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freshing coming from the presence,* or appearing, of this great KING of the church; when every man will rise into glory and honour, or sink into shame and everlasting contempt, according to the fidelity, or negligence of his present conduct: and to all shall be recompensed according to their present works.

Amen! Even so come Lord Jesus!

Acts iii. 19.

N. B. The above account hath been given chiefly with a view to shew the great ingratitude and treachery of Charles the second, and to set in its true light an historical fact, which seems to be forgotten in the reproaches occasionally thrown out against the dissenters, as enemies to monarchial government: for otherwise, it reflects no little disgrace upon the presbyterians, that they were seduced by the king's promises, and that they did not improve the glorious opportunity which his restoration afforded, of obtaining a real security both to religious and civil liberty.

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THE NATURE OF SCHISM, CHURCH AUTHORITY, AND CIVIL ESTABLISHMENTS OF RELIGION IS CONSIDERED; AND THE MEMORY OF THEIR FATHERS PURGED FROM THE ODIUM THERE CAST UPON THEM.

HUMBLY ADDRESSED TO THE IMPARTIAL WORLD; AND esPECIALLY TO THE WORTHY GENTLEMEN, WHOSE NAMES ARE PREFIXED AS SUBSCRIBERS TO THOSE SERMONS.

[FIRST PRINTED, 1739.]

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THE

DISSENTERS APOLOGY.

GENTLEMEN,

WE are far from being fond of troubling the

world with matters of dispute: the preseut situation of our common cause, both as christians and as protestants, calls for union and peace: but disgrace cuts deep; and to fall under public odium is one of the most afflictive evils of life.

In several of Dr. Warren's sermons, lately honoured by your subscriptions, the publisher (for the worthy author, now with God, has kinder sentiments of us) brings us forth upon the stage, and presents us to your view in a very odious and disgraceful light. As it was in his power to have suppressed these ungenerous and severe censures, and it is by him we are thus publicly arraigned and traduced, he has made himself answerable for the black charges he has advanced. By prefixing your honourable and worthy names, he appeals to you as judges of the brand he fixes on us: we are too ambitious of your esteem, gentlemen, to sit easy or silent under it, when we know ourselves innocent; we stand forth therefore,, as in your presence, to make our defence.

The sermon which the editor has placed in the front, as recommending it to special view, is intitled, "The schism of the Samaritans compared

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