If a ferious endeavour to discharge the duty of a Preacher, and a defire to appear not unworthy of your choice and regard, could have supplied all that the Occafion required, I might without diffidence have offered this Dif C courfe to your Lordship, and to the Public. But, whatever our capacities may be, it is one of our principal concerns not to be deficient in the moral qualities. Amongst these Gratitude holds no in confiderable confiderable place; against which I should trespass, if I neglected this opportunity of acknowledging your favours. My prefent intention is to pay debts, as far as they may be paid, by owning them; and not to attempt any thing that looks like commendation and praise. I leave that to LONGINUS and to CICERO; and am, My LORD, Your LORDSHIP'S Most obliged Humble Servant, JOHN JORTIN. IT HEBREWS X. 25. Exhorting one another. T appears from the whole tenor of the New Teftament, that one of the great ends of Christianity was to produce and preferve amongst its profeffors a more furprising and a more amiable union and harmony than Legiflators had ever enjoined, and Philofophers had ever contrived and recommended; far furpaffing what the obedient difciples of Pythagoras, or the rigid Effenes had effected, or the ideal Republic of Plato had feigned. Our Saviour laid the foundation for this happy concord in his great commandment, Love one another: hereby fhall all men know that ye are my difciples, if |