech God to assist us by his Grace, present Design we have to confute, rinciples of Reason, those false pre'atrons of humane Reason, to discover the secret Illusions of their Paffions, and to endeavour to dispose them to a lively Sense of the Divine Agreement and Correspondence there is betwixt the Christian Religion and the Confcience. Those who are already perswaded of these things, will not take it ill that we should occasion their making new Reflections upon those Objects which cannot be too often present to their Minds, nor too deeply imprinted in their Memories, and will eafily pardon our Weakness for the Difproportion they'l find between what they have already conceived or felt of Religion, and that Knowledg or Sense of it they may receive from us. Those whose Misfortune it is to waver in Uncertainty, may, by the Grace of God, here find what will scatter and disperse their Doubts, and confirm them in true Piety. And those who are resolved to continue in their Infidelity, whatever the Consequence of it may be, and seek only for such Darkness as is favourable to their Passions, will meet with that Light which will infallibly cover them with Confufion, if they have the least Sense of Humanity left. This Work shall consist of two Parts, which will be only two different Methods of proving the Truths of the Christian Religi on. In the First we shall descend from this Proposition, There is a God, to this, Jefus Christ the Son of Mary is the promised Meffi |