fpeak, and to break into small bodies, which at last grow into fo many factions: Mr. LoCKE, zealous for the general good of Mankind, would have gladly infpir'd them with fentiments of a higher and more extenfive nature, and united thofe, whom the fpirit of prejudice or party had kept afunder. This is what continually em ploy'd his thoughts. He never lofes fight of it throughout his Works. Nay, it is the principal fubject of them. But he did not confine himself to bare fpeculation: and he form'd the Society above mention'd, with a design to render, as much as lay in his power, fuch a desirable union practicable. This appears from the difpofition of mind he requires in those, who were to be members

of

of it; and efpecially by the declaration they were obliged to fubscribe; that “by their becoming "of that Society, they propos'd ❝to themselves an improvement "in useful Knowledge, and the promoting of Truth and Chriftian Charity.

But you will find, Sir, the fame mind, the fame genius, not only in this fmall piece, but in all the o thers in this Collection. Mr. LOCKE every where difcovers a fincere love of Truth, and an invincible averfion to whatever may do it the leaft wrong. To the quality of a great Philofopher, he every where joins that of a true Chriftian. You fee him full of love, respect, and admiration for the Chriftian Religion. And thereby he furnishes

us

us with the ftrongest presumption that can be imagined, for the truth as well as the excellency of that holy Inftitution. For this is not the approbation of a vulgar mind, who is still fetter'd by the prejudices of infancy: it is the fuffrage of a wit, a fuperior genius, who has labour'd all his life to guard against who in feveral important points, departed from the common opinion; and made Christianity his study, without taking it upon trust. It is doubtlefs a great advantage, not to fay an honour, for a Doctrine, to be embraced and countenanced by such a Man. But let us return to our Collection.

error;

To make it more useful, I have added Notes to illuftrate certain

paffages,

I

paffages, which fuppofe the knowledge of some facts, that may be unknown to the Reader, or which would not readily occur to his memory: and therefore these Notes are merely historical. I pretend neither to approve nor disapprove the particulars they contain. only act the part of an historian. There is but one of them, that can be look'd upon as critical: and even that, is only intended to settle a matter of fact, misrepresented by a late Hiftorian. These Notes are not very numerous : and I do not know but the fear of swelling them too much, may have made me fupprefs fome, which would not have been wholly useless.

As

As for what concerns the Impreffion it felf, in order to make it more beautiful, I have been obliged to recede, in several refpects, from our ufual way of printing; which, if I am allow'd to fpeak freely, is extreamly vicious. It is matter of wonder, that in fuch a Country as this, where there is fo much encouragement for Printing, there fhou'd prevail a fort of Gothick tafte, which de forms our English Impressions, and makes them not a little ridiculous. For can any thing be more abfurd, than so many capital Letters, that are not only prefix'd to all nouns fubftantives; but also often to adjectives, pronouns, particles, and even to verbs? And what shall we fay of that odd mix

turc