PREFACE. 



A SIMPLE history of this publication will be^t; 

 unfold its design, and will form the best apology 

 for its mimcrous imperfections. On tlie first day 

 of January, in the year 1801, the author being 

 called, in the course of his pastoral duty, to de- 

 liver a sermon, instead of choosing the topics of 

 address most usual at the commencement of a nezv 

 yeaVy it occurred to him as more proper, in enter- 

 ing on a new century^ to attempt a revie\v of the 

 preceding age, and to deduce from the prominent 

 features of that period such moral and religious 

 reflexions as might be suited to the occasion. A 

 discourse, formed on this plan, was accordingly 

 delivered. Some wdio heard it were pleased to 

 express a wish that it might be published. After 

 determining to comply with this wish, it was at 

 fu'st intended to publish the original discourse, 

 with some amplification ; to add a large body of 

 notes for the illustration of its several parts ; and 

 to comprise the wdiole in a single volume. Pro- 

 posals were issued for the publication in this form, 

 and a number of subscribers gave their names for 

 its encouragement. < 



Little progress had been made in pre})aring the 

 work, on this plan, for the jiress, before the ob- 

 jections to such a mode of arranging tiie materials 

 appeared so many and cogent, that it Avas at 

 leiigth thought best to lay aside the form of a 



