than fpeculative Chriftians, but that to explain and enforce the doctrines of the gospel is a better way to produce an unshaken perfuafion of their truth, than to collect and refute the cavils of adverfaries, which, though they are often trifling, are notwithstanding innumerable. I hope this will excufe the introducing feveral pelages of Scripture in the last-mentioned Treatile, and applying them on what appears to me to be their obvious meaning, without taking the leaft notice of the unwearied pains frequently taken by wire drawing critics to interpret them in a contrary fenfe. I have only further to add, that the liberty which the publishers feem refolved to take of adding to this collection two anonymous Treatifes, is what I could not prevent; and therefore if there be any thing in them improper or offenfive, they alone are to answer for it. London, J. W. ESSAY ESSAY ΟΝ ΤΗΕ CONNEXION BETWEEN THE Doctrine of JUSTIFICATION BY THE Imputed RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST, AND HOLINESS OF LIFE: With fome Reflections upon the Reception which that Doctrine hath generally met with in the World. To which is prefixed, A LETTER to the Rev. Mr. JAMES HERVEY, Rector of Wefton-Favell, Northamptonshire, Author of THERON and ASPASIO. The THIRD EDITION. VOL. I. B то TO THE Rev. Mr. JAMES HERVEY, &c. SIR, WHEN Chrift our Saviour was about to go to his Father, be told his disciples, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world, but I have chofen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. I am perfuaded, that by this, he did not only intend to forewarn the twelve of the offence which that generation would take at the ignominy of the cross, but also to intimate, that the cafe would be the fame in all ages; that his doctrine would meet with great refiftance and oppofition, and that the temper and character of his real difciples would be very different from the fpirit that would generally prevail in the world. This hath been continually verified in experience. For as many in the highest ftations, and of highest repute for wifdom in the world, did fet themselves against the gospel at its first publication, fo even where there is a nominal profeffion of it, there is still an oppofition to its doctrines, in their fimplicity B 2 and and purity, by the world, that is to fay, thofe, who bave most fway in it, who are the most paffionate admirers of its fashions, and the most affiduous profecutors of its honours and pleasures. It may be alfo obferved, that there is fometimes, perhaps even generally, a fovereignty of divine providence in the choice of the inftruments employed in Spreading the gospel. As, at first, twelve illiterate fishermen were chofen; fo, often fince that time, the weakest and most unlikely have been pitched upon, that our faith might not ftand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Hence it fre quently happens, that it is not only difficult to make men believe the gospel, but even to per fuade them to bear it. They are apt to defpife and deride the meffage, because of the meanness of the messenger, or the homeliness of the terms in which it is delivered. This is particularly the cafe with the prefent age. From a certain love of eafe, and luxury of mind, they defpife and trample upon all instructions, which have not fomething pleafing and infinuating in their drefs and form. You, Sir, are one of thofe happy few, who have been willing to confecrate the finest natural talents to the fervice of Chrift in the gospel, and are not ashamed of his cross. You have been able to procure attention upon some subjects, from many who would hardly have given |