ing they, in the fame Method, confidered the Duty of Prayer; then hearing the Word; and after that reading it; varying the feveral Parts that the Minifters were to take. Thus far for the Space of four Years we went on in Peace, and we had in View the sharing out of this Defign upon the Duties of Baptifm and the Lord's Supper. All the Sermons upon the former were delivered from the Pulpit; and 1 will venture to say, the whole was managed with that Temper, Candor, and Evidence, that it's pity mine comes alone into the World, which is upon the Head of Directions.

I may vouch for all the rest of my Brethren, that their Compofures were with Temper, Moderation, and Charity, not to gender Strifes or evil Surmifings. Several of our Brethren, that are of another Opinion, as to the Mode and Subjects of Baptifm, defired I would confider fome Neglects of the Duty among themselves, which I have done with brotherly Kindnefs and Charity. All that know my manner of Life can witness, that I never made any Difference of Opinion to be an Article of Friendship, and I fee no Reafon it should be a Term of Communion: Let us receive one another as Chrift has received us. And the Reader will eafily perceive, that with a Defign of fuch an Agreement among

thofe

thofe that love us in the Faith, a great Part of my Sermons is directed.

But at theTime that our Difcourfes about Baptifm fhould have come into the World, the Abomination that made defolate, was brought amongst us, upon a Sufpicion that we were not all agreed about a more fubftantial Article, viz. The Doctrine of the ever-bleffed Trinity. Our particular View was over-ruled by a previous Difpute about Scripture Confequences. Whether this was done with a Defign to turn us afide from the main Question about the Truth of the Doctrine, I must leave to every Man's Confcience; but, I confess, it was always my Sufpicion from the fawning Carriage of fome to the Troublers of Ifrael, and their Shinefs, Virulence, and Reproaches, to them that had fought a good Fight, and kept the Faith. But God has cut off those that troubled us, Men have clapped their Hands at them, and hiffed them out of their Place.

Such a Wrangle about Confequences from Scripture Arguments, would have come out of Time at the Opening of Christianity; for had the Apoftles been called to prove that Jefus of Nazareth was the Meffiah, (which they declared from Deductions drawn out of the Old Teftament) I can hardly think they would have continued the Argument

4

from

from Morning to Evening, or teftified and alledged from the Scriptures that Jefus. was Chrift.

However by this Artifice our Design was blafted; and ever fince there has been a Breach of Love carried on under a Pretence of Charity. These two Sermons have been preached on the Occafion of God's bleffing my Family with an Increase of Childrens Children.

The other Difcourfe about the Doctrine of Baptifm has been fo well received at Pinners-Hall, that I have had the unanimous Defire of those that direct the concerns of the Tuesday's Lecture to print it. Thofe Sermons alfo were preached fome Years ago, and they come out without much Alteration. As the Doctrine of the Trinity is only revealed in the Bible, so it is only proved by it. I have done no more than brought it from the Fountain-head: And though there is a frequent Return of the fame Argument; yet, as that was unavoidable from the Distance between one Sermon and another, fo it ferves to keep the fundamental Article of our Religion always in view.

I have no more to add, than as this is what I was taught in my Youth, so I

hope

bope for a Comfort in it when gray Hairs are upon me. To His Bleffing I refign it, whofe Cause it pleads against all GainSayers.

Lately Published,

And fold by the fame BOOKSELLERS,

HE MYSTERY of GODLINESS, 'confider'd in LXI. SERMONS:

TH

Wherein the DEITY of CHRIST is prov'd upon no other Evidence than the Word of GOD, and with no other View than for the Salvation of Men.

In Two VOLUME S.

By THOMAS BRADBURY. Jer. xv. 15, 16. Know that for T HY SAKE I have fuffer'd Rebuke. Thy Words were found, and I did eat them, and thy Word was unto me the Foy and Rejoicing of my Heart, for I am called by THY NAME, O Lord God of Hofts.