THE FOUR GOSPELS; UPON AND HOW FAR THOSE DEFECTS, TOGETHER WITH SHEWING THEIR DEFECTS, 66 THEREBY EVINCING THE NECESSITY OF REVISING THE WHOLE BY AUTHORITY. BY A FRIEND TO TRUTH. WHEREVER THE RELIGION OF ANY DISREGARD AND CONTEMPT, IT IS 66 THAT STATE TO CONTINUE LONG." STATE FALLS INTO IMPOSSIBLE FOR MDCCLXXXIX. MACHIAVEL. GENE VA: PRINTED FOR J. B. LETELLIER; IT MAY ALSO BE HAD OF THE BOOKSELLERS IN BERN, PARIS, LYONS, AMSTERDAM, AND LONDON, [Price Twenty-eight Florins, or Half-a-Guinea English.] PREFACE. THE Author of these sheets had, like many others, lived near fifty years in the world without examining the religion he profeffed. He perfectly understood (though perhaps he imperfectly practifed) his duty both to God and his neighbour: and this knowledge he thought fufficient for the government of his moral conduct through life; near thirty years of which were fo totally employed in an extenfive line of business, that he had no time for an examination of the Scriptures in compliance with St. Paul's direction, and, in courfe, could give no fatisfactory account of the faith that was in him; or rather of the Proteftant Faith which he publickly profeffed, because educated therein. In the prayers and ceremonies of the church, he is forry to fay, his voice was not in all things accompanied by his understanding, or, which is worfe, his approbation; and he could not avoid condemning himself for a duplicity, senseless if not criminal. He however carefully avoided a participation in the Athanafian Creed, the Commination, and Communion fervices; nor could worldly confiderations, aided by the example of his friends, tempt him to the latter. Retirement from the busy scenes of life deter mined and enabled him to investigate this interesting, neceffary, and important business which had long dwelt on his mind. Original fin, redemption, regeneration, pre deftination, |