PREFACE, TO "THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST, " &c. THE author of these papers has been often grieved to see such a new sort ofchristianity published and propagated in the world, as leaves out the propi- tiatorysacrifice of our blessedSaviour, and the sanctifying operations of the HolySpirit, which in his esteem are two of the chiefgloriesof the gospel. He humbly hopes it was a sincere zeal for those momentous truths that set his pen to work, and a just sense of the influence which these truths have upon almost all that piety and virtue, which can be called christian. He leaves it to more learned writers to manage this controversy in a way of strict and regular dispute. He bath chosen this manner of publishing his sentiments, with some hope that they may bebetter accepted by those who stand in most need of them, and particularly by the polite readers of the age, who seek something to entertain, as well as to instruct and profit. If there are any sudden starts ofthought found here out of place, any abrupt sentences or paragraphswithout that logical method or exact connexion, which would be expected in a set discourse ; let it be remembered that this book isbut a sort of conversation-piece among a few private friends, who pretend not to theological accuracies. As to the names introduced in this conversation, they are not designed to represent any particularperson living : But if any of my readers should find their own principles and their character described under the sentiments of Agrippa or Cavenor, the authorentreats them to believe that they are the per- sons for whose sake he took this pains, and he begs the favour of them to read without prejudice or partiality, and witha temper of mind suited to the weight and dignity of the subject, and that they would snake scripture their only judge of truth and error in this debate. Andmay the goodSpirit of God render this little discourse useful toput some stop to the growth ofthese danger- ous opinions, to recover those who are fallen into error, and to establish others who are wavering in such important points of the christianfaith.
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