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T

HE following difcourfes were originally

part of a larger defign, tending to fhew that arts and fciences, natural and revealed religion, have upon the whole been progreffive, from the creation of the world to the present time; as also that they have been suited to each other, as well as to the circumftances of mankind, during each eminent period of this their progreffion. A theory, which, when fairly reprefented, might be fuppofed to give some fatisfaction to many thoughtful perfons; who being convinced of the existence and attributes of one fupreme first cause, yet are so unhappy as to entertain strong prejudices against every kind of Revelation from him; chiefly on account of the circumftances, under which it seems to have been communicated; which they are unable to reconcile with the course and order of Divine Providence in other refpects: as well as to affift fome ferious enquirers, who are perb ps equally at a lofs in their search after any settled order, in either of these Establishments: but yet, if they could once perfuade themselves in general, that one of these proceeded in fome fort of uniform ratio, and analogy with the other; and that both were in a state of progreffion; would probably have patience to wait a while, in hopes of feeing their particular objections gradually removed in each, by the fame rules.

Having formerly attempted to clear up fome of the chief difficulties that occur in our conceptions

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tions of the Deity, and his Providence, in a commentary on Archbishop King's Essay on the Origin of Evil; I have fince had the pleasure of seeing those principles which were originally advanc'd there, adopted by a late celebrated writer; and adorned with all the graces of poetry. This is a continuation of the fame defign, of justifying the ways of God to man: and from the very nature of that defign, however imperfectly executed, there is fome ground for hoping that it may still find the fame favourable regard, without any more particular apology.

The notes are chiefly calculated for a commonplace, or Index; to direct the industrious reader to fuch authors, more especially among the moderns, as might furnish him with as juft and proper observations or hints on each head, as I could think myself capable of producing; what character foever fome of them may bear among the learned. And indeed, provided the notions were but good and feasonable, I have not been very folicitous under whose name, or in what place, and manner, they appeared. It must be confeffed, that even fome of the loweft clafs fometimes have several useful things not to be met with elsewhere; though few would think it worth their while to feek there for them; which tends (according to the obfervation of an eminent writer) to shew the benefit of general reading: neither would it be quite fair to borrow any thing from fuch, without a due acknowledgement; nor can we be understood to answer for any of them, farther

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Where any

farther than the point reaches, for which they were expressly cited, or referred to. thing seemed necessary to be added or supplied, it will be found either introducing thefe; or intermixed among them, as occafion offered: and in pursuance of this humble plan, the inferting all new writers as they came forth, or fell in my way, fince the first impreffion, muft occafion moft of thofe alterations and additions that have hitherto been made. For whenever any new obfervations, relative to the main fubject occurred to me; and it is hardly to be fuppofed, but that in a course of years fome fuch fhould occur; the fetting them down seemed a debt due to the publick, and will prove fo, if they are really of confequence; if not, the doing it must be deemed lefs prejudicial to those perfons who are poffeffed of any former edition.

As for the two Difcourfes annexed; the former ought to be confidered as confifting only of a few loose traites, or general reflections, on a fubject which can never be too much attended to; and if it contain any valuable observations, either fpeculative, or practical, or of a mixed kind; however obvious they may appear, 'tis hoped they will be no less acceptable for their general use: part of the latter pretends to nothing more, than a brief representation of the Scripture-Doctrine, on a point not yet fufficiently understood; and from the reception that and fome other points of the like kind feem lately to have met with, it may be perhaps a part of Chriftian pru

dence

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