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Experience. Not to mention the Noble Army of Primitive Martyrs, our First Reformers fubmitted to Blood upon a Rational Belief: They went against the Prejudices of their Education. They were converted by Argument from their former Opinions, neither was the Question concerning the Authority of Chriftianity itself, but the Truth of Some of its particular Doctrines. Yet for these only did They lay down their Lives, and that with very aggravating Circumftances of Horror. The greater Importance of their future Intereft overballanced the prefent Terrors, and whatever is faid to the contrary may be confuted by Fact in a View of their Sufferings. The Inftance is the more Remarkable, as It is the very Cafe of Converfion, and fhews that the Alteration of a Man's First Notions does not immediately lead him to an Indifference to All Opinions whatfoever. The Common Observation is, We know, on the other Side, that Converts are apt to be most zealous, as indeed Who fhould be more in Earneft than Those, who are fatisfied They have embraced the Truth, not by Prejudice, but by Perfonal Enquiry and ferious Conviction? It would be ftrange to think, that a Rational Faith should in its own Nature be too cold a Principle of Action in Rational Creatures; or that Thofe,

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who upon Examination beft know that their Religion is well founded, fhould be therefore the leaft Zealous in its Favour. The Truth is, the little Effect which We fee of fo powerful a Principle of Piety and Virtue, as our Holy Religion, is owing to this very Cause, that Men do not examine it so much as They ought; that They bestow their Thoughts lefs on Religion than on any other Subject, and that They do not attend to it with that Diligence and Impartiality, which the Impor tance of it plainly deferves. Where it is rationally and faithfully attended to, It has better Influence; and the World, God be thanked, is not yet with all its Degeneracy without fome Glorious Inftances of the Spirit of Chriftia nity, fuch as fhew the great and good Effects of a Rational Faith; fuch as fhew the Excele lency of it in itself and its Usefulness to the World, and by a plain practical Proof give a ftrong prefumptive Argument of the Divine Commiffion of their Mafter. May the Numbers of fuch Profeffors daily increase, who by their Lives as well as Arguments illuftrate the Foundation of their Faith, the Heavenly Au thority of the Religion that influences them.

The Refult of all that has been offered, with Regard both to Faith and Practice, is briefly This; that We defend this Direction of the Apoftle

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Apostle against all Adverfaries whatsoever, and justify a free Enquiry into the Foundation and the Doctrines of Religion, as our best Preservative both from Infidelity and Superftition; that, by a fair and faithful Attention and Exa mination, the Evidences of our Faith may shine upon Us in their due Strength, and We may at the fame Time and by the fame Method be delivered from those Extravagancies of Enthusiasm, which have given an Handle to the Common Enemy to mifrepresent and ridicule the Whole; that, in our Conduct, We take the fame faithful Care to do Juftice to our Belief, that We may not difparage the Force of fo noble an Argument of its Truth and Usefulness, as is drawn from its Tendency to reform and amend the Practice of Mankind. If our Life be but answerable to our Faith, Its Evidence will be next to irresistible, and the Divine Original of it will be clearly visible in the Fruits which It produces. Thus fulfilling the true Design of our own Faith, We may recover Others to the Acknowledgment of it; and by Both answer the End of our Probation, carry on the Designs of Providence, and become Inftrumental to the Everlasting Happiness of Ourselves and our Fellow-Creatures.

FINI S.

Books Printed for and Sold by James Fletcher in the Turl, OXFORD.

XXXIX Articuli Ecclefiæ Anglicana, textibus Sacr. Script. & Patrum primavorum Teftimoniis confirmati, brevibufque Notis illuftrati. Adjectis infuper Nominibus Au&torum locifque in quibus Doctrina in Articulis conten ta fufius explicatur. Au&tore Edv. Welchman Archidiacono Cardigan.

Xenophontis Memorabilium Socratis Dictorum Libri IV, Græcè & Latinè, cum notis Integris Ernefti aliorumque felectis; nunc variis etiam novis obfervationibus adaucti & illuftrati. Huic Editioni accedunt Capitum, Verborum & Phrafium Indices locupletiffimi.

Anglia Judaica: or the Hiftory and Antiquities of the Jews in England, collected from all our Hiftorians, both Printed and Manufcript, as alfo from the Records in the Tower, and other publick Repofitories, by D'Bloffiers Tovey L.L.D. and Principal of New-Inn Hall, Oxon. 4to.

