and those which flowed from the feelings of generofity and the glow of friendship, I am most unwillingly forced to suppress, as the recital of them would be too copious for this

writing. In compliment, however, to the opinion of fome refpectable characters among the clergy, I would both readily and gladly have altered the title of Sermons, to that of Elays, Reflections, or any other which might have been deemed more proper, as less affuming, than the prefent. But as those gentlemen could not, from the form and nature of the compofitions, allow the equal propriety of any other title; and as my first fubfcribers would not relinquifh their claim to the publication under the identical denomination, for which they had given in their names, I have, for their fatisfaction, retained

it.

BUT it is not barely for the title of these sheets, nor yet for their appearance in print, that I fhall very poffibly have the misfortune to incur cenfure, but even for writing any thing in the form of a serious and religious discourse, In this, however, I have the confolation to think that I am by no means fingular, and I have only to regret that I am

fo

fo very unequal to those distinguished patterns of every female excellence, who have ventured to submit their productions, in this way, to the perufal of the Public.-But how little lenity foever I may expect to meet with from the world in general; from the clergy, to whom I may be fuppofed to have given most offence, as having invaded their peculiar function, I flatter myself I fhall receive a lefs rigorous fentence; convinced, as I am by experience, of the generofity, candor, and benevolence, which characterize their profeffion. And furely if it be allowed; as it ufually is, that if our amufements are but innocent, it is alone fufficient to render them excufable; it would be a hard cafe indeed, if those that habituate the mind to serious and religious contemplations, are, merely upon that account, to be deemed criminal, or yet ridiculous. But no fober person, I am perfuaded, will condemn me, if I have incurred no heavier charge, than that of devoting my leisure hours to an employment of this nature.fod almohad dat vi at bel

bau

As I wrote only in a manner to please myfelf, fcholaftic debates, or fcientifical divinity, could not be fuppofed to have afforded me

that

that ferene delight I fought, had inclination led me to it. But there is no merit in declining what I am in no refpect capable of. Mysterious points in Theology are left to the erudition of the schools; and perhaps those deep controverfial subjects would have been as little pleafing, or improving, to the generality of my fex, as they are to her whose foul, as POPE defcribes his Indian's,

Proud Science never taught to ftray,

"Far as the Solar Walk, or Milky-way.

THE fubjects I have treated of are fuch as occurred to my mind from obfervation on the facred oracles, without knowing at the time of writing, they had been treated of by much abler pens: by one lefs advantageously circumftanced, or lefs inftructed in the arts of literature, they could fcarcely bejas my education has been as confined, as my life has been domestic. Therefore from a juft fenfe of these disadvantages, as well as of the narrowness of my own capacity, I have not prefumed to lay thefe Difcourfes before the Public, till they had first undergone a revisal from proper judges, left I'fhould incur that woe denounced by the Prophet against those that are wife in their own eyes, and prudent in

"their own fight.

''

And to thofe Reverend Gentlemen who have honoured me with their approbation, affiftance, and advice, on this occafion; and likewife to all others, who have co-operated to facilitate and promote the publication by a variety of the most friendly offices, I take this opportunity to make my most grateful and fincere acknowledgments.

I

st

THE delay of the publication fo long be yond my wishes, or intentions, has been occafioned by numerous difappointments, fo various and cogent, that I flatter myself, if known, would plead fome excufe for me with every person of candour, as the difpenfations of Providence, by fickness and other misfortunes, retarded for a tedious time the benevolent offices of thofe good Divines engaged in my favour. It would be impertinence to trouble my readers with a detail of other circumftances, as remiffness or neglect had no fhare in them; and they confifted wholly of a long chain of unfortunate and intervening accidents, equally out of my power to foresee or prevent; otherwife thefe manufcripts would have been fome time fince committed to the press. And if any of those productions which proceed from it are entitled

2

to

to more peculiar lenity, it is certainly those that are forced from it in felf-vindication, for which reafon Mercy is hoped for from the dread courts of criticism.-But however I may be condemned, or acquitted at a human tribunal, Omnipotence is not reftrained, and may do good by the weakest inftrument: After all, the Public have an undoubted right to pass what judgment they please on the feeble efforts in divinity, made