PREFACE.

IT hath been said by the late excellent Bishop HORNE, that,

" in times when erroneous and noxious tenets are diffused, "all men should embrace some opportunity to bear their testimony against them." It will be allowed by every dispassionate observer, that, if erroneous and noxious tenets were ever diffused among men in any age, they are eminently so in the present. I am so far, however, from considering this in the light of a misfortune to the general cause of truth, that I am persuaded purposes of the most important nature are to be answered by it, in the course of DIVINE PROVIDENCE. But, notwithstanding this persuasion, I have thought it my duty, in the following pages, to bear a decided testimony against some of the most pernicious of those errors which prevail among us, and to stand forward as an advocate in behalf of Religion in general, and the Sacred Writings in particular. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

One might suppose, prior to experience, Infidelity was a thing of so gloomy and uncomfortable a nature, that no man of the least decency of character could be found, who would embark in the desperate scheme. But, when we consider the many awful threatenings recorded in the Bible against persons of a certain description, the numerous passages apparently liable to very serious objections, the natural darkness of the human understanding, the perverseness of the human will, and the imperious calls of contending passions, we need not be surprised, that a large proportion of irreligious characters, who have little to hope from divine mercy, and much to fear from divine justice,

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tice, should be induced to embark in any scheme that is cal culated to afford them present indulgence, and free them from apprehensions of future danger. THOMAS PAINE's deistical principles may buoy up the minds of persons of this character, while health and prosperity smile upon them, but they will generally fail us in seasons of adversity, and especially in the views of approaching dissolution*. Give me a Religion that will stand by me at all seasons, in prosperity and adversity, in sickness and health, in time and eternity. I would not give a rush for a Religion, which will only serve my turn when the sunshine of worldly favour illumines my steps, and fail me when I stand in the greatest need of its supports. This is the case with Deism, as many have found to their extreme sorrow, when the eternal world drew near, and dawned upon their astonished sight. More than one of the unhappy Mutineers, who have lately been executed on board his Majesty's ships of war, found themselves in this awful predicament, as their fate approached. Corrupted by PAINE'S Age of Reason, when they conceived themselves free from danger, they gloried in their shame; but when the King of Terrors came to stare them in the face, they saw their folly, repented, believed, and trembled in the views of the eternal world. Different, indeed, was the conduct of many other of these unhappy men, some of whom were, apparently at least, equally regardless of life or of death. So we read of multitudes of our fellow creatures, both in our own and in a neighbouring country, who, set free from the salutary restraints of Religion, and the government of the DIVINE BEING, by a daring and uncontrouled spirit of Infidelity, destroy themselves, and rush into the presence of the ALMIGHTY without dismay †.

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* " You have been used," said good Mr. M. HENRY, a little before his death, to a friend, " to take notice of the sayings of dying men. This is mine, that a life

spent in the service of God, and communion with him, is the most comfort"able and pleasant life that any one can live in this world."

† The general practice of duelling, among the higher orders of society in this country, is a sure indication that a spirit of Infidelity is alarmingly gone abroad. A Christian fight a duel? Impossible! True valour forbids it. And, to mend the matter, upon the LORD's day too! Still more impossible! Every principle of his religion prohibits the inapious deed.-How much pain of mind did not the conduct of a certain most respectable character give, to all the serious part of the nation, on a date unhappy occasion of this sort? Religion, good morals, sound policy, true patriotism,

More reasonable and becoming surely is the conduct of those who, when brought to a sense of their sin and folly, fear and tremble before this DREAD SOVEREIGN. This seems to have been the case with the late Lord P. This NOBLEMAN, after he turned Deist, took every opportunity to shew his contempt of Religion. The clergyman and parishioners of the place where his Lordship's seat in Northamptonshire stood, usually pass ed in sight of the house in their way to church. At the time of going and returning he frequently ordered his children and servants into the hall, for the vile purpose of laughing at and ridiculing them. He pursued this course for some time, but at length drew near the close of life. Upon his dying pillow his views were altered. He found, that, however his former sentiments might suit him in health, they could not support him in the hour of dissolution. When in the cold arms of Death, the terrors of the ALMIGHTY were heavy upon him. Painful remembrance brought to view ten thousand insults offered to that God, at whose bar he was shortly to stand; and conscience being strongly impressed with the solemnity of that day, he but too justly feared the God he had insulted would then consign him to destruction. With his mind thus agitated, he called to a person in the room, and desired him " to go into the library, " and fetch the CURSED BOOK," meaning that which had made him a Deist. He went, but returned, saying he could not find it. The NOBLEMAN then cried with vehemence, that " he must go again, and look till he did find it, for he could not die till it was destroyed." The person, having at last met with it, gave it into his hands. It was no sooner committed to him, than he tore it to pieces, with mingled horror and revenge, and committed it to the flames. Having thus taken vengeance on the instrument of his own ruin, he soon after breathed his soul into the hands of his CREATOR *.

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patriotism, all forbade the unchristian rencounter.-Stake bis life against the life of ! Were we to act thus in common life, a state of confincment would be thought essentially necessary for our welfare, and the public good. Can nothing be done, no measures taken, to put a stop to this infamous practice, this national opprobrium?-Let those whom it concerns consider.

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Affecting as is this example, that of a WILLIAM POPE, of Bolton, in Lancashire, is much more so. At this place there is a considerable number of deistical persons, who assemble together on Sundays, to confirm each other in their Infidelity. The oaths and imprecations that are uttered in that meeting are too horrible to relate, while they toss the Word of God upon the floor, kick it round the house, and tread it under their feet. This WILLIAM POPE, who had been a steady Methodist for some years, became at length a professed Deist, and joined himself to this hellish crew. After he had been an associate of this company some time, he was taken ill, and the nature of his complaint was such, that he confessed the hand of GOD was upon him, and he declared he longed to die, that he might go to hell; many times praying earnestly for damnation. Two of the Methodist preachers, Messrs. RHODES and BARROWCLOUGH, were sent for to talk to and pray with the unhappy man. But he was so far from being thankful for their advice and assistance, that he spit in their faces, threw at them whatever he could lay his hands upon, struck one of them upon the head with all his might, and often cried out, when they were praying, Lord, do not hear their prayers! If they said, Lord, save his soul! he cried, LORD, damn my soul! often adding, My damnation is sealed, and I long to be in hell! In this way he continued, sometimes better and sometimes worse, till he died. He was frequently visited by his deistical brethren during his illness, who would fain have persuaded the public he was off his senses; which was by no means the case. The writer of this account saw the unhappy man once, but never desired to see him again. Mr. RHODES justly said, He was as full of the devil as he could hold. This melancholy business happened in the course of the present year, and made a great noise in the town and neighbourhood of Bolton *.

These are shocking instances of the dreadful effects of Infidelity upon the minds of our fellow creatures, in those seasons when we stand in most need of support and consolation. If living witnesses to the truth and importance of Religion and the Sacred