iv Tk AUTHOR PREFACE, 



dwells in a light inacceilible to any mortal eye, yet our faculties 

 fee and diftinguifh him clearly in his works". In this refpect I 

 have the moft profound veneration for a Boyle, a Nieuventyt, a 

 Fenelon, a Scheuchzer, a Derham, and the like great and ex- 

 cellent perfonages; who having been no lefs confpicuous in the 

 fanctity of their lives, than in their mental abilities, will doubtleis 

 find a place among thofe, or in preference to many of thofe, to 

 whom the prophet Daniel promifes a more exalted degree of 

 glory. 



It is true, that the rational part of the heathen world were not 

 unacquainted with the firft principles of natural religion, and 

 confequently thefe are of themfelves infunicient for the immediate 

 and perfect converfion of finners, or the attainment of any de- 

 gree of that falvation referved for the members of Chrift's myf- 

 tical body, who live in a more ihining-light, and have more 

 abundant offers of grace. -But it is equally true, as the Apoftle 

 affirms, he that cometh to God y muft firft believe that he is y and 

 that he is a rewarder of thofe who diligently feek him. A general 

 belief in God, as the creator and preferver, as the rewarder and 

 avenger, muft be prefuppofed, before any faith in the Son of 

 God, the Redeemer, can take place ; confequently the firft is the 

 bafis of the other articles, and though a minifter o£ the Gofpel is 

 not to be lightly carried away by the ftream, or ought not to 

 follow the crowd of mere philofophic moralifts, who purlue vain 

 glory in fcience, falfty fo called, and in contradiction to the mind 

 and example of St. Paul, are almofi ajhamed of the gofpel of Chrift, 

 which alone is and will continue to he the power of God unto falva- 

 tion ; yet it becomes them as little to deviate on the other 

 hand, into a difregardand contempt of natural truths, and of the 

 occafion which they may draw from them, o£ promoting the 

 glory of God, among many whofe tafte and capacity reach no fur- 

 ther than fenfible obje&s : and not having been found faithful, 

 even in thefe lefler matters, are not therefore intrufted with 

 greater. If as our Saviour fays, we. believe not what is faid t& 

 i us 



