than speculative Christians, but that to explain and enforce the doctrines of the gospel is a better way to produce an unshaken perfuafion of their truth, than to collect and refute the cavils of adversaries, which, though they are often trifling, are notwithstanding innumerable. I hope this will excuse the introducing feveral paflages of Scripture in the last-mentioned Treatife, and applying them on what appears to me to be their obvious meaning, without taking the least notice of the unwearied pains frequently taken by wire drawing critics to interpret them in a contrary fenfe..

I have only further to add, that the liberty which the publishers seem refolved to take of adding to this collection two anonymous Treatises, is what I could not prevent ; and therefore if there be any thing in them improper or offenfive, they alone are to answer for it.

London,
June, 1764.

J. W.

ESSAY

HOLINESS OF LIFE:

With some Reflections upon the Reception which that Doctrine hath generally met with in the World.

To which is prefixed,

A LETTER to the Rev. Mr. JAMES HERVEY, Rector of Weston-Favell, Northamptonshire, Author of THERON and ASPASIO.

The THIRD EDITION.

VOL. I.

B

TO

TO THE

Rev. Mr. JAMES HERVEY, &c.

SIR,

WHEN Christ our Saviour was about to

go to his Father, be told his disciples, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. I am persuaded, that by this, he did not only intend to forewarn the twelve of the offence which that generation would take at the ignominy of the cross, but alfo to intimate, that the cafe would be the fame in all ages, that his dottrine would meet with great resistance and opposition, and that the temper and character of bis real disciples would be very different from the spirit that would generally prevail in the world. This hath been continually verified in experience. For as many in the highest stations, and of highest repute for wisdom in the world, did set themselves against the gospel at its first publication, so even where there is a nominal profeffion of it, there is still an opposition to its doctrines, in their fimplicity and

B 2

and purity, by the world, that is to say, those who have most sway in it, who are the most paffionate admirers of its fashions, and the most affiduous profecutors of its honours and pleasures.

It may be also observed, that there is fometimes, perhaps even generally, a sovereignty of divine providence in the choice of the instruments employed in spreading the gospel. As, at first, twelve illiterate fishermen were chosen; Jo, often fince that time, the weakest and most unlikely have been pitched upon, that our faith might not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Hence it frequently happens, that it is not only difficult to make men believe the gospel, but even to per fuade them to bear it. They are apt to deSpise and deride the message, because of the meanness of the messenger, or the homeliness of the terms in which it is delivered. This is particularly the cafe with the present age. From a certain love of eafe, and luxury of mind, they despise and trample upon all instructions, which have not fomething pleasing and infinuating in their dress and form.

You, Sir, are one of those happy few, who have been willing to confecrate the finest natural talents to the service of Christ in the gospel, and are not ashamed of his cross. You have been able to procure attention upon some fubjects, from many who would hardly have given