Ye are not under the Law, but under GRACE. The LAW was our Schoolmatter to bring us to CHRIST; who hath changed the Customs which MOSES delivered. Rom. 6.34. Gal. 3.24. Acts,6, 14. The Law was given by Mofes, but Grace and Truth came by Jefus Christ. And by him all that believe are justified from all Things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of MOSES. John,1.17. &c. Without FAITH it is impoffible to please God. Heb. xi. 6. This is bis Commandment, that we bould BELIEVE on the Name of bis Son Jefus Chrift, and LOVE one another. i John iii. 23. GET MON GEORGE R EORGE the Second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and of To all, to, come, Greeting: WHEREAS Our Trufty and Well-beloved Edward Wicksteed, of our City of London, Bookfeller, hath humbly reprefented unto us, that he is now Printing a New Edition (with great Improvements) of a Work; Entitled, The NEW Whole Duty of Man. Containing the Faith as well as Practice of a Chriftian, made eafy for the Practice of "the Prefent Age, as the O&D. Whole Duty of Man was defigned for those unhappy Times in which it was written; and jupplying the ARTICLES of the Christian Faith which are wanting in that Book, tho ROUT Effentially neceffary to Salvation. "Neceflary for all Families with Devotions proper for feveral Occafions." AND whereas the faid Edward Wickfeed has informed us, that the faid Work has been perfected with great Labour, Study, and Expence, He has therefore humbly prayed us to AUTHORISE, and grant to him, the faid Edward Wickfleed, Our Royal Privilege and Licence for the SOLE Printing, Publishing, and Vending the faid Work, &c. BODLEIAN WE being graciously inclined to give all due Encouragement to Works that may be 1/ Of Publick Ufe and Benefit, LIBRARY and especially to thofe of this Kind, which fo greatly tend to the Advancement of Religion, and the general Good and Benefit of Mankind, ARE pleased to condefcend to his Request, and DO, by these Presents, (as far as may be agreeable to the Statute in that Cafe made and provided), AUTHORISE, and grant to the faid Edward Wicksteed, his Executors, Adminiftrators and Affigns, our Royal Privilege and Licence for the SOLE Printing, Publishing, and Vending the faid Work, together with all and all manner of Amendments, Corrections, Alterations, and Additions of or to the fame, &c. ftrictly forbidding and probibiting all our Subjects within our Kingdoms and Dominions to reprint, abridge, or extraf? the fame, or any Part or Parts thereof, either in the like, or in any other Volume or Volumes whatsoever; Os to import, buy, vend, utter, or diftribute any Copies thereof, or of any Part or Parts thereof, printed or reprinted beyond the Seas, &c. without the AUTHORITY, Consent, or Approbation of the faid Edward Wickfleed, his Executors, a Administrators, or Affigns, by Writing under his or their Hands and Seals first had and obtained, as they and every of them offending herein will answer the contrary at their Peril, and fuch other Penalties as by the Laws and Statutes of our Realms may be inflicted. WHEREOF the Commiffioners and other Officers of our Customs, the Master, Wardens, and Company of Stationers of London, and all other Officers and Minifters, whom it may concern, are to take Notice, that a strict Obedience be given to our Plea1ere herein fignified. Given at our Court at St. James's, &, 14FEB 3 To the READER. HE following reafons, I hope, will juftify me to a for this Whole Duty of Man; and, I trust, they are alfo fufficient to remove and prevent any prejudices, that at firft appearance may poffibly be entertained or fuggefted against it. It being now near one hundred years fince the publication. of the OLD Whole Duty of Man, it need not be matter of furprise to any, if the generality of readers begin to be but a little affected by that work. The cause of which dislike is to be afcribed in a great meafure, I prefume, to the distance of thofe times in which that treatife was wrote; for not only the words, but the manner of expreffion, and the ways and methods of treating fuch fubjects are, and ought to be, very different now from what they were formerly. And tho' I am far from denying that a vein of found learning and morality is vifible throughout that book, or that it was well adapted for those unhappy times of ftrife and confufion in which it was written; * yet all this lying under the forementioned disadvantages, it is apprehended the people of the prefent age are never like to be better reconciled to it." For the cafe in reality was this during the time of confufion, many of the preachers (and writers) had not only forborne to inculcate the duties of morality, but had laboured to depreciate them; to perfuade the people that faith was all, and works nothing. And therefore, in order to take off thofe unhappy impreffions, the Clergy found themselves obliged to inculcate, with more than ordinary diligence, the neceflity of moral duties in the chriftian life, and to labour to reftore them to their proper share in the christian scheme." + Befides, A It The OLD Whole Duty of Man, as appears by Dr. Hammond's Letter, dated March 1657, was first published under the ufurpation of Oliver Cromwell, who had fubverted the conftitution both in church and flate. + See the Bishop of London's ad paftoral letter, page 64, Svo Edition. |