body of non-conformifts, and the true ground of non-conformity, encourage and esteem these worthy characters, and approve their minifterial conduct-because the choice of them is constitutional, and agrees with the maxims of our popular church polity--because they submit to inconveniencies, fuffer hardships, and carry principles of piety and nonconformity into places, where minifters more delicate and refined either cannot go, or could not be understood, were they to go-because these brethren not unfrequently break up fallow ground, found churches, and prepare the people for a fucceffion of learned miniftersbecause there are now, and always have been fo many other learned men of the party, ready to defend the out-works of christianity, that want of literature may well be dispensed with in these useful men-and because alfo, the churches, that chose them, always retain a right of difmiffing them from their own fervice, and affume no right of imposing them on other churches. Religion and good policy unite to patronize these good men. When we allow, that fome of our mifters, are illiterate, we do not mean to allow that any of them are ignorant. Our Our churches would not choose him for a minister, who was ignorant of religion, that only science, which they elect him to teach. I will venture to affirm, in fpite of Lord Clarendon and Dr. Burn, that we have not a brother fo ignorant and fo impudent as to dare to preach to seven old women in a hogflye, what Doctors and Bishops have preached before universities and kings. * The very high encomiums, which I had always heard paffed on epifcopalianfermons, and the very fhocking ideas, that I had been taught to entertain of a fermon preached in a barn by a diffenter, naturally led me to fuppofe, when I first read the following effay, that the first fort would exemplify Mr. Claude's rules, which I perceived were rules of good fenfe, and that the laft would exemplify the vices, which he cenfures: but I foon found my felf greatly deceived. It was natural then to inquire, how one fort acquired the reputation of being learned, orthodox, pious ftandards of pulpit-excellence; while the others were deemed See the Preface to the Non-conformifts memorial, written by my worthy friend, the Rev. Mr. Palmer, of Hackney, page vi. Then look in the indexes of these volumes for the names- Gauden Andrews-Brett Biffe-Byam-Sancroft-Wood-Langford-Beveridge-Clarendon-Nichols &c, &c. - deemed ignorant, illiterate, contemptible fchifmaticks and hereticks, whose very reputation is fcandal, when their enemies are forced to give it. I have neither fecrets nor fears in religion, and, as I have indulged a freedom of inquiry all through the following notes, I think it needless to enlarge here. Twelve years ago I first met with this effay, and I immediately translated it for my own edification, adding a few critical notes from various authors. Six years after, I added feveral more quotations, intending them for small exercises for one of my fons. About three years ago, I was perfuaded by many worthy minifters of my acquaintance, who had occafionally feen the work, to enlarge the notes for the use of our brethren abovementioned, and to publish it. In May 1776, I had the misfortune, by a fall from a coach, to fprain my ancle. This laid me long afide from my publick labours, and deprived me of what above all things in the world I loved, frequent preaching of lectures in villages, where members of my congregation lived. I endeavoured to confole myself, and affift my brethren by revifing, enlarging, and publishing this effay. To this feveral gentlemen advised me, me, and at the fame time Christopher Anftey, Efq; of Bath, generously offered me the ufe of the large library of his good father, the late Dr. Anftey; and my good friends Mrs. and Mifs Calwell, both generous benefactors to our education fociety at Bristol, where pious young men, recommended by our churches, are prepared for the ministry, liberally furnished me with every accommodation, hoping, as the excellent tutors of that fociety have been pleased to think, that the Effay might be of great advantage alfo to their pupils. This plain tale is the best account I can give of a work, which it might appear arrogant in me to publish, and of a collection of notes, which must seem an odd farrago, unless the different views of the compiler at different times be considered. I fee many faults in the two books. I wish the work had been better executed: but fuch as it is I commit it to the candour of my brethren, and the bleffing of God. R. R. CHESTERTON, November 7, 1778: |