Sixteen SERMONS

Preached in St. Mary-le-Bow-Church, London;
At the Honourable Mr. BOYLE'S LECTURES,
in the Years 1711, and 1712.

With large NOTES, and many curiousS OBSERVATIONS.

By W. DERHAM, Canon of Windfor, Rector
of Upminster in Effex, and F.R.S.

Mala & impia confuetudo eft contra Deos difputare, five animo id fit,
five fimulate. Cicer. de Nat, Deor. L. 2. fine.

The FIFTH EDITION, more Correct than any of the former.

LONDON: Printed for W. and J. INNYS, at the
Prince's-Arms the Weft End of St. Paul's.

1720.

TIS

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Most Reverend Father in GOD,

THOMAS,

Lord Archbishop of CANTERBURY.
Primate of all ENGLAND, &c.

The Surviving TRUSTEE of the Honourable
Mr. BOTLE'S LECTURES.

May it pleafe Tour Grace,

May justly put thefe LECTURES under your Graces Patronage, their Publication being wholly owing to You: For having the Honour to be a Member of the ROYAL SOCIETY, as well as a Divine, I was minded to try what I could do towards the Improvement of Philofophical Matters to Theological Ufes; and accordingly laid a Scheme

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Scheme of what I have here published a Part of, and when I had little else to do, I drew up what I had to fay, making it rather the diverting Exercises of my Leifure Hours, than more ferious Theological Studies. This Work, (although I made a confiderable Progress in it at first, whilft a Novelty, yet) having no Thoughts of Publifhing, I laid afide, until your Grace, being informed of my Design by fome of my Learned Friends, both of the Clergy and Laity, was pleased to call me to the unexpected Honour of Preaching Mr. Boyle's LECTURES: An Honour I was little aware of in my Country-Privacy, and not much. acquainted with Perfons in high Stations and not at all, particularly, with your Grace. So that therefore as it pleafed your Grace, not only to confer an unfought profitable Honour upon me (a Stranger) but also to continue it for Two Years, out of Your good Opinion of my Performance, in fome measure, answering Mr. Boyle's End; fo I can do no less than make this publick, grateful Acknowledgment of your Grace's great and unexpected Favour.

But it is not my felf alone; but the whole LECTURE alfo is beholden to your Grace's kind and pious Endeavours. It was You that encouraged this noble Charity, and affifted in the Settlement of it, in the Honourable Founder's Life-time; and fince his Death, it was You that procured a more

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