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EIGHT SERMONS

PREACHED AT THE

CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL,

IN DEFENCE OF THE

DIVINITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST;

UPON THE

ENCOURAGEMENT GIVEN BY THE LADY MOYER,

AND AT THE

APPOINTMENT OF THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON.

WITH A PREFACE,

Containing Remarks upon two late Pamphlets: one entitled, Modest Plea &c. Continued &c. the other, Unity of God not inconsistent with the Divinity of Christ, &c.

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TO THE

RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,

JOHN,

LORD BISHOP OF LONDON,

AND

ONE OF THE LORDS OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL.

MY LORD,

THE following Sermons, drawn up and preached under your Lordship's influence, in defence of that ancient faith which you have so seasonably and signally supported, have a natural claim and title to your Lordship's patronage. Their design is to show, that we follow not mere human decisions, or words of men, as hath been slanderously reported, but the infallible word of God; to which we appeal from the sentence and determination of any fallible men whatsoever. Nevertheless, it is great satisfaction to us to observe, that the Scripture evidences of our doctrine have, in all ages of the Church, appeared so full and clear, that the gene

rality of wise and good men could not fail of coming into them. We think it no discredit, but a great advantage to our doctrine, that it is ancient and Catholic. If this be all that some mean, by objecting to us human decisions, we do not only acknowledge it, but glory in it. It has been the method of the wisest and best men, since the date of Christianity, to prefer express Scripture, or certain consequences from Scripture, before merely human and philosophical conjectures. Human but well grounded decisions have served to beat down the pride and vanity of human and ill grounded conceits and hence it is that the faith of the ever blessed Trinity has constantly, and will, I trust, finally prevail over all opposition from men, whose strength and confidence is not in Scripture, but in vain philosophy; not in the word of God, but in I know not what dark and blind metaphysics, the words of men.

I gladly embrace this opportunity of joining in the public thanks to your Lordship, for the late memorable instance of your truly primitive and episcopal zeal against the adversaries of our common faith. The attempt to introduce, by a private authority, new forms of doxology, in opposition to those now in use, which are of long standing and great authority in the Church of Christ, is justly abhorred by all that have the honour of our blessed Lord and of our common Christianity near at heart. To ascribe all glory to the Father, in contempt of those other forms which give glory

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