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However, I have the comfort to reflect, that from the oppofite opinions of those who have pafled their judgment on this performance, I am in the middle, and confequently in the right: for there have been tranfmitted to me many no→ ble inftances of moderation, in expectation, no doubt, that they should be added to my collection: I thankfully acknowledge my obligations to thefe kind contributers, but cannot make any use of their contributions at prefent; for it would, at leaft, double the bulk of the treatise, and thereby render it lefs commodious for pocket-carriage. Further, I do affure them, it was not through want of materials that a greater number of examples was not produced, but from having duly weighed the proper pro... portion for a work of this extent; and to what hath been fixed with fo much deliberation, I am refolved stedfastly to adhere.

It were indeed to be wished, that every man · was left to himself, and allowed, in peace and quietness to finih his own work his own way : for I have feldom obferved these things called hints and fuggeftions, to have any other effect than to perplex and mislead. An author's fituation, when perfecuted with them, feems to me to refemble that of a gentleman building a boufe, or planning out a garden, who, if be hearkens to the advice, or attempts to gratify the taste, of every vifitor, will, in all proba

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bility,

bility, produce, upon the whole, a collection of inconfiftencies, a fyftem of deformity.

I am very forry to be obliged thus to Speak in obfcurity, by returning a public anfier to private obfervations; but cannot omit taking. notice, that it has been much wondered at, that a certain very eminent perfon has been loft in the croud of heroes, without any particluar or diftinguishing compliment paid to himself. Now, this did not by any means flow from a want of respect and esteem, but from a diftrust of my own abilities, and a defpair of being able to do juftice to fo illuftrious a character. Neither indeed was there any great neceffity (excepting mere compliment) of spreading kis fame, which hath already gone both far and wide. Befides, that his many and remarkable exploits, however strong and pregnant proofs they may be of benevolence and focial affection, have fome circumftances attending them, which render them more proper fubjects of difcourfe than writing. The glare would be rather too great for even the frong eye fight of this generation to endure, when brought very near them. The fun is the most glorious of all objects in the firmament; and yet, though it were in the power of a painter to draw him in all kis luftre, there would hardly be found a proper place for him in the largest palace in GreatBritain.

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The only other objection I shall take notice of, is, that in one refpect, I may be faid to have drawn the picture larger than the life, in as much as I seem to fuppofe, that all moderate men do, in fact, poffefs every one of the virtues which I have made to enter into the perfection of the character. This objection, though the one most infifted upon, is evidently both falfe and foolish. No reader, of true dif cernment, can imagine any fuch thing. If it were fo, there would be no occafion for my book at all; on the contrary, the various max ims inferted in it, and the various examples produced in illuftration of them, do fhew that there are different degrees of perfection, even amongst the moderate themselves. They are a body, every member of which hath neither the fame abilities, nor the fame office. They are alfo a body most firmly united, for mutual des fence and fupport: fo much, I confess, I intended to intimate; and that, on this account, they are intitled to a fort of community of goods, and mutual participation of each others excellencies. A head may very well boaft of the beauty, elegance and activity of the hands, or the comely proportion and strength of the . limbs belonging to it and yet, though they are one. body, it would be ridiculous to fuppofe, that the head or hands are always in the G 5 dirt,

dirt, when they have the feet to carry them through it.

This metaphor of a body, however common, is one of the juftest and most fignificative imaginable, out of which a very long allegory might be formed; but I shall profecute it no further at this time, except to acknowledge, that it convinces me of one real omiffion in my plan, viz. that what bath been just now binted, I ought to have inferted as a thirteenth maxim, and illuftrated it at large*. It would have been easy to fhew, that the moderate are remarkable for the most perfect union and harmony, and for a firm and ftedfaft adherence to each other, in the profecution of their defigns. Neither is there any inftance in which there is a fironger contraft ar oppofition between them and the orthodox; as manifeftly appeared from the conduct of both parties in the General Affembly 1753A friend of ours called the enemy, upon that occafion, a parcel of confcientious fools: bad be then read the following maxims, which prove, that they have as little confcience as wisdom, it is probable he would have beStowed on them their true and proper cha

racter.

*This was done in the third edition.

ECCLE

ECCLESIASTICAL

CHARACTERISTICS.

INTRODUCTION.

Τ'

HE reader will doubtlefs agree with me, that moderation is an excellent thing, and particularly the nobleft" character of a church-man. It is alfo well known, that as all churches have usually in them a moderate, and a zealous, high-flying, wild party; fo our church hath at present a certain party, who glory in, and fight for moderation; and who (it is to be hoped juftly) appropriate to themselves wholly the character of moderate men: neither is it a fmall prefage of a glorious and blessed state of the church, in its approaching periods, that fo many of our young men are smitG 6

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