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tection. For to whom does it fo properly belong to patronize an Argument fhewing the UTILITY of Religion to Society, as to that great Magiftrate, Legislator, and Statesman, who is beft able to recommend and apply the Subject, by his being convinced of the TRUTH of Religion; and by his giving the most exemplary proof of his belief, in a steddy regard to it's dictates in his life and actions.

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It is this which makes me prefume on your Lordship's protection, not any thing extraordinary in the Work itself. It is enough for your Lordfhip to find in those you favour a real zeal for the interefts of Virtue and Religion. The effectual fervice of those interests depends on so many accidents, respecting both the ability of the Writer and the difpofition of the Reader, that your Lordship's humanity and candour, in larged, and not (as it often happens)

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diminished, by your great knowledge of Mankind, will always difpofe You to estimate merit by a better rule than the Success.

I am,

MY LORD,

With the utmost Gratitude,

Your Lordship's moft obliged,

and devoted Servant,

London, Nov. 5,

$754.

W. WARBUrton.

1

(i)

TO THE

FREE-THINKERS.

GENTLEMEN,

A

S the following difcourfe was written for your use, you have the best right to this addrefs. I could never approve the custom of dedicating books to men, whose profeffions made them ftrangers to the subject. A discourse on the Ten Predicaments, to a leader of armies, or a fyftem of cafuiftry to a minister of ftate, always appeared to me a high abfurdity.

Another advantage I have in this address, is that I shall not lie under any temptations of flattery; which, at this time of day, when every topic of adulation has been exhaufted, will be of equal eafe and advantage to us both.

Not but I must own you have been managed, even by fome of our Order, with very fingular complaifance. Whether it was that they affected the fame of moderation, or had a higher ambition for the honour of your good word, I know not; but I, who neither love your caufe, nor fear the abilities that fupport

VOL. I.

A

it,

it, while I preserve for your perfons that justice ́ and charity which my profeffion teaches to be due to all, can never be brought to think otherwise of your character, than as the defpifers of the Mafter whom I ferve, and as the implacable enemies of that Order, to which I have the honour to belong And as fuch, I fhould be tempted to glory in your cenfures; but would certainly refuse your commendations.

Indeed, were it my defign, in the manner of modern dedicators, to look out for powerful protectors, I do not know where I could fooner find them, than amongst the gentlemen of your denomination for nothing, I

believe, ftrikes the serious obferver with more furprize, in this age of novelties, than that ftrange propenfity to infidelity, fo vifible in men of almost every condition; amongst whom the advocates of Deifm are received with all the applaufes due to the inventors of the arts of life, or the deliverers of oppreffed and injured nations. The glorious liberty of the Gospel is forgotten amidst our clamours against church-tyranny; and we flight the fruits of the reftored Tree of Knowledge, for the fake of gathering a few barren leaves of Free-thinking, mifgrafted on the old prolific ftock of Deism.

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