of their mouth, and for the words of their tremendous judgments of the Almighty lips, they shall be taken in their pride: and against the impenitent enemies of his Christ. why? their preaching is of cursing and Think where you would be, if he should lies." The gentleman stopped a verse too deal with you as you have dealt with us. soon-"Consume them in thy wrath, con- Consider, that the praise or reproach of the sume them, that they may perish!" And world cannot last long. The world itself in the last page, that I may not be divided grows old, and nature, sunk in years, gives in my death from those to whom Christian evident signs of her approaching dissofriendship has joined me in my life, he has lution. But, however near the end of shut us all out together from "the light of the world may be, our end cannot be far the Lord God and the Lamb," and con- off. Then it will be found, (happy for us, signed us over to the "mist of darkness;" if we consider it in time,) that "of making thinking it proper (as he says, after a long many books there is no end, and that much quotation from the Dunciad) to conclude an study" of worldly wisdom "is weariness of address relative to religion, powerfully, in the flesh," without profit of the spirit. We the words of Holy Scripture. And very shall then perceive, that the Bible only will powerful indeed they are" These are spots survive the fire that consumes the world, in your feasts of charity, feeding them- and be opened in heaven, when the light selves without fear wells are they with- shall shine through every part of it, disout water clouds that are carried about playing Christ its blessed subject to the ravof winds trees whose fruit withereth: ished eyes of all those who by night, in this raging waves of the sea, foaming out their dark world, have sought him in it, under own shame: wandering stars, to whom is the veil of its sacred and adorable mystereserved the mist of darkness." Here the ries. Experience will then convince us, author, I perceive, being cautious, left out that Scripture knowledge only lasts beyond the words "for ever." But his caution the grave, and opens a passage through the comes too late; for, as it stands there, it waters of death, into the promised land, can mean nothing less than damnation, conducting us to the gates of the Jerusalem whether the words for ever are added or above, where is the throne of eternal judgnot. But to go on-" When they speak ment. Before that throne, sir, you, and I, great swelling words of vanity, they allure and all of us, must shortly stand; and there those who were clean escaped from them must the secrets of all our hearts be rewho lived in error. And while they pro- vealed, and laid open, before heaven and mise them liberty, they themselves are the earth assembled. And then will it be known, servants of corruption." The reader will what were our motives in preaching, and give me leave to subjoin his motto-" Above yours in writing. As to all you have said all these things put on charity, the very against us, may God forgive you, as I am bond of perfectness!" sure we do, for endeavoring greatly to injure the characters and reputations of men, who know not that ever they offended you, or any one else! And if, in the foregoing pages, there is any misrepresentation or aggravation, it has slipt me unwittingly, and I am sorry for it.

These, sir, are "hard speeches" against men, of whom their enemies themselves, being judges, must own, that they are sound in the faith, steady to the church, and regular in their duties. I say not this to boast; for sinners have nothing to boast of: but I am constrained to say it, in our defence. Personal failings and infirmities we have many; from all which "we hope to be saved, even as others, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." But, upon as impartial a survey as I can take of all that has been said or written against us, (for I pretend not to be without prejudices) I must declare, that "neither against the law, neither against the temple, neither against Caesar," is it proved that we have "offended anything at all." Consider, therefore, sir, in the sober hour of thought and reflection, (for much does it deserve your consideration,) consider again what you have said of us; and particularly the application you have made to us of those most awful and

And now, my younger brethren of the University, you see what there is to be said against us; and your candor will not pass sentence of condemnation, without reading what is said for us. If you find reason to do it then, we submit. The author of the pamphlet we have been considering talks of our proselyting and seducing you. We want not to proselyte you to any sect or party; for we never design to constitute a sect or party; but, as members of the church, subjects to the king, and sons of the university, we desire to spend our lives in their service; continuing steadfast and unmoveable, in the stations allotted us. And we hope there is no harm in wishing that you may do the same, living in due

subordination and humble obedience to your his while to turn to and compare them.

tutors and governors in this place; for the prosperity of which all must pray, that ever pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They cannot stand separate, and can only fall together. May you so employ the calm days of peace and quietness you enjoy in this happy retirement, that you may be able, when you launch forth into the world, to weather all the storms of infidelity, heresy, schism, and sensuality, those four winds, that strive for the mastery upon that troubled sea! That so, wherever you are sent to preach the Gospel, and wage war with the enemies of man's salvation, your piety may adorn the church, and your learning do honor to the university. If there is any man, into whom we have inculcated principles contrary to these, let him stand forth, and declare it. But if to inculcate these be to seduce you then we do verily own ourselves to be most exceedingly guilty.

