intellect which weighs in his sentences, the point of his expressions, the varied and playful, although erratic. excursions of his imagination; and, above all, his sincerity and ardour, the justness of his sentiments, his undisguised manner, his benevolence, charity, and Christian temper, his independence and love of freedom, his unconquerable hostility to all religious domination under whatever name or character, his aversion to bigotry and narrowness, his adherence to the simple truths of the Gospel; these give a charm and value to his writings, by which none can fail to be instructed and improved. Whoever would look for pleasure or benefit from the productions of a writer with traits like these, will find his labour well rewarded in perusing the works of Robert Robinson.)

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ADVERTISEMENT,

PREFIXED TO THE ENGLISH EDITion, printed at HARLOW, 1805.

Sixteen of the following Discourses were published by the Author. The seventeenth was printed in the Second edition, from a Manuscript copy prepared by him for the press, but not published during his life.

PREFACE.

THE Protestant dissenting congregations at Cambridge, from the first forming of them, have always consisted, besides inhabitants of the town, of a great number of families, resident in the adjacent villages. In these last families there always have been children and servants, aged and infirm persons, who could attend the public worship in town only occasionally, some once a month on the Lord's Supper day, others once a quarter, and the very aged only once or twice in the summer. It hath therefore been the constant practice of their teachers, in compliance with their own desire, to instruct them at their own towns about once a month. In some there are houses fitted up on purpose; and in others, barns in summer when they are empty, and in winter dwelling-houses, answer the same end. When either have been too small to accommodate the auditors, as they often have been on fine evenings, sometimes they, and sometimes the teachers have stood abroad in an orchard, or a paddock, or any convenient place. The following discourses are a few of many which have been delivered in such places. They are printed, as nearly as can be recollected, as they were spoken.

In some places, and in some seasons the teacher hath tarried all night, and half an hour early in the

morning hath been employed in devotion and giving instruction. The short discourses, called for distinction sake Exercises, were delivered at such times. It was usual too, before sermon in the evening, to catechise the children, by hearing them read a short scripture history, and questioning them about the sense of it.

The propriety of every action depends on circumstances; and nobody can judge of the fitness or unfitfitness of a subject, or a part of a subject, or a manner of treating of it, except they who know all the circumstances; for the same method in different circumstances would be unedifying, if not impertinent and rude. This publication therefore, is not intended either to blame or to direct any other teacher; but, merely to gratify the long and importunate requests of some in the congregations who heard the discourses, and beyond whom we have neither inclination nor ambition to publish them. However, it will be necessary to apprize an occasional reader of three things; for we do not love, and we think we do not deserve contempt.

The first regards the subjects themselves. The author of these discourses is of opinion that the Christian religion ought to be distinguished from the philosophy of it. On this ground he studies to establish facts; and he hath no idea of guilt in regard to different reasonings on the nature of those facts, or the persons concerned in them. He hath his own opinions of the nature of God, and Christ, and man, and the decrees, and so on: but he doth not think that the

opinion of Athanasius, or Arius, or Sabellius, or Socinus, or Augustine, or Pelagius, or Whitby, or Gill, on the subjects in dispute between them, ought to be considered of such importance as to divide Christians, by being made standards to judge of the truth of any man's Christianity. He thinks virtue and not faith the bond of union, though he supposes the subject ought to be properly explained. His design therefore in these discourses was to possess people of a full conviction of the truth of a few facts, the belief of which he thought would produce virtue, and along with that, personal and social happiness. His ideas of this subject do not meet the views of some of his brethren but while he wishes they may enjoy their own sentiments, he hopes they will not deny him their friendship, because he hath it not in his power to think as they do. It is on supposition of the harmlessness of philosophy, or rather of the benefit of getting into a sound philosophy, which is nothing but right reason, that he inculcates with all his might a spirit of universal liberty; for he never saw any danger in a difference of opinion, till some unruly passion, by disturbing the disputants, and souring their tempers, brought the subject into disgrace.

It is necessary also to observe in regard to a part of some subjects, that as there are various difficulties in the minds of different Christians arising from their different prejudices, it is but just in an assembly greatly diversified to give each one a solution of his own difficulty; for otherwise the zest of the sermon is lost in regard to him, and that it ought not to be.