SERMONS. BY JOHN DISNEY, D.D. F.S.A. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD; T. AND I. EGERTON, WHITEHALL. PREFACE. THE great principle of christian liberty allows to others the same right of interpreting the scriptures, and of making profeffion of our judgment of them before the world, which each assumes to himself; and this liberty is the corner-stone and bulwark of the protestant reformation. It is to the neglect of this principle in some churches, and the renunciation of it in others, that we must ascribe the existence of all the bigotry and intolerance which have disgraced the annals of christianity and protestantism. To the fame fruitful source we must impute all the corruptions of the chriftian doctrine, which have have prevailed, or which continue to prevail, in the chriftian world: for, upon the exercise of this liberty depends the proper vindication and more general reception of the leading truths of In the gospel of Jesus Chrift, and the fimplicity of ✓our profeffion of belief in revealed religion. The civil liberty of our country is apparent in the conftitutional principles of its government. And, subject to a substantial reform in every branch in which it has departed from them in practice, and in every case in which time has changed circumstances, it is deferving of the hearty support of the chriftian preacher. The writer of these volumes trusts that every honest endeavour he may make to promote the cause of religion, liberty, and virtue will be favourably received by those with whom he is connected by general fimilarity of sentiment, and to whom he is personally attached by many kindnesses. And, if he shall meet with the fame candour on the present occafion, which he has hitherto experienced |