And a few more passages are quoted for the severity of the expressions in them. But, in order to judge of their propriety or impropriety, it is necessary to know who are the persons spoken of, what is the nature and quality of the crimes charged upon them, and what the strength of the evidence that supports the charge. If, when these circumstances are duly weighed, they appear to be unjustifiable, we defend them not. This is a sufficient answer to all that is advanced by Mr. Heathcote. Though, upon second thoughts, it may not be amiss, just to give the reader a specimen of the manner in which he uses those who are so unhappy as to fall under his displeasure. "We are told," says he, p. 85, "that Mr. Hutchinson never offended with his tongue; never spoke with more warmth than was strictly justifiable." And he refers to the page in the editor's preface, where he is told so. But in that page it stands thus— "That he never offended with his tongue, P. S. I thought I had done here, but find never spoke with more warmth than was myself obliged to take some notice of the Rev. strictly justifiable, we say not." This method Mr. Heathcote, who, (as it should seem by of quoting, together with the phrase cabaan advertisement of his, in capitals) has listic theologue, and other flowers of rhetoric entirely overthrown Mr. Hutchinson. Upon scattered up and down, and, above all, the looking into his book, I find he has indeed paradoxes in his system, demonstrate the made quotations from him. Several of them truth of an assertion in his title page ;contain great and important truths, against that he is Assistant Preacher at Lincoln's which Mr. Heathcote has said nothing. Inn. Some are mangled and misrepresented, as the reader may see, if he thinks it worth

The reader will be pleased to observe, there is but one edition of that preface.

CONSIDERATIONS

ON THE

Life and Death

OF

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.

1

PREFACE.

It is a fine remark of Lord Baçon, that | and, while it displays the excellency of "As wines which, at first pressing, run virtue, demonstrates its practicability. The gently, yield a more pleasant taste than contemplation of faith, as it discovereth those, where the wine-press is hard wrought, itself in the lives of patriarchs and prophets, because those somewhat relish of the stone apostles and saints, inclineth us to believe and skin of the grape; so those observa- as they did; and the sight of frail mortals, tions are most wholesome and sweet, which like ourselves, who, by the divine assistance, flow from Scriptures gently expressed and surmounted all obstructions, and continued naturally expounded, and are not wrested to walk in the paths of righteousness, naor drawn aside to common places or contro- turally suggesteth to every beholder the versies."* question-What should hinder me from doing the same?

Observations of this kind may certainly be made to great advantage, on historical portions of Scripture more especially, since, as the same incomparable author tells us elsewhere, "Knowledge drawn freshly, and as it were in our view, out of particulars, knows the way best to particulars again: and it hath much greater life for practice, when the discourse attends upon the example, than when the example attends upon the discourse; as Machiavel handled matters of policy in government, by discourses of history and example taken from Livy." The doctrines and duties of Christianity are, in like manner, best deduced from the facts on which it is founded. The narration furnisheth both matter and method for the discourse, which is read with pleasure and remembered with

ease.

Opportunities for such exercises are continually afforded by the return of those days whereon we commemorate the heroic piety of ancient worthies, distinguished in the annals of religion; whose story presenteth us with occurrences, not like those related in secular histories, of use only to politicians and generals, but universally interesting; instructing us in the art of governing the little kingdom within; of achieving the greatest conquests, and gaining the most glorious victories; since "Better is he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city;" teaching us how to live the life, and die the death of the righteousa twofold task, which every man hath upon his hands, and in the performance of which he cannot fail, but at the hazard of something more valuable than crowns and scepters.

History and biography are frequently employed in the service of error and vice. 'The author of the following ConsideraThey may operate as effectually in the tions was directed, in the choice of his subrecommendation of truth and virtue. Ex-ject, by the circumstances of his situation; ample shows truth as it were embodied;

some parts of them having been delivered from the pulpit, as occasion called for them, in the chapel of St. Mary Magdalen College, upon the anniversary of the nati