1 PREFACE. THE HERE are two Claffes of Readers, to whom the Writer of this Preface would addrefs a few friendly Hints, before they enter upon the Perufal of this excellent little Manual. 1. To thofe, who have had the Advantages of what is called a liberal Education, he begs Leave to prefent the following Paffage from the Works of an enlightened Philofopher, whofe Name is reverenced by the literary World, and particularly dear to every Englishman:* "He that "would seriously fet upon the Search of "Truth, * Mr. Locke.-It is not here meant to recommend Mr. Locke as a Difcoverer, but only a fincere Seeker, a 2 RUS Truth, ought in the first Place to preIpare his Mind with a Love of it. For " he that loves it not, will not take much "Pains to get it, nor be much concerned "when he miffes it. There is no Body in "the Common-Wealth of Learning, who "does not profefs himself a Lover of "Truth; and there is not a rational Crea<< ture, that would not take it amifs to be thought otherwife of. And yet, for all this, one may truly fay, that there are "" very few Lovers of Truth for Truth's Sake, even amongst those who perfuade "themselves that they are fo."-Again, "As Truth can receive no Evidence from "our Paffions and Interests, so it should "receive no Tincture from them."-And again, "It is the Prerogative that belongs "to Seeker, of the Truth. His Opinions, touching fome of the fundamental Doctrines of Christianity, have been deemed erroneous and dangerous. But the Sentiments contained in the above Quotation are fo just and liberal, that they can neither be of fenfive nor injurious to any Chriftian Reader. By these Principles, let the following Obfervations be examined. The DECALOGUE is acknowledged by all Chriftians to contain the Words of ETERNAL TRUTH; and the Sum and Substance of it is declared by our Lord himself to consist in "the LOVE OF GOD, and the LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOUR." Hence it was, that when he was afked by a certain Perfon, "what he should do, that he might inherit eternal Life?" he made no other than this short and plain Reply, "If thou wilt enter into Life, keep the Commandments," Matt, xix. 17. The Doctrine of Life, therefore, is clearly and fully revealed in the TEN COMMANDMENTS; and those, who "love Truth for Truth's Sake," need not be at a Lofs to discover the Way that leadeth unto unto Life. They need not confume their Time and Strength in fpeculative Investigations, or deep and unprofitable metaphyfical Inquiries. Let them begin with refifting their selfish and worldly Paffions. Let all selfish and worldly Prejudices and Interests be fet afide. In other Words, let them begin with close and ferious Self-Examination of their Hearts and Lives, their Affections and their Thoughts, as well as their Words and Deeds, by the Precepts of the Decalogue: If they are honeft and ingenuous in the Search, they will foon find, that in their Affections and Thoughts, if not in their Words and Deeds, they have greatly deviated from the Way of Life therein commanded: They will foon find, that in themselves they have no Strength to obey any one of the Precepts in Sincerity and Truth; 'but that they stand every Moment in Need of that Holy and All-powerful INFLUENCE, which proceeds. only |