VIII, an utter extinction of being: or, he apprehend eth them to be the juft judgments of the wife and righteous Governor of the world, whom he hath offended by his fins. And vain it is to brave it against the wrath of heaven. Not to fear creatures like ourselves, in a just cause, argueth a noble and manly fortitude: but not to fear God, the Almighty Lord of the Universe, is not courage, but madnefs. The only pro per thing which remaineth for fuch perfons to do, and it is what reafon, as well as Scripture, directeth to, is to humble themselves deeply under the mighty hand of God, and to flee to his infinite mercy, through Jefus Chrift, in à hearty compliance with the most reasonable and gracious terms which he hath appointed, for obtaining an interest in his grace and favour. Upon the whole, the beft thing that can be wifhed, for the honour of God, for the happiness of mankind, and for the real welfare of our country, is, that a hearty zeal for the knowlege and practice of our holy religion may have a revival among us: and that perfons of all orders and conditions may join in contributing to promote its facred interefts. And notwithstanding the corruption too juftly complained of, there are many, I am perfuaded, among us, and may the number of them daily encrease, who are earneftly defirous to do this. Every man has it in his power to contribute fomething towards it, at leaft by endeavouring to walk in a converfation becoming the Gospel. But there are fome perfons who have peculiar advantages for doing honour VIII. honour and service to Chriftianity. Thofe efpe-LETTER cially that are distinguished by their HIGH RANK, their FORTUNE and QUALITY, fhould make use of the influence this gives them for recommending and promoting true religion and virtue, which will add a luftre to their titles and dignities, 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 praise 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 Chriftianity, to inftruct the people in its important doctrines, and build them up in their moft 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 themfelves 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 1 only LETTER Only do the highest fervice to religion, but pro VIII. cure the greatest honour to themselves, and the moft juft veneration for their facred character; which, where it is not difgraced by a conduct unworthy of it, naturally demandeth the esteem and regard of all the true friends to religion and virtue. For thefe 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 Spiritual 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, fhould 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, Fel. 6, I am, dear and worthy Sir, Tour most affectionate And obliged Friend and Servant, JOHN LELAND. = AN INDEX TO THE View of the Deiftical Writers, AND THE SUPPLEMENT. N. B. The larger figures, I, II, III. are defigned to A A. BBADIE Mr.-His arguments to prove that ABBE DE PARIS. -The miracles pretended to be tion tion to an excefs, ib. 107. voluntarily and defign- ABRAHAM-God's entering into covenant with him 140. ALLEGORIES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT -Not de- ANGELS-the notion of them represented by Lord ANGELS FALLEN-Nothing in the Scripture doctrine APOSTLES-An entire harmony among them in the ATHEISTS |