a foible; or robbery, an indifcretion; or to let those who are charged with the confervation of a nation's health, go off with the common falvo of human imperfection, when they permit infected goods or perfons to go into the city, and introduce" wide-wafting "peftilence." Thefe are great crimes; and he who fpeaks of them in palliating language, transfers to himself, a portion of that guilt he attempts to extenuate,

The good of mankind, therefore, forbidding this falfe candour, the author must be permitted to speak of evil things in fuch terms, as may tend to beget a proper fenfe of their nature, Yet in animadverting on thofe who commit them, he trufts, he fhall not forget that he is a fallen creature himself; and that he fhall be preferved from exercifing an undue degree of feverity toward them, by the recollection of his own need of mercy. He will pay attention to that fine remonftrance of our great dramatift:

"Alas! Alas!

"Why, all the fouls that were, were forfeit once;
And He that might the 'vantage best have took,

"Found out the remedy: How would you be,
"If He, which is the top of judgment, should
"But judge you, as you are? Oh, think on that,
"And mercy then will breathe within your lips."

To affign fo large a portion of a publication profeffing to have a general defign, to the cafe of a particular clafs of clergymen, called evangelical minifters, as is done in the following pages, may create a fufpicion in fome minds, that the main defign of this publication, is, to make the best of their cause. To this it may be replied, that if fuch were the author's defign, he knows not what purpofe it could answer to profecute it in fo infidious a way. His country, he believes, would liften to any thing respectfully offered, that an apologist had to say in their behalf; and would like the avowed advocate much better than the disguised partifan; whom, after all, they would difcover, through every art of concealment. For the clients likewife, it would be more advantageous to speak avowedly in their behalf, than to do otherwise. The defence, having its defign on the face of it, would be favourably received; offered with a falfe title, it would

be rejected as a trick. In fuch high estimation is honesty among Britons.

But the fact is, that the author's mind will no more fuffer him to take up the cause of these clergymen in the grofs, than it will to condemn them indifcriminately. Yet confidering the earneftnefs by which they are distinguished, and knowing that much mifrepresentation concerning them is in circulation; he was defirous of giving the public correct information about a body of men, who from their fituation as well as character, could be no indifferent objects of confideration, in an enquiry into the means of reftoring the decaying interests of religion.

The performance of this task could not be comprised within the limits of a few pages. It required the confideration of feveral doctrinal points of great importance in the system of Chriftianity, the examination of several different charges, and the induction of no fmall quantity of historical matter, to give fuch an account to the public, as fhould enable it to judge rightly in the cafe.

The intention of this part of the work, is, to apprize mankind, that there exifts a diftinction between perfons, who are defignated by a common appellation; that among thofe who are called Evangelical ministers, there are fober thinkers, as well as enthufiafts; orderly clergymen, as well as irregular ones; found scholars, as well as fuperficial declaimers; lovers of peace and union, as well as litigious controvertists. To exempt those from the ban of traduction, whofe end is worthy of their profeffion, and whose measures for obtaining that end are unexceptionable; is the whole of what will be attempted, when this clafs of clergymen is under confideration.

Of this diftinction, it appears to be the endeavour of fome writers, (with what intention let their JUDGE determine) to obliterate every mark by which it might be difcovered. The character of the pious clergyman, devoted to the profperity of the national church and the welfare of his flock, cannot be greatly affected, among his parishioners, by this procedure. They who "know the man and his "communication," will not confound his affiduity, with the zeal of a profelyting fectary.

The unproved affertions of an anonymous writer, will weigh nothing against the known character, and unmasked proceedings, of the man who lives under their eye. Nor will they be perfuaded fo far to diftruft their own fenfes, as to believe, on the affirmation of nobody knows who, that in that place of worship which they conftantly attend, there are means used to propagate any thing dif ferent from what the Church of England requires of her members, if it be not really fo.

But on the public mind, this confounding of things that materially differ, may have a mifchievous effect. It tends to bring that earnestness into difrepute, which, in the present declining state of religion, is requifite to prevent a further departure from the spirit and practice of Chriftianity. The public good, therefore, requires, that fome means be used, for putting mankind upon judging for themfelves, of that individual who comes before them in the character of a Chriftian minifter; and for guarding them against those, who, whether from Sadducean principles, want of information, or mifguided zeal, may lead them to mifconceive of thofe endeavours, which are