The Cafe of the Ministerial Maintenance ftated. A Sermon preach'd at the Triennial Vifitation of the Right Reverend Father in God Thomas Lord Bishop of Sarum, by John Spry B.D.

The Doctrine of a Future State, neceffary to the Welfare and Support of Civil Government. A Sermon preach'd at the Affizes, held at Warwick, March 28. 1739, by William Cleaver M.A.

The Time of our Saviour's coming confider'd, as to its Fitness and Propriety. A Sermon preach'd before the University of Oxford, on Sunday, Mar. 6. 1742-3, By William Cleaver M.A.

Defence of Church Mufick. A Sermon preach'd in the Cathedral Church of Hereford, at the Anniversary Meeting of the three Choirs, Worcester, Glocefter and Hereford, by Thomas Payne M.A.

The Jewish Difpenfation confidered and vindicated with a View to the Objections of Unbelievers, and particularly of a late Author call'd the Moral Philofopher. A Sermon preach'd before the University of Oxford, by

Francis Webber M.A..

The Cafe of Authority confider'd, as it refpects Religion, particularly the Christian. A Sermon preach'd at the Affizes, held at Oxford, July 19. 1742, by Francis Webber M.A.

Mr. Hole's Sermon preach'd at the Confecration of the Parish Church of Werrington, Devon.

Reflections on the natural Foundation of the high Antiquity of Govern ment, Arts, and Sciences in Egypt.

An Enquiry into the Scripture Doctrine concerning Future Punishment, occafion'd by fome late writings, particularly Mr. Whifton's Discourse of Hell Torments, by Matt. Horbery B. D. Fellow of Magd. Coll. Oxon.

The Connection between Irreligion and Immorality. A Sermon preach'd at the Affizes held at Oxford, March 1. 1743-4, by Ed. Bentham B. D.

An Introduction to Moral Philosophy by Edward Bentham B. D. Fellow of Oriel Coll, Oxon.

Plutarchi Demofthenis & Ciceronis Vita Parallelæ nunc primum feparatim edita. Græca recenfuit, Latine reddidit, notis illuftravit, Phil.Barton A. B. Coll, Nov. Socius.

The Genuineness of Lord Clarendon's History vindicated, Mr Oldmixon's Slander confuted, and the true State of the Cafe reprefented, by John Burton B. D. Fellow of Eton College.

The Folly and Wickedness of Mifplacing our Truft and Confidence. A Sermon preach'd before the University of Oxford on Wednesday April 9. 1744. being the Day appointed for a General Faft, by John Burton B. D. Fellow of Eton College.

The Inspiration of the Moral Parts of Scripture afferted. A Sermon preach'd at the Triennial Vifitation of the Right Rev. Father in God Ri chard Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry Aug. 29. 1744. by Matt. Horbery B. D. Fellow of Magd. Coll. Oxon.

The Influence of Education juftified with Regard to the Profeffion of Christianity. A Sermon preach'd before the University of Oxford at Saint Mary's May 6. 1744. by John Spry B. D. Vicar of Hendred in Berks.

Epiftola ad Phil. Hebræos Oxon.

Homeri Ilias Græce Edit. altera.

Platonis Dialogi Quinque Gr. Lat. Recenfuit, notifque illuftravit Nath. Forfter A. M. Coll. Corp. Chrifti Oxon.

Famiani Strada Prolufiones Academica.

Enquiry into the Medicinal Virtues of Bristol-Water, and the Indications of Cure which it anfwers, by George Randolph M. D.

Lately, published by Mr Dodwell

The Eternity of Future Punishment afferted and vindicated. In Answer to Mr Whifton's late Treatife on that Subject. In two Sermons preach'd before the University of Oxford, by William Dodwell M.A.

The Defireableness of the Chriftian Faith illuftrated and apply'd. A Sermon preach'd at the Triennial Vifitation of the Right Rev. Father in God Thomas Lord Bifhop of Sarum held at Reading on Thursday Aug. 30. 1744. by William Dodwell A. M.

Printed for J. Fletcher in the Turl Oxon. S. Birt in Ave Marie Lane, and J. Rivington in St Paul's Church-Yard, London.