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Difpofitions are faid to Symbolize with the Planet of their Nativity.

For this Reafon, I believe, it has happened, that thefe Difcourfes run more upon a Philofophick Strain, than any other Compofitions of mine do, of this Na

ture and Character. And I am mine do so; not

they

only, because they will afford a more fuitable Entertainment to your Lordship's Contemplative and Philofophick Genius, (if a Perfon that has fo much brighter Thoughts at command of his own, can be faid to be Entertain'd by any thing that comes from fo vulgar a Hand,) but also,because,I think, we cannot do better Service to Religion, than by refolving the Practical Duties of it into Principles of Philofophy; or make a better ufe of PhiloSophick Notions, than to employ them in the Service, and for the Intereft of Religion.

How far thefe Ends are served in the Contents of the following Papers, every Reader has now fome fort of Right to judge; but few, I believe, will be found, in any Order or Clafs of Men, fo well qualified to do it, as your Lordship; whofe general infight into the whole Compass of Learning, and whose particular Excellency, even to nicety and exactness, in the more refined Theories of Philofophy, are so well known to the World, that they deservedly render you at once the Admiration and the Glory of a nice and inquifitive Age; which is fo ingaged in the view of your Perfonal Excellencies, that your Birth, Quality, and great Station make the least part of your Character; as the Eye is fo fill'd and taken up

with the Lufter of the Sun, as hardly to mind the Height of the Orb from whence it shines.

My Lord, I know not whether fuch Qualifications as thefe,make you any whit the fitter for the Patronage of thefe Difcourfes, or of the Author of them; wbo may have too much reafon to dread the Severity of fuch a Judge, and whofe intereft might have advised him to seek out for a lefs judicious Patron, one that was more of a Level with himself. But the great Obligations I am under to your Lordship,above all other Men, make it my Duty to address my self and my (however mean) Performances to your Lordfhip; which I do with all that Reverential Deferènce which is owing to your Lordship's Quality and PerSonal Greatness, with all that Modefty and Concern that ought to accompany fo defective a Prefent, and with all that Sense of Gratitude which becomes that fingular Favour, wherewith (to the Hazard of your own Judgment) your Lordship has been generously pleafed lately to honour,

Your Lordship's

Very Humble,

Obedient and Obliged Servant,

J. NORRIS.

ΤΟ

TO THE

REA DE R·

You

have here fome of those Thoughts wherewith I entertain my Solitude, and which have help'd to fill up fome of those Joofer Hours which hang upon a Country-Life, and which I think are thus much more accountably · spent than in beating about after News, or holding tedious and impertinent Chat about StateConcerns. It is my serious and real Judgment that thefe Difcourfes both in regard of their Subjects and the manner wherein they are handled, may be fitted for publick Ufe and Service, and may contribute to improve both the Theory and the Practice of Religion; and for this Reason I am induced to Communicate them to the Publick. As for any Honour or Reputation that may happen to redound to my self by them, as I hope it was not my governing motive in this Undertaking, fo do I defire to renounce and disclaim it, partly as a thing that is not my Due, (for what pretence can a Creature and a Sinner have to any fuch thing as Glory ?) and partly as too vain and too empty a Good for a Rational Spirit to take up with, especially having fo many greater things to imploy both his Thoughts and his Defires

upon,

upon, having a God and a Confcience to whom he may study to approve, and with those well done he may without any great Self-denial, content himself. If therefore my good Reader, you happen to find here any new Notion discover'd, or any useful and important Truth clear'd, or any Duty of Religion rationally accounted for, or affectionately and advantagiously recommended ; if in fhort, you find either your Head inlightned, or your Heart warmed and put into a quicker Motion by any thing offer'd to your Confideration in thefe Difcourfes, bestow not your Praises or Commendations upon the Author of them, who would not deferve them if he defired them, or dared to take them; but rather joyn with him in afcribing all the Glory to the great Teacher and Instructer of Mankind, to him who fhines upon all our Minds with the Beams of his Divine Light, and informs us (even while we think we instruct one another) in the fecret recess of our Reafon ; to him who is the Substantial Wisdom of the Eternal Father, and the Light of all his Creatures, in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge, and who is the true Light that enlightens both you and me, and every Man that comes into the World; whofe is the Kingdom and the Power, and to whom be the Glory. Amen.

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