. PREFAC E.

PERHAPS an obfcure ftudent of the history of religious controverfies may be somewhere found, who will not think the information unneceffary, that a book entitled "The Dif “sonance of the Four generally received Evan

gelifts, &c. by the Rev. E. Evanson," which fuggefted the principal fubjects of difcuffion in the following Lectures, was first published in the year 1792; that Dr. Priestley, in the year 1793, replied to this work in" Letters "to a Young Man;" that Mr. E. addreffed "A Letter to Dr. Priestley's Young Man" in the following year, and in a Poftfcript animadverted on another opponent, the Rev. D. Simpson; that a second edition of "The Dif"fonance" was published in 1805; that the doctrines and principles and arguments of

"The Diffonance" were ftill neglected by the established Clergy, with the exception of Mr. Simpson, till some of these were repeated (and they were merely repeated) in a Vifitation Sermon at Danbury in 1806, when this Sermon was examined in certain anonymous "Stric"tures," and also in a most able Letter to the author, the Rev. F. Stone, A. M. by the Rev. E. Nares, Rector of Biddenden; and laftly, that in 1807 a Canon of the New Teftament was published, according to the felection of Mr. Evanfon in his "Diffonance." It is fomewhat remarkable, that an attempt, like Mr. E's, to annul the testimony of the ancient Christians, as Christians, to the genuineness and authenticity of the Gofpels, did not excite more folicitude and exertion. This work had engaged my attention foon after its first publication, and at an early period of my life; and when I refumed this occupation, I found that the remains of this controverfial effay contained arguments which I had no occasion to strengthen, and were written in a style which I could not fubfequently improve. I did not pursue the enquiry at that time, because I daily expected that more experienced controverfialists would

appear in the field with armour of proof a. Mr. E. might have confidered himself as fortunate that he was not opposed by the late Bishop of Clonfert, (the pious, the learned, and the suffering Christian,) who was of opinion, that this fophiftical book should be examined and answered. Whilft I thus ftate to advantage the importance of the object of my own labours, the reader will sympathize in my regret, that what was thought worthy the powers of his mind was attempted by any other.

It is neceffary to remark, that the Discourse on the Greek language was finished several months before the publication of a difquifition on a part of the fame fubject in the Herculanenfia."

a To guard against misrepresentation I wish to obferve, that my Discourses comprise a much smaller extent of enquiry than Dr. Priestley's Letter, which contains a large proportion of very admirable argument; and, if I fhould not have my meaning distorted by a calumnious gang of local inquifitors and familiars, I would fay, that what I have done may be confidered as fupplementary to the orthodox parts of Dr. Priestley's reply.

The Truftees of the late Canon Bampton's benefaction require each Candidate for the appointment to the Lecture to preach before the University within the year preceding the election. The Difcourfe on November 5, 1808, which is fubjoined, is this probationary academical exercise.

I am obliged to the fingular patience of more than one friend, who perused, oftener than once, nearly all the difcourfes in manuscript; and if I have adopted only fome of their corrections, or inferted only fome of their suggested additions, (which, if collected together, would not occupy the space of more than three or four pages at the utmost,) I admit that the work is thus rendered lefs perfect but I wished as well to fuftain alone the whole cenfure, as to lay an undivided claim to the whole of the approbation of the public.

With respect to the Difcourfe on the fifth of November, as originally published, I am refponsible for every fentiment and expreffion, and, with one exception, for every fact. I have been fince reminded, that Archbishop Tillotson, in his fermon on the fame