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THE

PREFACE.

CANDID READER,

W

ERE it not apprehended by me a duty, thus to offer to thy ferious perufal the following plain and experimental obfervations upon various subjects, thou hadst not heard from me in this way.

I have often, with many brethren and fifters in the truth, been deeply affected in viewing the great danger Chriftian profeffors are exposed to through a prevailing indifference of mind.

For when a lethargic ftupefaction hath gained the ascendancy, religion in notion, and fruitlefs fpeculation, fatisfy a mind fo depraved. A renovation of heart, without which none can be truly religious, hath not been fought after. Pleased with the shell or form only, fuch have not been fenfible they wanted the substance.

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When the fubtil adversary finds men in this kind of fleep or ftupefaction, it is then his opportunity for sowing the tares amongst the wheat by fuch means the field of the Chriftian church became in process of time covered therewith. That which came nearest to my heart, and moft earnestly engaged my attention towards the prefent undertaking (not without ardent defires for the lasting advantage of Chriftians of all denominations) was, that the descendants of a people, who a little above a century ago were very marvellously brought out of, and redeemed from, all lifelefs fhadows, and empty forms of religion, to enjoy and be grounded in the bleffed power and life thereof, might be, preferved truly fenfible of the way and means whereby our worthy predeceffors obtained a firm eftablishment in the truth, as it is Chrift Jefus: for it is evident, where the means are neglected, the end cannot be attained.

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That many of thefe defcendants in this day of outward peace and plenty, inclining to falfe liberty and eafe, do fhun the cross of Chrift, which would crucify them to the world, is a mournful truth, too obvious to be denied. In confideration hereof, I found a concern to throw a few obfervations before them, as near as I could, fuited to the present ftate of things; endeavouring, in fome degree,

gree, to offer to the view of the present and fucceeding generations, by what means our worthy predeceffors became fuch a living honourable body of people; that the neceffity may fully appear of the fame bleffed power operating upon their minds, in order to qualify all, that they may rightly fucceed those valiants in maintaining the cause of God.

The objection which caft fome difcouragement in my way, may alfo occur to fome readers; viz. that the subjects treated of in this fmall tract have been divers times heretofore judiciously wrote upon by different authors. This is no more than may be faid of most other religious fubjects as well as thefe. Divine Wisdom and Goodness hath seen meet to revive the fame truths, by different inftruments, from generation to generation; the Lord's fervants fpeaking the fame thing, as with one mouth. Herein God's gracious condescension to human frailty is very confpicuous and wonderful, by caufing thofe excellent truths, fo effential to be received that man's foul may be faved, to be frequently revived and inculcated, feeing he is so liable to forget God, and his reafonable duty to him.

Having no defire to enlarge, I fhall only add my earneft prayer to the God and Father of all fure mercies, that this mite of fimple experimental truths, which I have caft into

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the treasury, may meet the serious reader, of whatever denomination, with the divine bleffing in it! If that graciously attend, though what is here offered may be juftly accounted as the barley-loaves, the hungry foul may receive some strength and refreshment thereby. 30th 8th Mo. 1764.

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