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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 Christians were profelyted to Mahome. tism, confidering their Circumftances; and concludes thus: At laft, being on the Place, Says he, I learnt that the folemn Obfervation 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 :

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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 Christ, with the Reft of the Myfteries that make up the Sum of our Religion, are brought to their Memory, &c.

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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 th: meaneft.

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

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

Church.

Luxuriancy and Redundancy of poetical Flights of Fancy, but with good, plain, folid and ufeful Matter: even with the great and neceffary Points and Fundamental Articles of the Chriftian Religion.

HAD it been my Aim and Endeavour in the enfuing Poems, to have pleafed the Criticks of the Age, it had been a most vain Attempt for me, who am fo very unequal for it; and also impoffible to have been so useful and beneficial to the great Variety and Generality of Readers, as I now propose, and hope by the Bleffing of God, to be.

IN fhort, if I have been fo happy as to pleafe God, in being ufeful to any Member of his Church, I need not be much concerned about the Cenfures of Men.

SHOULD a Clergyman ftudy by exalted Strains of Oratory, and Rhetorical Flowers, or otherwife, to adapt and addrefs his Dif

courfes

courfes to thofe few of his Auditors, who are Men of the brightest Genius, and greatest

Abilities; having no regard to all the Reft, who are vastly more numerous, he would justly merit a fharp Rebuke from his Diocefan; and which is infinitely more, a fevere Sentence from the great Bishop of our Souls, and Judge of the World.

THE End of Preaching, and fo, of Writing also, should be, To do as much Good, and be as useful as poffible to Mankind; duely confidering their different Capacities, Educations, and Neceffities: And he who does not fo, is an unfaithful Steward.

I HAVE not therefore made it my Care and Bufinefs, to pleafe and profit only the Men of fuperior Parts, Wit and Learning: But (as the infpired Apoftle directs) I have endeavoured to please my Neighbour (in general) for his good, to Edification; if

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that which is for his Edification will please him. And if not, I am forry for him, yet comfort myself however with the Hopes of being in fome measure inftrumental to the Good and Happiness of every well-difpofed and candid Reader.

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