vi r K E F A C E- 



among tl'C modetna, pcihaps none will appear more ftiiking (o ferioas 



jninds, than the following by ihe refpdtable Pr. Law, bifliop of Carhfle, 



* There was a vvoudrous u^a.j (fays ihe l.illiop) among the Greeks^ w ho 



* has often bicen coTiparetl to Chrifi^ a.i.1 confiticred as a kinti of /j»^* of 



* him to ihe heathen ; ther.! fceiag a great rereiubbncc bstvt-een them ia 

 ' fome rerrarkable particula/s. Hccraut lays cut all his time in going 



* about to admoniOiand reform hh counfiyiaen ; which lie siTures ihcm 



* was a miniflry enjoinedXAa^hy the Deity, for their hensfit, to whom he 



* furpofcs \X\\jXt\\ gyvtn ot/.'Kt by Go<i : with tlie uinioft fiffanefs, beat- 



* ing ail the injuiiea and defpifing theaitront?;, to which he was continual- 

 « ]y expofed on that accour.r. He conftaatly reforts to places of public 



* concoijrfe, ar.d gcrjcraily grounds hi'; difLOurfes on what occurs there 5 



* tn^jking ule of ^\try place, ^nd reafon, arsJ occaGon, to exetcife and in- 



* culcate his philofophy. He choofes a Hate of poverty ; to clear himfelf 



* fiom all Aifpiciou of pri^'ate inferefr, and mai:e his charaftcr more unex- 



* ccprionablc, by (he'AJng that I:c pradifed vvliat he taught. He avoiils 



* fTjeddling H'iiii the aftai rs oi the public; decHnas poils of authority 

 *■ amongft ti'.eai ; as thcfc, in fiith bad times, mud have preripiiated hi3 



* fs:c, beJore h'j had done them any confikralle fcrvice. He pcrfsveres 

 ' in filling and examining them, in oidei to dctfft their ignorance and 



* prefurr^piion and to morjjf/ thgir pride, on all occafions ; and declares 



* that he ir.ovi perfcvveie i 1 the farvje couyfe, even when he dearly forefawr 



* that the iofs of hJs lift v^oold certainly attend it : nay, that he would 



* continue this eoaife, though lit were to die ever fo often Jor it. When 

 " merely out o^ cni->j he h delivered np to Vh eiieroies, and on a raoft ma- 



* Itcious piof'.!cut!On brought to his trial ; iRiie?.d of having rccourfe to 



* the ufua! wp!y cf fuppijcation, and applying to the pafilons ol his judges ; 



* he proves to, thcai, th?t \)\zy ought not to av5rrjit of any fuch application ; 



* he infoi.Tis their reafon, and appeals to their confcience ; and proceeds 



* ordy (b ht in his o vn defence, as would be juft fufficient to aflert his 



* inr^ocence and (hew thitn the greatyfa of perfecuting and opprclling it.. 

 < Inftead cf ufing or permitting any ether means to avoid his death, he? 



* HgniHes that it was free and voluntary in him, beca^ifc it was become 



* ieceir^ry for the world 4 and meets the inftruments thereof with the 



* orm';il calnrjncfs and fercr.ity. 



' He left none oi his philofophy in writing, but tovok good care, as he 

 ^ frilui to imprint it deeply \\\ the hearts ot hi'. <lifciples ; which fome of 

 ' thea) delivered down to us ; (though in a manner very different from 



* that fiao; !i< ity, and Hii^ proptiety, wi.h which the gofpels are recotd- 



* ed ;} and, indeed, ihe cfteds which his io,(lru6tionsj and exatnples, had 



* upon theiin, were protligiuui*,' 



Such 



" Sec ihe rrfl^rtlons on tije iilt' atid thaTa«ner of Chiiit, Itund vp 

 n.oith this auth'j/s Theory of Religion,— ^''^e? bi/?Jop has omitted to mention, 

 ihnt Socratts rt-jt^ed an cpparlunity ef ejcaping ftcm prijon ; and took hi:f 

 poifon <n)iib caltn'ifj'sy 'ij^ithQut re^Mmg h\^ ferjniiton far the ifjutj d&ne /* 



