WHEN I have turned over thefe Confi derations in my Mind, I have wondered how Some of our modern Writers fhould cenfure Poetry as too light and airy a Study for the Gravity of a Divine: For certainly, it can never be unbecoming a Clergyman, to Spend thofe Hours which the Offices of his Function will allow, in the cultivating of an Art, which is fo pleafing to God, and useful to his Church, and which the best of Men have been authorized by the Holy Ghost to profecute with the utmoft Vigour and Appli cation.". I am glad I have the Judgment of fo confiderable an Author on my Side, that the leifure Hours, which have been Spent by a Clergyman, on religious and useful Poetry, have not been unbecomingly trifled away.

WHETHER that which follows, be of this Kind, let the Reader judge. It is the Advice and Direction of our learned and good Bifhop,

Bishop, in his excellent Charge to the Clergy of his Diocefe, concerning the proper Methods of oppofing and defeating the present Attempts of Infidels against the Chriftian Religion: "That we preach frequently 66 to our People upon the' great Principles "and Doctrines of the Chriftian Faith, "as well to explain them, as to enforce "the Duties which naturally refult from "them; that fo, Principle and Practice

may go Hand in Hand, as they do "throughout the whole Chriftian Scheme, "and as they certainly ought to do "throughout the Preaching of every "Chriftian Minifter."

I hope I have paid fome Regard to this wife Injunction, in the plain Verfes before you; which, containing the Great and Fundamental Doctrines of the Chriftian Faith, with the particular Duties which more immediately flow from them, I hope may be of Ufe and Service to fuch as do not attend to,

or

or retain in their Minds, as they ought, our catechetical Expofitions and Sermons; and alfo to fuch as will not fo much as come to bear them; according to thofe Lines of the divine Poet:

A Verfe may find him, who a Sermon flies And turn Delight into a Sacrifice.

THEY who defire to be good Chriftians, and in Times of the greatest Danger, to hold faft the Profeffion of their Faith without wavering (Heb. x. 23.) must in order thereto, First, endeavour to understand, fo far as they are capable, the Faith they profefs; the great Myfteries of Chriftianity; fuch as the Divinity, Incarnation, Birth, Death and Paffion, Refurrection and Afcen fion of our Saviour; the Defcent of the Holy Ghoft, and the Doctrine of the Trinity in Unity, into the Belief of which we are haptized. And that we may under ftand them, and practically believe them, the Church of England has established an excellent Order

and

and Method to fecure their being taught the People, by appointing peculiar Times of the Year for the teaching of them. And Experience fhews, that this one Rule, well obferved, has been the chief Means of preferving Chriftianity in the worst of Times, and under the most barbarous Tyranny and Perfecution of the Turks.

THE Author of The Prefent State of the Greek Church, cwns, that he admired whence it came that fo few of the Eastern Chriftians were profelyted to Mahome. tifm, confidering their Circumftances; and concludes tbus: At laft, being on the Place, Says he, I learnt that the folemn Observation of Festivals and Fafts, by God's Affiftance, prevented the whole Eaft from falling entirely from the Chriftian Faith. Chiefly, if not only, by means of Thefe, the Chriftian Religion triumphs over fo many most. cruel Contrivances; being fecured and fenced by This, against the Poifon of Mahometism:

For

For, by the Return of thefe Feafts, which are celebrated by great Crouds, with an holy Emulation, the Hiftory of the Conception, Birth, Death, and Refurrection of Chrift, with the Reft of the Myfteries that make up the Sum of our Religion, are brought to their Memory, &c. *

As to the Poetry, the Reader will find here, I have this to fay, That as there are many who are not so good Judges of it, as others; nor have the Learning, or Acutenefs, or Vivacity of Thought, as others; yet may be as Honeft and Sincere, as Vertuous and Pious as they; fo I have fuited the Poems accordingly, even to the Capacity of the meaneft.

I CONFESS, I have not ftudied so much to improve the Art, as the Subject of Poetry; not to entertain the Reader with a Luxu

B

* See the Preface to A Manual of Prayers and Devotions for the principal Festivals and Fafts of the

Church.

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