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2
The Life
of
GOD
you knew not before; yet I am hopeful,
that what
cometh
from
one whom you are
pleafed to
honour
with
your
friendfhip,
and which is n1_ore particular!y ddigned
for your ufe, will be kindly accepted by
you; and G?d's providence perhaps may
fo direct my thoughts, that fomething or
other may prove
nieful
to you. · Nor !hall
1
doubt your pardon,
if, for n1oulding
my
difcourfe into the better frame, I lay
a l'ow foundation, begining w.ith the na–
ture and properties of religioh, . and all
along give fuch way to my thoughts, in
the profecution of the fubjeEt,
as may
, bring tne to fay many things whic:h were
not neceffary, did I only confider to
whon1
I am writing.
·
I-cannot fpeak of religion, but I mull:
· .
, lament, that, among fo nuny
M1ll:akes
a~
J
•
r
c
d
b
.
1·
·on
·pretenuers to
It, 10
rew
un er-
out re
1g1
•
·· fiand what
it means:
fome
placing it in the underfianding,
in·
ortho–
dox nt)[ions and opinions ; and all the
account they can give of their religion is
that they a_re of this or the
o~her perfua~
fion, and J1ave
joined themfelves to one
·of thofe many
{ccrs
wherein to Chriften–
dom is moft unhappily divided. Others
plac ,
it
in
the outward
man, in a conftant
. .courfe of
- extern~!
duties, and a model of
.....'--..:.<f.l
·
pefonuances :