MODERATION, or a Candid DISPOSITION towards those that differ from us, recommended and enforc'd: A SERMON Preach'd in the PARISH-CHURCH OF HALIFAX, On Sunday, July the 28th, 1751. By JOHN WATSON, A. M. Fellow of Brazen-Nofe College, Oxford, and Curate of the faid Parish-Church. Manchefter Printed for the Author by R. Whitworth, •974 THE iii PREFACE. THE Reader is defir'd to take Notice, that the following Sermon had never Jeen the World bad not fome Mifreprefentations of it, which manifeftly tended to leffen the Author's Character, render'd the publishing of it neceffary to the Exculpation of himself. Perhaps the unprejudic'd World may be Jurpriz'd to bear that any Displeasure fhou'd be fhewn, any Clamour rais'd, against a Difcourfe that is of the healing kind, and which too is penn'd with all A 2 due iv The PREFACE. due Evenness of temper, but as this most probably is owing to Mifapprehenfion in thofe that beard it, and Misinformation in those that did not, an Opportunity is now given to one, as well as to the other, of reporting nothing but what in Fact was faid; and it is hop'd that whoever reads it will pass no Judgment upon it but what is coolly, and deliberately form'd, confidering it with the Candour, and Impartiality that shou'd be in every real Friend to Truth, and avoiding every Reflection that has the leaft Appearance of Ill-nature in it; moreover forbearing to criticise upon the Propriety, or Impropriety of particular Words, or Phrafes, (for that is a mean Employment) and confidering only whether the main Principles therein laid down are right or no : If they are really dangerous, it wou'd be well in those that fee it, to favour the World, or at least the Author, with their Reasons why they are fo; he is a Friend to Information, and will pay a due Re gard |