viii P. R EFEACE.

dering the extent of the deſign, and the variety of matters here treated of. I believe it will appear, that there ars few objections which have been ad- vanced in this controverſy, but what are taken notice of in the following work, and either ſuffi- ciently obviated, or references are made to books where fuller anſwers are to be found.

May Gop in his holy providence follow what is now publiſhed with his bleſſing, that it may prove of real ſervice to the important intereſts of religion among us, to promote which, as far as my ability reaches, I ſhall ever account the greateſt happineſs of my life. And it ſhould be the matter of our ear- neſt prayers to Gop, that all thoſe who value them- ſelves upon the honourable name and privileges of Chriſtians, may join in united efforts to ſupport ſo glorious a caufe, in which the preſervation and ad- vancement of true religion and virtue, the peace and good order of ſociety, and the preſent and eternal happineſs of individuals are ſo nearly con- cerned.

Ihave nothing farther to add, but that in this as well as the former editions, the whole is con- ducted in a ſeries of letters, which were written to my moſt worthy and much eſteemed friend, the Reverend Dr. Thomas Wilſon, rector of Mal- brook, and prebendary of Meſiminſter, in the form in which they now appear.

T H E