it, will be abhorred in the sight of God, as a vessel unfit for the master's use; and unworthy, because unprepared, to stand in the most holy place. It is the great excellence of faith, that it can produce such a transformation in the life and manners, as no other principle has any power to do: and many are possessed of this truth without applying it to their own advantage. It is to be feared, that a consciousness of this damps their zeal, and creates that poor, pitiful, cowardly indifference, so much in vogue; which if it had not by accident found the name of charity, would have been ashamed to shew its face in a christian country. They are cold and backward to promote any religious conversation; they will not appear to be in earnest about their faith in the Eyes of the world, lest they should be forced to abridge somewhat from the gaiety of their lives, and to live as they speak. let them remember, that without holiness no man shall see the Lord: no dross or impurity of this world will be suffered to continue in his sight. And in this, he is no hard master, reaping where he hath not sown, and requiring the fruit of good works without giving us strength and ability to bring them forth. He - has provided for us the precious blood of the Lamb,

2

But

Lamb, and offered to us the assistance of his Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to serve that living God in whom we believe. If we are purged by him, we shall be clean: if he washes us, we shall be whiter than snow: and when the kingdom of God shall come, and his glory shall appear, we shall be prepared to behold his face in righteousness.

This and no other is my sincerest wish and prayer for every Christian, who shall give himself the trouble to peruse these papers; in which I pretend to no merit but that of a transcriber; which I shall always esteem to be honour enough, where the word of God is my original. And if they should be any way instrumental to promote so good an end, he will not have read, nor shall I have written in vain.

VOL. I.

L

A LET

A

LETTER

TO THE

COMMON PEOPLE,

IN ANSWER TO SOME

Popular Arguments against the Trinity.

BEING AN

APPENDIX

TO THE

THIRD EDITION

OF THE

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY.