Matter is good, it is not fo well fuited to the Text, from whence it should derive its Authority. But this Brevity I think is far from being any Inconveniency in thofe Performances; for all fuch Things as are foreign to the Subject, ferve only to bury the true Oar of Divine Truths in Heaps of Rubbish, which would be much more useful, and perhaps more acceptable too, if it were to appear in its own native Splendor. If ftill this is thought too great a Reftraint to the Fancy in our Compofitions, it is eafily remedied by taking a longer Text, which will fupply the barreneft Invention much better, than by racking our Brains to fuit Impertinent Matter to a Subject to which it does not belong. But the Judgment of all this, as well as of feveral other uncommon Obfervations on this excellent Subject, tending to the clearer Explication of the Meaning, and the opening up of the Defign and Method of it, is with profound Reverence submitted to your Lordship, and the other Fathers of the Church: Some of whom, to whofe Sentiments we owe the greatest Deference, having vouchfafed to perufe a few of these Discourses, did fo earnestly advise the Publication of them, that I could not refift them, as I had done the Importunity of fome of my other good Friends of the inferior Clergy. I wish their favourable Opinion of the Usefulness of the Performance, may be answered in a more diligent Confideration and Practice of Chriftian Morals, and in the Revival of the true Spirit of Christianity, which alas, is fo vifibly decayed in all Parts of the World. And as this was my principal Defign in compofing thefe Difcourfes, God grant I

may

may

fo transcribe them into my own Heart and Life, that while I preach the Gospel to others, I myself may not be a caft-away.

If thefe Difcourfes prove any Way serviceable to the Publick, I must acknowledge the Leifure and Freedom of Mind I enjoyed in compofing them, was very much owing to your Lordship's Favour; being thereby delivered from the Anxiety that might attend encumbered Circumstances, and in a Condition to apply my Thoughts more clofely to Divine Subjects. That God may water with his Bleffing the Studies and Labours of all your Lordship's numerous Clergy, particularly of those who have devoted their Service to the Cultivation of that more neglected Part of the Lord's Vineyard, our foreign Plantations in America, where though the Harvest is Great, the Labourers are but Few; is the hearty Prayer

of

My LORD,

Your Lordship's moft Humble,

moft Obedient and most Obliged,

Servant and Commissary,

James Blair.

To the Right Reverend Father in GOD,

EDMUND

Lord Bishop of London.

My LORD,

U

Williamsburgh, June 2. 1732.

Nderstanding that the Executors of the late Reverend and Zealous Dr. Thomas Bray (to whom in his Life-time I had transferred my Right) defign a new Impreffion of my Explication of our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount, which I dedicated to your Lordship's Predeceffor, my then Diocefan; the fame Work comes now naturally to beg your Lordship's Protection, who have fo worthily filled that moft illuftrious and important Station. It is my Misfortune, that being fo far absent in a remote Corner of the World, I am deprived of the good Advice of my Lord of Canterbury, who encouraged the firft Impreffion, and of fome other of the learned Prelates and Paftors of the Church of England, with whom I have the Honour to be particularly acquainted; who, upon this Occafion, would have communicated their Opinions and Cenfures, and fo have made the Work more valuable by their Corrections and Amendments than I can now pretend to. For, except that it has the Addition of two ufeful,

and pretty accurate Indexes, one of the Scriptures, the other of the Matters explained, and the Errors of the Prefs corrected, I have altered nothing from the first Impreffion. But efpecially, both on account of your Lordship's Authority over me, and your known Learning and Ability to direct in these facred Subjects, I would have depended on your Lordship's Judgment in those Points in which Interpreters do differ, and in many of which I have taken the Freedom to adventure on fome new Solutions of the Difficulties which occurred in my Explication of that noble Subject. While your Lordship employs your far greater Talents with fo great Succefs against the Enemies of the Chriftian Faith, I hope it will prove an Endeavour no way foreign to that noble Defign, but fitly fubfervient to it, to represent that Faith in fo true a Light, that if thefe Gentlemen will open their Eyes, they may fee and be convinced, that it is far from that hideous Scheme they have formed to themselves, and highly confonant to the Doctrine of the beft Interpreters of the Law of Nature. I am perfuaded, if they were well acquainted with the Spirit and Temper of our Lord Jesus Christ, even fo much of it as is to be learned from this Sermon on the Mount, and had their Minds withal rightly difpofed with honeft and virtuous Inclinations, they could not but fee how much the Christian Doctrine conduces to the fanctifying of Men's Hearts, and the Amendment of their Lives, and the general Peace and Happiness of the World; befides the noble Principles it lays down, and the Provifion it makes for a glorious Immortality. But, I doubt, till the Advocates

for