revive this dreaded Doctrine, and attempted to refcue it from fome of the ugly confequences ufually afcribed to it, has offered fuch hints, both from Scripture and Reason, as may enable those that are difpofed to view it with impartiality, in either light, to come at a fair decision: being perfuaded, that if every one who takes the subject in hand, were as calm and difpaffionate as the Letter Writer, (the Rev. Mr.Brifled;) this and all points of the like nature might foon be brought to a fatisfactory conclufion, without endangering the publick peace: and if we ftill happened to differ in interpreting fome parts of the Gofpel, we should nevertheless unite in the genuine fpirit of it, by bearing with and affifting one another in love. But if he has judged wrong of the general temper of the world; or if at this day, prudential reafons render it improper for fuch questions to be agitated; he readily fubmits to better judgments, nor would affect to appear more wife than his fuperiors. He is very far from being contentious; yet has an ardent defire of doing fome fervice to the Caufe of Christianity in this day of distress, when it is closely attacked on all fides, but ever (as has been frequently obferved) with most fuccefs through that impure mixture of human doctrines and heathen traditions, by which it appears to have been very much difguifed and defiled: and he muft efteem it his duty to promote and encourage every fair, modeft enquiry, how far this may be really the cafe, and what may prove the moft effectual method to relieve it. He hopes to be be excufed for dwelling fo largely on these two capital points, our Fall in the first, and our Recovery by the fecond Adam; together with that account of our frame and deftination, which he has long conceived to have a just foundation in the Scriptures, and to be of confequence in explaining the true ufe and import of Christianity, as there delivered; and how far he has fucceeded, he now leaves to the publick judgement, without more debate; being not very eager of obtruding his fentiments, where they are obferved with reluctance; or fond of forcing his way through a crowd of adverfaries; or pleased with continuing in a fituation like that of the Jews under Nehemiah, obliged to work with one hand in the rubbish, and with the other to hold a weapon. He had such a favourable opinion of the prefent times, as to make fome trial of their difpofition; and was tempted to rely upon that liberty of prophefying, which seems to be wifely indulged by our Governours, to their own great honour, and the publick benefit; and which has remarkably accelerated the progrefs of religious as well as all other knowledge in this, above any former age: but if he has mistaken either their Temper, or his own Talents, which is very poffible; prefuming too much on appearances, and pufhing matters beyond what even the prefent times, greatly improved as they most certainly are within our memory, will bear: if he has deviated too far from the common road, fo as to have given unneceffary offence to thofe that are otherwife minded; fuch will find him willing to make all the reparation in his power, by affuring them that they may reft fecure as to him, from any more difturbance of this kind; fince he is equally unwilling, to rob any good men of the fatisfaction they enjoy in popular opinions, as to expofe himself to popular odium by perfifting in drawing the Saw of contention upon this or any other point of unavailing controverfy. Comp. S. Bourn's Advertisement prefixed to his Difcourfes in 2 Vols. with Serm. x, xi, &c. and the late excellent piece, entitled, A Short hiftorical View of the Controverfy. 2d Ed. or, A warning against Popish Doctrines, 1767. THE END. A. BEL, the diftinction between his offering, and that of Cain, on what founded, p. 52. A proof that animal facrifice was appointed by the Deity, 53. Abilities of perfons in general fuited to their ftate, 8-10. An equality in them would be prejudicial to fociety, 11-14. ABIMELECH, two kings of Gerar of that name; fhew a proper fenfe of religion in Abraham's time, 73: Aborigines, the pretence of being fuch in any people founded on their ignorance, 210. ABRAHAM, the reafon of his call, 68-72. The general covenant with his feed, 69, efpecial one with part of them, ib. These two very confiftent, ib. Selected for his fingular piety, ib. Diftinguished for the common benefit of mankind, ib. A fit inftrument for conveying the true religion to the nations round him, 70. Converfes on that fubject with the Egyptians, ib. Some who call themfelves his defcendants there to this day, ib. Famed for a reformer all over the caft, 71, 72. The Lacedæmonians retain the memory of him above 1600 years, ib. Brachmans probably defcend and derive their name from him, ib. Perfians keep pretty clear of grofs idolatry by his means, ib. He was let into the various counfels of the Almighty, ib. The punishment of the four wicked cities, ib. The redemption of mankind, ib. The plan of it probably exhibited to him on the very place where Chrift fuffered, 72. The true doctrine preferved and propagated by his family, 73. With whom God holds very frequent correfpondence, 78, 79. Divine revelations not wholly confined to them, 72. Pays homage to Melchizedeck, or the patriarch Shem, ib. Confines his view for fome time to temporal profpects, 82. State of religion in the world about his time, 82, 83. Abfolute perfection, in what fense it may be afcribed to the law of nature, 4, 5: Academies flourish among the Jews in the moft corrupt times of their government, 125. How many in Jerufalem, ib. Acta of the Roman procurators, 130. Action often implied in the attainment of knowledge, 18. Hence the pleasure accompanying fuch attainment, ib. Revelations by action, 77. ADAM, his ftate of innocence, 48, 49. Held frequent communication with the Deity, ib. This interrupted on his fall, ib. His notions of religion, 60, 61. A fyftem of morality supposed to be delivered to him, 56. Evidence of his being the first man, 59. Inftructed by oral revelation rather than inspiration, 48. Directed to a form of worship by facrifice, 50, 51. What that implied, ib. What his curfe, 49, 112, 346-7. Oppofed to Chrift, who reverfes it, 348. Why fo great ftrefs laid on his firft tranfgreffion, 282, What he might learn from the tranflation of Enoch, 61. Not Not fuperior in knowledge to his pofterity, 64. A state of more Adultery, trial for it alluded to by Chrift, 324. That abolished by 329. ESCULAPIUS, the tradition of his going about the country with a Affections, whence they arife, 10, 11. Whence their diversity, ib. Age golden, what, 202. Age of the world, compared to that of a man, 42. advancing in per- Alcoran. vid. Mahometans. ALEXANDER Comes to Jerufalem, 97. admits many Jews into his ALEXANDER (Mr.) 425, 435. Allegory, Chriftian writers borrow that way of interpreting Scripture ALLIX (Dr.) cited 89. 102. 134. Allufiens made by Chrift to the things before him, the time of the day, Alphabetical writing, when firft discovered, 147, 148. vid. Letters. Amulcments. vid. Elegance. Analogy between religion and the courfe of nature, holds in refpect Anatomy, its ftate among the ancient Egyptians, 216. Ancients, |