and had given Occasion to the Order that was fent to Dr Compton, then Bishop of London, to fufpend him, which brought on the Troubles of that Prelate from the ecclefiaftical Commiffion. But whereas in his Transcript of this Difcourfe, upon the Revifal of it, that Paffage which was fuppofed to be moft offenfive and obnoxious, was entirely left out, (as being a particular Answer to a certain Argument that had been flipp'd into his Hand in St Giles's Church, as he fuppofed, by way of Challenge, and which therefore could not pertinently be repeated when he preached the fame Sermon, above twenty Years after, at his own Cathedral) therefore recourfe was had for that Paffage to the first or original Copy. And whereas the other Differences between the two Copies did not appear to be material, but to confift rather in Correction of Expreffions and Style, than of the Matter or Arguments, it was judged most advisable to follow the firft Copy altogether in this Edition;

both for the Satis

faction

+ Serm. VI. A Difcuffion of the Queflion which the Roman Catholicks moft infift upon with the Proteftants, viz. In which of the different Communions in Chrifiendom the only true Church of Chrift is to be found? With a Refutation of a certain Popish Argument banded about in M. S. Anno 1686.

faction of the Reader, whofe Curiosity would be better gratified with a true and faithful Representation of the very fame Sermon that produced the Effects abovementioned; and also to vindicate the Author of it, from the unjust Reflections of Father Orleans upon it, who knowing nothing of the Contents of it, charged it arbitrarily and upon hear-fay; and likewife (for that was another Confideration worth regarding) to make it of a Piece with all the reft, which are now published from the first Hand, and without Emendation of any kind, fince the Time they were preached in St Giles's Pulpit. With this only Exception, that what were two Sermons upon 2 Pet. iii. 16. appear now only as one. And whereas the Sermon upon Auricular Confeffion was connected with the fame Text, which were lately printed in the fifth Volume under the Title of Confeffion of Sins neceffary to Repentance, p. 145. it became unavoidable both there and here to omit as much as ferved only to fhew the Connexion between them, and which therefore could have no Place in their prefent State of Separation,

others upon

Thefe

Thefe were Liberties which Dr Barker owns he made no Scruple of taking with the Pofthumous Sermons of Arch-Bishop Tillotson, whose Authority he alfo pleads for doing fo The Editor hopes he may be indulged in the fame Liberty, having never used it but when he judged it neceffary, and even then without altering the Senfe, and with as little Change to the Words as poffible.

And now the Reader has all before him that is requisite for his Information concerning these Sermons. If he fhall not find them fo finished and correct as thofe already printed, he will know where to afcribe the Defect. An Imputation of Rashness in the Publisher of them, grounded on this Reafon only, will not much affect him, provided his fole Aim in the Publication be answered, which is the preferving fome People, into whofe Hands they may fall, from the Errors of Popery, and establishing them more firmly in the Communion of the Church of England. Once they contributed very much to this good End. And it is not unreasonable to expect they may do fo again. And as it is certain that Dr Sharp owed to them much of his Reputation in the last Age, fo it is prefumed they may be received with

fome

fome degree of Approbation in the present at least it is hoped, that what tended fo eminently to advance his Credit then, will not turn to the Disadvantage of his Memory now. The clofing the Collection of his Works with his earliest Peformances, is not unprecedented, neither can it seem improper to conclude his Remains with thofe Pieces which first ferved to raise his Character in the World.

As concerning the Papers fubjoined in the Appendix, their Relation to the Subject of the Sermons to which they are annexed must fpeak their Propriety. The first is a Reply to a Letter from a Gentlewoman who had lately fallen into the Hands of Dr Crofs (a Jefuit, Author of the Contemplations of the Virgin, and of fome other Popish Books.) Mrs Kingsmill's Letter is printed from the Original, and the Anfwer from a Copy of it, of Dr Sharp's own writing; as all the other Papers that follow, are likewife found under his own Hand. They may have their Ufe; at least as there are but few of them, the Publication of them at this Time will deferve no Cenfure.

A TABLE

A TABLE of Queftions for examining Children and Young Perfons in the CATECHISM. (Being an Enlargement of Dr Ford's Table of Questions, printed at the End of his CATECHISM in 1686.) in which are contained, Several Questions for examining fuch Youths as learn Mr Lewis's Expofition.

L...

ADVERTISEMENT
By the PUBLISHER.

AFTER thirty Years Experience of the Usefulness of the following Table in a Country Parish, where it hath been made Ufe of not only for Catechizing Children in the Schools and in the Church, but alfo for examining Adults both before their Confirmation, and before their Admiffion to the Lord's Supper: It is at length recommended to the Publick for the Use of Families and English Schools; but more especially to the Parochial Clergy, upon a well-grounded Prefumption that they will find more fatisfactory VOL. II. Effects

P