WITH DIVINE INFERENCES. CONTAINING, I. THE Proof of a Neceffary, II. THE Nature of Eternity and III. THE Nature of the Punish- Author's Opinion of the Place of IV. THE Nature of the Creation of our Globe the Earth, and Re- Particular. V. THE Ninth Chapter of St. charitable Doctrines of abfolute the Contrary proved therefrom; with Remarks upon the pernici- ous Confequences that have at- deftructive of the Nature of Re- VII. Religion and Virtue recom- WILLIAM, DUKE of Devonshire, Marquis of Hartington, Earl of Devon fhire, Baron Cavendish of Hardwick, Lord Lieutenant and Cuftos Rotulorum of the County of Derby, one of His Majefty's moft Honourable Privy-Council, Lord High Steward of His Majefty's Houfhold, and Knight of the moft Noble Order of the Garter, c. May it pleafe your GRACE, INCE I have had the Ho S nour of your Grace's moft liberal Subscription to my following Design, and likewife the Encouragement of your Grace's Patronage, I beg Leave to make my most grateful Acknowledgments for the fame; not doubting but your Grace's great Condefcenfion and kind Acceptance of a Performance intended for the general and fpiritual Good of Mankind, in the Behalf of Religion and Virtue, will have the A 2 the greater Force and Influence upon the Minds of the Readers, and incline them to a due Attention. For as the World cannot be ignorant of thofe illuftrious Virtues which flow from your Grace, and are derived to you from your most renowned Ancestors; fo I cannot but perfuade my self, that your Grace's Approbation of this well-meant Endeavour will render it more serviceable to the World, and make it better answer the End propos'd by, Tour GRACE'S Moft Obliged, and Most Devoted, Humble Servant, Benjamin Parker. THE PREFACE. HE following Difcourfes are defign'd to rectify the prevail ing Errors in Faith and Prac T tice, fo vifible amongst us, and fo difgraceful to our Holy Religion. How far I shall fucceed in this Attempt, which I am fure is well defign'd, I must leave to the Grace of God acting upon the good Difpofition of the Readers. If any shall charge me with erroneous Principles in any of the Hypothefes I have maintain'd, whether Divine or Philofophical, I defire they will be fo just as to produce their Reasons for doing fo; and I shall either fubmit to them, if convincing, or else produce fome better Reasons, if I can, to support my own Principles, than they have done to deftroy them. 1 I am entirely fatisfied (and hope I have produced fufficient Arguments to fatisfy all reafonable Men) in the Principles I have maintain'd. against the Doctrine of God's determining the Happiness or Mifery of his Creatures in a future |