[vi] in the field of Chriftian Theology your Lordfhip holds a diftinguished and venerable name. The Benefit conferred by fo refpectable a Patron reflects an honour on the Receiver himfelf, and also stamps a credit on his Profeffional Exercifes. I remain, With profound refpect and gratitude, and moft obedient Servant, PREFACE. THE Subject of this Volume comprehends an extensive range in Divinity, as, when confidered in its different views, it embraces both the Teftimonies of Chriftian Faith and the Elements of Chriftian Doctrine. On this account the Author trufts that it may be regarded as no unfuitable Thefis for that Courfe of Lecture Sermons, which he has been appointed to preach before the Univerfity of Oxford. Without attempting a more fyftematic form, the method here pursued is to take for the grounds of the feveral Difcourfes certain Texts or Portions of the Prophecies of Ifaiah and of the Gospels, which appear to be most replete with argument on the subject propofed. This plan may be thought more favourable to unity of design in detached or fingle Sermons, than in a Course of Sermons confidered as a Whole. Yet in this point of view he prefumes his work is not materially deficient, as from the order here adopted fome appearance may be traced of regular progreffion, progreffion, from the Evidences to the Principles, from the Principles to the Duties, from the Duties to the Motives, of the Chriftian Religion. It may readily be conceived, that a fubject of this nature cannot always without disadvantage be exactly apportioned to a prescribed number of Lectures or a limited measure of Difcourfe. This he hopes will be accepted as his apology to the University for taking a larger compafs in his work, when presented to the Public, than he had opportunity of doing, when delivered from the Pulpit. It may be proper to state, that two additional Sermons are inferted, namely, the Second and the Fifth, adapted to the two great Solemnities of the Christian Year, the Nativity and the Paffion of our Lord. And the Portion of difcourfe on the Beatitudes, which was delivered in two Parts, is amplified into a series of Sermons corresponding to the fubjects of the feveral Beatitudes. At the fame time he hopes, that this Em largement of his Plan will be admitted as fome excufe for the unavoidable delay of the publication. EXTRACT FROM THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE LATE REV. JOHN BAMPTON, CANON OF SALISBURY. "I give and bequeath my Lands and "Eftates to the Chancellor, Mafters, and Scholars "of the University of Oxford for ever, to have ❝ and to hold all and fingular the faid Lands or "Eftates upon truft, and to the intents and pur"poses hereinafter mentioned; that is to fay, I "will and appoint that the Vice-Chancellor of "the Univerfity of Oxford for the time being shall "take and receive all the rents, iffues, and pro"fits thereof, and (after all taxes, reparations, and "neceffary deductions made) that he pay all the "remainder to the endowment of eight Divinity "Lecture Sermons, to be established for ever in "the said Univerfity, and to be performed in the "manner following: "I direct and appoint, that, upon the first Tuesday in Eafter Term, a Lecturer be yearly "chofen "chofen by the Heads of Colleges only, and by "no others, in the room adjoining to the Print"ing-Houfe, between the hours of ten in the "morning and two in the afternoon, to preach eight Divinity Lecture Sermons, the year fol 66 lowing, at St. Mary's in Oxford, between the "commencement of the last month in Lent Term, " and the end of the third week in Act Term. "Alfo I direct and appoint, that the eight Divinity Lecture Sermons fhall be preached upon "either of the following Subjects-to confirm "and establish the Chriftian Faith, and to con"fute all heretics and fchifmatics—upon the di"vine authority of the holy Scriptures-upon the authority of the writings of the primitive Fathers, as to the faith and practice of the pri"mitive Church-upon the Divinity of our "Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-upon the Di vinity of the Holy Ghost-upon the Articles "of the Chriftian Faith, as comprehended in the Apoftles' and Nicene Creeds. 66 "Alfo I direct, that thirty copies of the eight Divinity Lecture Sermons fhall be always printed, within two months after they are "preached, and one copy fhall be given to the "Chancellor of the Univerfity, and one copy to "the Head of every College, and one copy to the Mayor of the city of Oxford, and one copy to "be put into the Bodleian Library; and the ex 66 pence |