DELIVERED TO

A COUNTRY CONGREGATION.

BY THE

REV. WILLIAM BUTCHER, M. A.
RECTOR OF ROPSLEY, LINCOLNSHIRE.

When God affirms expressly, that he justifies him who worketh
not, and freely by his grace, I cannot understand what place
our works, or duties of obedience, can have in our justification.
Neither are the words capable of any evading interpretation.
He that worketh not is he that worketh not, let men say what
they please, and distinguish as long as they will.

DR. JOHN OWEN.

They that think they are bound for Heaven in the ways of sin,
have either found a new way untrodden by all that have gone
thither, or will find themselves deceived in the end.

ARCHBISHOP LEIGHTON.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR J. HATCHARD,

BOOKSELLER TO THE QUEEN,

190, OPPOSITE ALBANY, PICCADILLY:

And may be had of Mrs. HURST, Printer, GRANTHAM.

MVSEVM
BRITAN
NICVM

S. GOSNELL, Printer, Little Queen Street, London.

JOHN KIRKPATRICK, ESQ.

AND TO

MRS. REBECCA KIRKPATRICK,

THESE PLAIN AND ARTLESS

VILLAGE DISCOURSES

ARE

DEDICATED

BY

Their much obliged

And very sincere and affectionate Friend,

WILLIAM BUTCHER,

Beware of that vain affectation, of finding something new and strange in every text, though ever so plain. It will not so much show our parts, as our pride and wantonness of wit. These new projectors in divinity are the fittest matter out of which to shape first a sceptic, after that an heretic, and then an atheist.-BISHOP WILKINS.

A minister should speak as the "oracles of God." And it will not become the majesty of a divine embassage, to be garnished out with flaunting, affected eloquence. It is a mark of low thoughts and designs, when a man's chief study is about the polishing of his phrase and words.-BISHOP WILKINS.