in general, to those who fo far mistake its nature as to think it is gloomy and melancholy, and are fo ignorant of its beauty, as to esteem it deformed, and altogether difagreeable, I fend the following Sheets abroad. Should this defign fucceed in a moderate degree, I fhall rejoice with any who rejoice in my labours, and I trust be thankful to him, to whom alone all thanks are due.

I had no defign in the beginning of this work, of introducing the character of Theologos, nor of troubling myself at all with the writings of the gentleman intended by that character, (whofe religious Sentiments appear to me to have little or no foundation in the word of God,) had not a fecond publication appeared, intended in part to confirm the errors of the firft, and more efpecially to expofe and fubvert (if it were poffible,) the fundamental doctrines of the holy fcriptures.

This gentleman I obferve in his late pamphlet complains of illiberal treatment from his antagonist; I hope Amyntas will not offend, at leaft in this particular, who although he affumes not the character of a gentleman, yet be defires to act up to that of a christian.

If

If the fixth Dialogue appears dry and barren, the reader must be told that writ ings of the polemical kind, feldom produce much food for à hungry foul. Such of

my readers as know, and love the Lord Jefus Chrift, will I hope in the course of the chriftian converfation, the fubject of thefe Dialogues, meet with fome refreshing ftreams which may chear, animate, and infpire them with renewed ftrength and purpose to urge their way to Zion.

It will appear throughout the whole that I regard brotherly love, and the proper expreffions thereof, as fo principal a branch of our holy religion, that without it, it is a non-entity; and therefore have endeavoured to enforce it from various confiderations. Love is the very foul of chriftianity, Spiritual in its nature, and immortal in its existence. God is love, and love alone can denominate us chriftians, by this fhall all men know that ye are my difciples, if ye love one another, faith our Lord.

Nor is true chriftian love that which is in word only, but in deed and in truth. A benevolence manifefting and exercising itself in a God-like beneficence to all men, but especially to the houfhold of faith.

A 2

This

This heavenly and divine difpofition is re-

commended to us from the example of our

common father, who maketh the fun to

arife on the evil and on the good, and

fendeth rain on the juft, and on the

unjuft; from the practice of the Patri-

archs, and boly men of old, who in re-

turn for their hofpitality had angels for

their guests; and from the pattern fet

before us by our adorable Jefus, whe

though he was rich, yet for our fakes

became poor, that we through his

poverty might be rich.

CONTENT S.

DIALOGUE I

Amyntas walks into the fields to meditate. A
defcription of a fummer like evening. His
meditations interrupted by the unexpected.
fight of Philetus his friend. Philetus excuf-
eth himself. Mutual enquiry of each others
fpiritual welfare. They rejoice one with a-
nother, and relate the experience of their
fouls. Of the progrefs of the gospel in York-
fhire. Chrift and his gofpel always rejected
by the world in general. Amyntas engages.
Philetus to accompany him the next day on
an intended visit into the country.

DIALOGUE

H.

Amyntas begins the day, with God, fettles his

domeftic concerns, and is waited on by Phi-

letus at the hour appointed. Reflection on

the usefulness of horses. Of Chrift riding

on an afs. On his wonderful love, and fal-

vation by him. Sweating reapers remind

of the fall of Adam, All bleffings bought

with blood. A finall veffel failing at a dif

tance. Bleffings of commerce. The gospel

imported by means of fhips. The bleffing

of the gofpel. The advantages of Piety.

An apoftate dying youth. Improvement.

A defcription of the house of Philoxenus.

A 3.

Of

bOf Philoxenus himfelf. Who fitting at the
gate receives them cordially. Expreffes his
Sv gratitude to God. Introduces them into a
parlour, and excufes his departure. A prof-
pect of the orchard and field. Their fer-
tility. Amyntas reflects on the various pro-
ductions of the gardens, Eden and Gethfe-
mane. The titular deities of the heathen.
JaChrift the fountain of all our mercies Re-
flections upon the happiness of a future ftate.
A confluence of mercies in the food upon
the table. All our common mercies valua-
ble. On the article falt. Its fuppofed lan-
guage. On faying grace. The reasonable-
nefs thereof. On the two-fold bleffing of
food, and an appetite. Whether is greater.
All our bleffings bought with blood. A
poor man afking an alms. On real objects
of charity. On the provision made for the
poor by law. On poor houses. On over-
feers of the poor. Alms-deeds not merito-
rious. Charity, a genuine fruit of faith.
Dinner concluded with a hymn.

DIALOGUE

III.

A walk into the fields propofed. Time of har-
veft. Situation of Philoxenus's houfe. Prof-
pect of the country. Difplay of the power,
wifdom, and munificence of God. Earthly
enjoyments foon cloy. What we are taught
from the diffatisfaction there is in earthly
things. On the fruitfulness of an opening
valley.