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This Declaration is made, not from any the leaft Sufpicion, that my Tenets are indefenfible. But because I would apprize my Friends, and the Friends of our common Chriftianity, that the Field is clear and open for them to advance; that I refign to others the glorious Combat; and fhall content myfelf with wishing them Succefs in the Name of the LORD. Because, it becomes a Perfen in my declining State, to be more peculiarly intent upon encountering a different Adversary; who is fure to overcome, and never allows Quarter. Yet, by this Word of my Testimony, and by the Blood of the LAMB*, I hope to triumph even when I fall; and to be more than Conqueror, through JEHOVAH my Righteousness.

Should any Thing be urged, forcible enough to overthrow my Arguments, or detect a Miftake in my Sentiments, the World may depend upon feeing a free and undiffembled Retractation. I shall look upon it as a Duty, which I owe to my Confcience, to my Readers, and to my GOD, publickly to acknowledge the Error.-It is one Thing to be filent; another to be obftinate. As I fall inflexibly adhere to the firft; I would, with equal Steadinefs, renounce the last. Though I withdraw from the Strife of Pens and of Tongues, I fall take

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* Rev. xii. II.

care to preferve a Mind, ever acceffible to Truth, ever open to Conviction. A Mind, infinitely more concerned for the Purity and Profperity of the everlasting Gofpel, than for the Prevalence of my own Opinion, or the Credit of my own Performance.

As I have the Happiness of being a Member, and the Honour of being a Minifter, of the reformed established Church; I cannot but reflect, with a peculiar Pleafure, that every Doctrine of Note, maintained in thefe Dialogues and Letters, is either implied in our Liturgy, afferted in our Articles, or taught in our Homilies.—It affords me likewife fome Degree of Satisfaction to obferve, that the most material of the Sentiments, have been adopted by Milton; are incorporated into his Paradife Loft; and add Dignity to the fublimeft Poem in the World.-To have the higheft Authority, and the firft Genius of the Nation on a Writer's Side, is no contemptible Support. This must furely give a Sanction, where-ever our religious Eftablishment is reverenced, or polite Literature is beld in Repute. Yet even this Sanction, compared with the Oracle of Revelation, is only like a Range of Cyphers, connected with the initial Figure. Which, were they detached, would be infignificant; but, in fuch a Subordination, are confiderable.

Perhaps,

Perhaps, it should be farther acknowledged, that I have not always confined myfelf to the Method of our Systematic Writers, nor followed their Train of Thoughts with a fcrupulous Regularity. I would conduct my Fellow-creature to the fupreme and eternal Good, CHRIST JESUS. I have chofen the Path, which feemed moft agreeable and inviting, rather than most beaten and frequented. If this leads, with equal Certainty, to the great and defirable End, I dare promife myself an eafy Excufe. However, that Method and Order, in the doctrinal Parts of the Plan, are not wholly neglected, the following Summary of Contents may fhew.

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