588 PREFACE. the ministrymay be in some measure excited and encouraged hereby to do their part toward the revival of decaying piety. It is expressly with this view and design, that my worthy friend Mr. David Some, in Leicestershire, published an excellent sermon last year, the perusal whereof I would hear- tily recommend toall my brethren. The following exhortation to the peoplewas delivered in several dis- courses to thecongregation which I serve in the gospel; and I would hope it has made some serious impressions on the minds of those who heard it, since it had been much desired that they might have a reviewof it by the assistance of the press. Among the many motives which may be urged upon the con- sciencesof our hearers, in order to awakenthem to strengthen the things that remain and are ready to die, I thought it not improper to borrów some argu- ments for this purpose from their own profession as protestant dissenters, and as separating from the established worshipòf the nation : And this I have donewithout entering intoa detail of all the grounds of our practice, or vin- dicating the cause of non- conformity, which has been sufficiently performed byother writers. Whilewe quit all the outward advantages of the national establishment by worshipping in separate assemblies, it is presumedin the na- ture of things, that we do it, or at leastthat we should do it, upon the prospect of some better advantages for religion ; and we hereby also lay ourselves under special obligations to make the best improvement of these real or sup- posed advantages. But this particular motive relating to the dissenters is pursued only in the middle part of that discourse. The first and latter sections of it are of equal concern and importance to protestantsof every name and party : The sense andstyle are suited to common understandings: Novelties and elegancies are less needful, where the writer's whole aim is to charge and impress the consciencewith the plain rules and duties of practical religion. And, may the Spirit of God, by his heavenly influences, render what was designed sincerely for the revival of real godliness amongst us all, effectual to attain thisblessed end ! There is no party of christians whatsoever, who have liberty to chase their own way of worship, but pretend theyare blessed with some special advantages for the serviceof God, and their increase in piety or virtuebeyond their neighbours, and these pretended advantages lay them under proportion- able obligations of duty. A great part of thisaddress which I have made to ourpeople tends to enforce every sort of engagement upon their consciences, and to excite them to superiordegrees of holiness ; and it is the sincere de- sireof my soul, that our brethrenof the church of England also may im- prove to the utmost all their publicprivilegesof every kind for the increase of virtueand religion. May every denominationof christians in the land main- tain a holy emulation with each other, which of us shall run swiftest in the course of the christian life, and make the mosteminent advances toward the heavenly world! AMEN. Arate 2, 1731.
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