That the Books of the New Testament were written by

thofe Perfons whofe Names they bear.

That the matters of Fact related in the New Teftament

are true.

Page 10

II

12

ibid.

That our Savior and his Apoftles were Teachers fent

from, and infpir'd by, Almighty God.

Of the Scriptures of the Old Teftament.

Of the Canon and Integrity of the Scriptures.

Of the Objections of the Deifts.

13

ibid.

Secondly, With respect to the Hypothefis of the Jews.

ibid.

ibid.

That our Saviour and his Apoftles were Teachers fent

from, and infpir'd by, Almighty God.

That our Saviour is the Meffiah promised in the Old

Teftament.

14

Thirdly, With respect to the Hypothefis of the Ma-
hometans.

ibid.

Fourthly, With respect to the Hypothesis of the Pa-

Of the Incarnation.

15

ibid.

ibid.

ibid.

Of Chrift's Satisfaction for Sin, Original and Actual.16

Of the Defcent into Hell.

ibid.

Of Chrift's Afcenfion, Sitting at the right Hand of
God, and bis Coming to Judgment.

ibid.

Of our own Refurrection, and the Eternity of Rewards

and Punishments.

17

Of Predeftination, Free Will, Grace, univerfal Re-
demption, Perfeverance, &c.

ibid.

Of the Nature, Unity and Communion of the Catholic

Of the Quaker Controverfies.
Page ibid.

Of the Controverfy with the Anabaptifts about Infant
Baptifm.

ibid.

Of the Controverfy with the Saturday Sabbatarians
about the Chriftian Sabbath.

Of the Controverfies with other Diffenters.

Secondly, About Minifterial Conformity.

Firft, About Lay Conformity.

Of the Church Catechifm.

of Cafuiftical and Practical Writers.

The Ufe of Turretin's and Limborch's Systems.

A farther Progress propos'd.

21

ibid.

ibid.

22

ibid.

ibid.

23

24

A Collection of fuch Scriptures, as ought to be feriously
and frequently confidered by all those, who either de-

fign for boly Orders, or are actually Ordained. 27

Directions for Studying the Thirty nine Articles of Re-
ligion.

The First Article.

The Second Article

The Third Article,

The Fourth Article.

The Fifth Article,

The Sixth Article.

The Seventh Article.

The Eighth Article.

45

The Ninth Article.

The Tenth Article.

The Eleventh Article.

The Twelfth Article.

The Thirteenth Article.

76

80

84

86

The Fourteenth Article.

88

The Fifteenth Article.

The Sixteenth Article.

ibid.

90

The Seventeenth Article.

92

107.

110

The

D. Hieronymi Epiftola ad Nepotianum.

161

165

167

169

A Catalogue of the Books referred to in the foregoing

Directions.

190

XXXX
***

DIRE-

The Occafion

of this Let

ter.

INTENDED to have given you this Trouble much fooner; but my late Rambles, my Bufinefs, and diverse Accidents (not to mention that Indifpofition of Body which I have labor❜d under) have hindred me.

And there

fore I must in the beginning of it beg Pardon for the Delay, as perhaps I fhall have reason before the Conclufion of it, for the Length of my Letter to you.

B

I

4

I shall not waft either Time or Paper in Apologies. No Man knows better than my felf, that there are numberless Perfons, whofe Age and Experience have rendred them abundantly more able to direct you, than I can pretend to be; and perhaps, after the perufal of what follows, you'll be forc'd to feek a more skilful Guide, and receive better Advice from another Hand. But, fince you were pleas'd to create me an Opportunity of difcourfing with you upon that Head; and fince the hurry I was then in, drew upon me this Imployment: I hope, you'll accept and excuse what I now offer to you, as a Proof (tho' of my own Infufficieney, yet) of a most unfeigned and hearty AffeЄtion for you.

the Clergy.

What you expect, Sir, is, thatIfhould lay before you fuch a Method of beginning the Study of Divinity, as I would recommend to a Perfon who defigns for Holy Orders. This therefore I fhall endevor to do. And First, I must intreat you to read Books relating fome of thofe Treatifes, which will into the Duty of ftruct you in the Duty of the Clergy; fuch as St. Chryfoftom of the Priesthood, St. Gregory Nazianzen's Apologetical Oration, St. Jerom to Nepotianus, the Paftoral of Gregory the Great, Bishop Burnet's Paftoral Care, Mr. Herbert's Country Parfon, Mr. Dodwell's first Letter of Advice, and the like. I prefume, 'twill be no difficult Matter for you to procure the Use of all thefe Books; and 'tis hardly poffible for you to perufe too many of them. However, let me perfuade you not to omit the reading of St. Chryfoftom's and Bishop Burnet's Pieces, and our Church's Offices of Ordination, especially the Exhortation to thofe who are to be ordain'd Priests. But above all, let me prevail upon you seriously to confider that Collection of Scriptures,