A fuccinct and genuine Account of their original and present
CONSTITUTION, DISCIPLINE, DOCTRINES, WORSHIP, and
CEREMONIES: With a general Account of the various Sectaries of
less Note, since the first Establishment of Christianity.

Including a general History of the REFORMATION, and so much of
Civil and Ecclefiaftical History as is connected with, or necessary
to explain and illustrate the WORK.

TO WHICH IS ADDED,

A DICTIONARY of the principal Religious ORDERS, OFFICES, DAYS,
RITES, CUSTOMS, HABITS, and CHARACTERS ; the most impor-
tant TRANSACTIONS of Ecclesiastical COUNCILS, SYNODS, &C.
explaining all fuch ambiguous Words and Phrases as have a proper
Connexion with the Subjects of this History.

By an IMPARTIA

MPARTIAL HAND.

THE SECOND EDIΤΙΟΝ.

LONDON:

Printed for C. HENDERSON, at the Royal Exchange; W. NICOLL, in
St. Paul's Church Yard; and J. JOHNSON, opposite the Monument

MDCCLXIV.

THE

PREFACE.

245

O improve the Understanding in any Branch of useful Knowledge, has ever been esteemed a laudable Pur

& fuit; and every Attempt to facilitate 東東魚 the Propagation of Knowledge, in Proportion to the Nature and Importance of the Subject, and the Propriety of the Method, will, it ☑ is presumed, meet with Approbation and Encouragement.

To obtain a Skill in the Sciences is, indeed, the Business and Profession only of a few Men of distinguished Abilities; but there are many who have Capacity and Leisure to improve and enrich their Minds in various Branches of Knowledge; even the lower Order of Men have particular Callings and Concerns in Life, in which it behoves them to employ their Reason in the Use of proper Helps for their Improvement.

The common Duties and Benefits of Society, which interest every Man living, as he is a social Creature ; even our particular and necessary Relations to a Family, a Neighbourhood, or Government, oblige all Persons to exercise their reasoning Powers in a Variety of Cafes, before they can come

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