то

SAMUEL BRENT, Esq.

DEAR SIR,

ROTHERHITHE.

WHEN I first announced my inten

tion of undertaking the private tui

tion of youth, you immediately entrusted me with the care of your fons, and thus placed me in the important province of an inftructor of the rifing generation. To you, therefore, I refpectfully infcribe this little publication; which is chiefly defigned for their benefit and improvement. No original work of mine could have laid an equal claim to your patronage and attention.

To have the minds of youth furnished with the principles, and made acquainted with the Spirit of the Chriftian religion, would prove, I am perfuaded, the most effectual prefervative against the infidelity and the uncharitableness of the prefent age.

Accordingly in the Sketch of the Denominations of the Chriftian World, I have attempted to ftate the general doctrines of revealed religion; the opinions by which its fects are difcriminated, and the purpofes to which diverfity of religious fentiment should be applied. The very candid manner in which this work has been received by all parties, together with its rapid and extenfive fale, demands my warmeft thanks; and has, indeed, emboldened me to proceed to the completion of the plan which I had there, in part, executed.

In this fecond publication, (which is a fequel to the preceding, and which is now humbly prefented to the public) I have brought together and concentrated into one focus, the teftimonies of certain refpectable Proteftant writers, in behalf of the rational and pacific fpirit of the gofpel of Jefus Chrift. Infidels, efpecially thofe of the prefent day, are pleafed to affert, that the Chriftian religion prohibits the exercife of reafon, demands an implicit faith in the doc

trines it promulgates, and establishes, among the weak and the credulous, a fyftem of uncharitableness, intolerance, and perfecution. Hence they think

themselves juftified, not only in withholding their affent to the evidence it propofes; but in characterizing it by epithets of marked reprobation. This, however, is a palpable mifreprefentation of its genius and tendency. For from thefe teftimonies of the firm and enlightened advocates of revelation, unbelievers may learn, that it is worthy of a divine origin, and deferving of univerfal acceptation; zealots may be taught how to conduct themselves towards their brethren of different fentiments, while the united declarations of this most respectable cloud of witnesses form an eloquent and an ufeful comment on the injunction of our bleffed Saviour to his dif ciples, A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another.

Very confiderable pains, fir, have been taken in felecting and tranfcribing the fubfequent teftimonies. But of the weight

due to the feveral authors, we shall judge according to our own peculiar fentiments. It is not, therefore, expected that the approbation of every reader will be obtained, though I have been careful to admit no one writer, who has not, in his day, been diftinguished for his genius, his literature, and his piety. Moft perfons will here meet with their favourite authors; and to me, in the execution of the prefent work, it was a matter of indifference whether they were of Paul, or of Apollos, or of Cephas, provided they were of Christ. It may be alfo added, that I have not availed myfelf of every theological writer which might have been procured; nor have I inferted every paragraph in behalf of candour and unanimity, which is to be found in the writings of the authors which are here introduced. Indeed my chief defign is to fhew the avowed enemies, and to remind the bigoted profeffors of revelation, that wife and good men, of all denominations, have in their calm and collected moments

fidered the right of private judgment, in