OR, A SERIES OF DIALOGUES AND LETTERS, UPON THE Most Important and Interefting Subjects. IN THREE VOLUME S. By JAMES HERVE Y, A. M. The Memorial of thine abundant Kindness fhall be hered, VOL. I. LONDON: Printed by Charles Rivington, For JoHN and JAMES RIVINGTON, at the Bible and MDCCLV. Шпинат ΤΟ The Right Honourable Lady FRANCES SHIRLEY. MADAM, F Chriftianity was inconfiftent with true Politeness, or pre judicial to real Happiness, I should be extremely injudi cious, and inexcufably ungrateful, in prefenting these Effays to your LADYBut as the Religion of JESUS SHIP. is the grand Ornament of our Nature, A 2 and and a Source of the fublimeft Joy, the Purport of the following Pages, cannot be unworthy the Countenance and Protection of the most accomplished Perfon. Neither can there be a With, more suitable to the Obligations or the Dictates of a grateful Heart, than that You may experience what You read, and be what You patronize. DID Religion confift in a formal Round of external Obfervances, or a forced Submiffion to fome rigorous Aufterities, I should not scruple to join with the Infidel and the Senfualift, to dread it in one View, and defpife it in another. You need not be informed, MADAM, that it is as much fuperior to all fuch low and forbidding Singularities, as the Heavens are higher than the Earth. It is defcribed by an Author, who learnt its Theory in the Regions of Paradise, and who difplayed its Efficacy in his own most moft exemplary Converfation.-It is thus defcribed by that incomparable Author ; The Kingdom of GOD, is not Meat and Drink, but Righteoufness, and Peace, and Joy in the HOLY GHOST. To be reconciled to the Omnipotent GOD-To be interested in the unfearchable Riches of CHRIST- To be renewed in our Hearts, and influenced in our Lives, by the fanctifying Operations of the Divine SPIRIT-This is evangelical Righteoufnefs. This is genuine Religion. This, MADAM, is the Kingdom of GOD established in the Soul.How benign and inviting is fuch an Inftitution! How honourable and advanta geous fuch a State! And from fuch Privileges, what other Effects can flow, but that Peace, which paffeth all UnderBanding? That Joy, which is unspeakable and glorious? |