LONDON, For J. WHISTON and B. WHITE, in Fleet-Street. M DCC LIL PREFACE. HERE is a fyftem relating to religion and to the fate of things which is certainly true, whether we believe it or no. It greatly concerns us to have right notions about it, and to provide, as far as we can, for our future well-being, if this life fhould be the passage to another. To fhew that there is fufficient evidence of the truth of Chriftianity, to illuftrate fome parts of it, and to defend it against some objections, is the defign of the following Difcourfes, to which before I difmifs the Reader, a 2 I beg I beg leave to detain him a fer minutes, whilft I make an apology for this undertaking against an obvious objection. Many are the books already extant upon the fubject; Fabricius bas reckoned up fome hundreds, and doubtlefs feveral treatifes might be added which have efcaped even his diligence. What occafion is there for any more, in a country which bas produced fo many excellent writers in the caufe, and where learned perfons are continually appointed to difcourfe profeffedly upon it? As to the number of treatifes, it may be replied, that fome of them are grown very scarce, and others are fallen into oblivion, for which reafon an Author may be permitted to grane to to Rep in and take a place made vacant by one who is now reft. And though it be prefumption to think of equalling the great men who have laboured before us, and whofe reputation is eftablished, yet fince there are many who had rather perufe a new book than a good book, their humour should not be totally difregarded. b The fame truths may be placed in various views; and among men whofe tafte and fancy differ fo widely an argument shall feem perfuafive, and a remark pertinent to one, which by another is flighted and rejected. It seems therefore convenient that * Nunc placida compoftus pace quiefcit. * Τὴν γὰρ ἀοιδὴν μᾶλλον ἐπικλείσαν άνθρωποι, Homer. Odyff. A. 351. Several |