honour and service to Chriftianity. Thofe efpe-LETTER cially that are diftinguifhed by their HIGH RANK, I their FORTUNE and QUALITY, fhould make ufe of the influence this gives them for recommending and promoting true religion and virtue, which will add a luftre to their titles and digni ties, and is one of the best ways they can take to fhew their regard to the public happiness. MAGISTRATES fhould account it their duty and their honour to employ the authority they are invested with, for ferving the interests of religion, and discountenancing vice and wickednefs; fince for this purpose they are appointed, that they may be for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praife of them that do well. And it is then that their authority will have its proper influence, when it is ftrengthened by that of their own good example. But above all, they who are honoured with the character of the MINISTERS of the holy Jefus fhould make it the very bufinefs of their lives to spread and promote real vital Christianity, to inftru& the people in its important doctrines, and build them up in their most holy faith, and to enforce upon them the excellent duties it enjoins, by all the powerful and most engaging motives which the Gospel fets before us. And that their inftructions may have the proper effect, it highly concerneth them to keep themselves free from the fashionable vices and follies of the age, and to endeavour to be enfamples to their flocks, by a well-tempered zeal, piety, and charity, and the virtues of a holy life. Thus will they not only VIL. LETTER Only do the highest service to religion, but proVIII. cure the greatest honour to themselves, and the moft juft veneration for their facred character, which, where it is not difgraced by a condu& unworthy of it, naturally demandeth the esteem and regard of all the true friends to religion and virtue. For these valuable and excellent purposes, may the God of all grace pour forth his holy Spirit upon all orders and degrees of men in these nations, that, as they bear the honourable name of Chriftians, they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; and, being filled with the knowlege of his will in all wisdom and fpiritual understanding, may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleafing, being fruitful in every good work. I may be thought perhaps to have infifted too largely upon these things. But I cannot but think, that one of the principal things which ought to be propofed in books written in defence of Christianity, should be not merely to promote the fpeculative belief of it, but to engage men to that which is the main defign of its excellent doctrines, as well as precepts, a holy and a virtuous practice. Dublin, Feb. 6, I am, dear and worthy Sir, Tour most affectionate And obliged Friend and Servant, JOHN LELAND. ΑΝ INDE X ТО Т Н.Е View of the Deiftical Writers, AND THE SUPPLEMENT. N. B. The larger figures, I, II, III. are defigned to fignify the First, Second, and Third Volume: and the smaller, the pages of the Volume referred to. A BBADIE Mr.-His arguments to prove that Mofes was the author of the Pentateuch not fairly reprefented by Lord Bolingbroke, Vol. II. p. 368. ABBE DE PARIS. -The miracles pretended to be wrought at his tomb confidered: and it is fhewn, that no argument can be justly drawn from thence to the difadvantage of the miracles wrought by Christ and his apoftles, II. 113, et feq. The high opinion of his fanctity chiefly owing to his extraordinary aufterities, III. 106. He carried fuperftiVOL. III. B b tion. tion to an excess, ib. 107. voluntarily and defign- ABRAHAM-God's entering into covenant with him 140. ALLEGORIES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT-Not de- figned to be paffed upon the people as a literal nar- ANGELS-the notion of them reprefented by Lord ANGELS FALLEN-Nothing in the Scripture doctrine 143. -- APOSTLES An entire harmony among them in the ATHE STS ATHEITS-Can only cavil; but cannot reafon against - ATKINSON Mr. His Vindication of the literal fenfe ATTRIBUTES OF GOD-Moral attributes neceffarily B. BALGUY Mr. John-His Letter to the Deifts, con- Bb 2 the |