ADVERTISEMENT.

THE TRACTS mentioned in the Preface being comprehended within fewer Pages than was expected, the EDITOR has determined, with the Advice of a MEMBER of the SOCIETY, to add to the Second Volume "Dr. JEREMY TAYLOR'S MORAL DEMONSTRATION," already recommended by two Bishops in the Preface; a Work fe Value is without Exception, and which every Purchafer of thefe Volumes will be glad to read.

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Ir has also been thought advifeable to prefix to the Collection, the PROPOSALS the SOCIETY have at dif ferent Times published.

N° I.

A PROPOSAL

FOR A

REFORMATION OF PRINCIPLES.

THE late inftitution of Sunday Schools having been fo well fupported by the rich and honourable of this kingdom, and fo we received by the poor, we are encouraged to hope that fome furfer plan will be adopted for preventing the corruption which prevails among scholars, and perfons of the higher orders of life, from evil principles, and what may be called a monopoly of the prefs. We have long been witneffes to the artifices and affiduity of fectaries, republicans, focinians, and infidels. These may differ very much from one another in their opinions; but if any mischief is to be aimed at the church or its doctrines; if any popular lure is to be thrown out for the railing of a party, and promoting fome public difturbance, they never fail to make a common cause of it; and a large body of men, animated by one spirit, and acting in one direction, must neceffarily act with weight and effect. Let us obferve what they do, and it will hence appear what we ought

to do.

About forty years ago, when fome promifing schemes had failed, a Monthly Review of religion and literature was fet on foot; the object of which was to leffen the influence of all fuch works as fhould be written in defence of the doctrine and difcipline of the Church of England, by defaming either the abilities or the integrity of their authors, omitting their arguments, and exhibiting unconnected fcraps, from which the public must form an

unjust idea; and, on the other hand, by praising the parts and literature of loose, dangerous, and fanatical writers, blanching their bigotry, and prefenting their productions to the best advantage.

This undertaking, contrived by fome out of malignity, and encouraged by others through inadvertence and curiofity, must in fo long a time, by poffeffing itself of the avenues to public opinion, have had a pernicious effect on the Principles and Learning of the age. By another like artifice, fome ufeful works, of eftablifhed reputation, have been taken up, and re-published by infidious. Editors, with omiffions and interpolations of their own, for the purpose of mifreprefenting public characters, and dispersing unfound opinions. Many readers are apprized of what hath happened to the Biographia Britannica, under the management of an Editor, who is a perfon of influence among the Diffenters; and it hath been hinted, that a plan is in embryo, of fetting forth the English language after the manner of the great work de la Crusca, by diffenting Editors; in which cafe, fuch authorities will be admitted as are proper to infinuate into ftudents the new doctrines and dangerous opinions of the conventicle. This would be a great ftroke, and therefore the alarm should be given in timor which purpofe, we request the readers of this paper to peru Mr. Burke's account of that literary cabal in France, which, by poisoning the fountains of literature, of late effected the destruction of their church and government. See Reflections, p. 165, &c. The fame practices, and with the fame views, are now carrying on in this country; and the party have been heard to boaft, that their purpofes will be accomplished without force of arms, by the effect of the prefs, in giving new lights to the people *. A reverend and learned Divine, now the head of a College in Oxford, in a fermon lately preached before that Univerfity, obferved of the fame party, that "they command almost every channel of information, and have the direction of almoft every periodical "publication."

That no opportunity may be loft, novels have been written, to infinuate under that difguife the errors of herefy and infidelity; as people, if they were to poifon children, would mix arfenic with their fugar plums.

We have heard it reported, that the fum of 10,000l. was fubfcribed, for difperfing that mifchievous and worthlefs piece of Thomas Paine; which in virtue of this liberal fupport, was found in pot-houfes and petty affemblies in all parts of the country.

Many pious and learned, and some great men, dispersed about the kingdom, as well laity as clergy, have long feen and lamented the evils here complained of, and wifhed for a remedy. The firft object, therefore, of this Propofal is, to bring some of these together into small parties, as time and place will admit, and promote a farther confultation, by a correfpondence between them. All particulars will difpofe them under the three following queftions: 1. What is to be done? 2. With what fupport? and 3. By what perfons?

If it be asked what is to be done; we have an answer ready, while we obferve what the adverfary is doing. If falfe accounts are given of authors and their works, to deceive the public, let a true account be given, to undeceive them. If fome old books are re-publifhed in a fpurious form, to miflead the readers of them, let other good and useful pieces be either re-publifhed, or brought out to the light and let ftudents in divinity be furnifhed, at a cheap rate, with fuch compilations as they may read without danger to their principles. Little cheap pamphlets might also be dispersed among the common people: and fuch might be found, as would be of great effect, though little known.

fit fhould farther be afked, by what means, and by what perfons, all this is to be effected? We anfwer: as all other things of the kind are; by the counfel of the wife; the money of the opulent; and the activity of men who are fit for business: of whom, we prefume, many will be found in our Universities, and among the parochial clergy, and in the Inns of Court: when they fhall be enquired after by their friends, and encouraged by their fuperiors.

We add nothing farther to alarm or allure our readers. With the bleffing of God, the design will grow and prosper, even to the surprise of those who are the first feeble inftruments. To him, therefore, we recommend it and ourselves, under an affurance, that all they who are zealous for his honour, and would rescue their country from the prevailing tyranny of a self-erected literary cabal over our minds, which is worfe than any that can be over our perfons and estates, will take this Propofal into confideration. And let it not be urged, as it probably will, that what can be done for the purpose in view, is already done by the Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge. We are fenfible of, and thankful for, the good which accrues daily to the religious intereft of this kingdom,

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