not be gently led to grant all that is required of him, and rather more than lefs; to fet before men fome of the virtues, as well as failings, of the ancient Chriftians, whence they may draw practical inferences; to excite in their hearts a love for Christianity, that beft gift of Heaven. to mankind, and a refpect, though not a fuperftitious veneration, for thofe good men, who, if they could not difpute for it altogether fo well as the prefent generation, yet, which is more, could die for it; to reject those trifles which perfons of greater zeal than difcernment would obtrude upon the world as golden reliques of Primitive Chriftianity; and to add feveral things of a miscellaneous and philological kind, which will serve, at least, to diverfify the subject. Such is the intention of the Work: may it attone for its defects!

There is fome comfort arifing from a candid obfervation of the younger Pliny; Hiftoria quoquo modo fcripta delectat. A homely collection

of remarkable tranfactions and revolutions has ever fomething to recommend it to favour and if this be true of Hiftory, it is likewife true of thoughts and obfervations on History, if they be not quite impertinent. They who represent it as a perfect lofs of time to perufe fuch authors as the Hiftoria Auguftæ Scriptores (though they are illuftrated by excellent Commentators) and the Byzantine Writers, have a taste too polite and faftidious; fince, where better Hiftorians are not to be had, thofe of an inferior class must supply their place, and become neceffary and

3

valuable

A French writer

valuable on many accounts. is on our fide, who fays, Tout livre eft bon, Every book is good: for thus he translates the Latin title of a Treatife of Philo Judæus, Omnis bonus liber eft, Every good man is a free man. It was

well for him that he did not live within the reach of the Inquifition, which might have taken this as a reflexion on the Index Expurgatorius.

The Author would willingly efcape the diflike of fome of thofe perfons with whom perhaps he will be found not entirely to agree. He and they are engaged in the fame common caufe, and he hopes that, for the fake of many remarks contained in this work, they will excuse the reft; as on his fide, a diverfity of fentiments, in fome points, leffens not the regard and value which he has for them, and which they fo juftly deferve. In one respect he pretends to be extremely like Jofeph Mede. I have a conceit, fays that excellent perfon, that Some opinions are in fome fort fatal to fome men, and therefore I can with much patience endure a man to be contrary-minded, and have no inclination to contend with him.-There is more goes to perfuafion than reafons and demonftrations, and that is not in my power.-There are few men living who are lefs troubled to fee others differ from them in opinion than I am; whether it be a virtue or a vice, I know not.

One of the nobleft ufes which can be made of Chriftian Antiquities would be to learn wifdom, and union, and moderation, from the

faults,

faults, indifcretions, and follies, and from the prudence, charity, and piety of our predeceffors; to obferve carefully what was good, and what was blameable in remoter ages, and thence to improve ourselves, as we are a Chriftian nation, by removing the blemishes and defects, from which perhaps we are not free, and by adopting every thing commendable which we may have neglected.

A Chriftian fociety, formed upon fuch a plan, would not altogether answer the fair and bright idea which the Imagination represents, because Perfection dwells not here below, and some bad materials muft of neceflity enter into the ftructure; but it would be more than a faint copy and image of that Church, which the beloved Difciple had the pleasure to fee coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, who had no need of the fun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb was the light thereof. Rev. xxi.

For this excellent end and purpose the divine Providence feems to have preferved Ecclefiaftical Records, and has commanded devouring Time to respect them, that Pofterity might receive inftruction from thofe venerable and filent Monitors, and not want examples to fhun and to follow.

Christianity, reduced to its principles, is more plain and fimple than is commonly imagined, and is calculated for general utility.

When

When the first teachers of the Gofpel, the Apostles of Jefus, died, their authority, in a great measure, died with them, and devolved not upon their difciples-but it ftill lives in their writings.

Chriftianity, though fo much of it ever subfifted as to diftinguifh it advantageously from Paganifm, Judaifm, Mohammedifm, Deifm, varied confiderably, and adopted feveral difagreeing Non-effentials, according to the times and the people who entertained it.

A clear and unpolluted Fountain, fed by fecret chanels with the dew of heaven, when it grows a large river, and takes a long and winding course, receives a tincture from the various foils through which it paffes.

When Christianity became a bulky fyftem, one may trace in it the genius of the loquacious and ever-wrangling Greeks; of the enthufiaftic Africans, whofe imagination was fublimed by the heat of the fun; of the fuperftitious Ægyptians, whofe fertile foil and warm climate produced Monks and Hermits fwarming like animals fprung from the impregnated mud of the Nile; and of the ambitious and political Romans, who were refolved to rule over the world in one fhape or other. To this we may add the Jewish zeal for trifles, arifing from a contracted illiberal mind; the learned fubtilty of the Gentile philofophers; and the pomp and ceremony of Paganifin.

As foon as Christian societies began, debates began, and as soon as Christianity was by law efta

eftablished, debates grew more violent. It is not in the wit or in the power of man, or rather, it is an impoffibility, to prevent diversity of opinions, fince this is the unavoidable refult of human imperfection and human liberty, and is not to be removed, unless we had more light, or less agency.

It is related of a grave Roman Magiftrate, that, when he came to Greece as Proconful, he affembled together the Philofophers at Athens, the head-quarters of wit and logic, and told them that he was much concerned at their diffenfions, and advised them to agree at last in their opinions, and offered them his authority and affiftance to reunite and reconcile them; upon which they all agreed, in laughing at him for his pains. Cicero De Leg. i. 20.

Councils after Councils convened to fettle the differences amongst Christians; and sometimes they met fo frequently, that they might be called Quarter-feffions as well as Councils. But Gregory Nazianzen, a man of learning, a Chriftian, a Bishop, and a Father of the Church, has told us, that, for his part, he chofe to avoid all fuch affemblies, because he never faw any that had good fuccefs, and that did not rather increase than leffen diffenfions and quarrels. Epift. lv. and in many other places, where he repeats the fame complaints in verse and in profe.

The Chriftians had never agreed concerning the time of keeping Eafter; but when Victor was Bishop of Rome, about A. D. 196, the

conteft