Forgive, Almighty Power! the persecutors of thy servants, and in the peculiar benevolence of thy nature, pardon those men whose unhappiness it is to be strangers to thy name and worship. That they should be ignorant of thy DIVINE NATURE is less the subject of wonder than that any finite being should presume to know THEE aright!

ISLINGTON, June 1, 1814.

POSTSCRIPT.

THE title of the Sequel runs thus-" The SEQUEL to the Sketch of the Denominations of the Christian World; being ONE HUNDRED Testimonies in behalf of Candour, Peace, and Unanimity, by Divines of the Church of England, of the Kirk of Scotland, and among the Protestant Dissenters-to which are prefixed Two Essays-the one on the right of private Judgment in matters of Religion-the other on the dignity and importance of the New Commandment.-The FOURTH Edition-with an APPENDIX Containing an account of the internal Church government of THE SHAKERS,

which is a theological curiosity. The SEQUEL is embellished with the heads of Tillotson, Clarke, Jortin, Watts, Doddridge, Chandler, Robertson, and Blair, with their Biography. Neither the Sketch nor Sequel should go abroad alone-they are parts of the same work.-Both are the property of the publishers-The author has no interest in their circulation. They were the productions of his leisure hours, before he publickly undertook the education of Youth, and are devoted to the interests of SCRIPTURAL CHRISTIANITY.

THE

FRONTISPIECE

BIOGRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATED.

JOHN WICKLIFFE was born in the North of England, about the year 1324, and educated at Oxford. He was the first person in this country who openly condemned the errors and corruptions of Popery. The Monks at the university excited his indignation: but the Pope taking their part against him, he was obliged to withdraw into the country. His place of retirement was Lutterworth, in Leicestershire, and part of his pulpit may be seen standing to this day. Here he continued his opposition to the Romish Church; but had he not been patronized by the Duke of Lancaster, he must have fallen a victim to his fidelity. He died peaceably in his bed at Lutterworth, in 1384, leaving behind him many followers. The chief of his works is entitled Trialogus, being a dialogue with three speakers-Truth, a Lie, and Wisdom! He wrote several things both in Latin and English, but this is almost the only work which was printed. Agreeable to a decree of the Council of Constance, held in 1416, his bones were dug up and burnt, his books forbidden, and his memory branded with heresy. But these fulminations served only to promote the glorious cause which Wickliffe had espoused; and he

has obtained this honourable title, the Morning Star of the Reformation!

MARTIN LUTHER, born 1483, at Isleben, a town of Saxony, in Germany. He was of the order of the Augustinian Monks. His learning was considerable, and his spirit unconquerable. Indulgences being sold by Leo X. in order to obtain money for the building of St. Peter's at Rome, Luther set his face against a measure so inimical to the interests of virtue and piety. An alarm therefore being sounded-the Romish Church was shaken to its foundation, and these convulsive throes terminated in the REFORMATION. But, like Wickliffe, the Reformer would have failed in his attempt, had not some of the German princes (particularly Frederick of Saxony) taken him under their protection. After having written many books, and exerted himself with a wonderful intrepidity, Luther died in the year 1546, lamented by his followers, and revered by the Protestant world. His temper, it must be confessed, was violent, but the times seem to have required such a disposition. He, indeed, appears to have been raised up by Providence for th stupendous work which he accomplished.

that

JOHN CALVIN was born at Noyon, in Picardy, 1509, Discovering early marks of piety, his father designed im for the church, and accordingly he was soon presented to a living near Noyon, the place of his nativity. He, how ever, conceiving a dislike to the corruptions of Popery, quitted the Church, and turned his attention to the law Visiting Paris, he made himself known to those who had privately embraced the Reformation. But a persecution arising against the Reformers, he went to Basil, where be published his famous work, Institutions of the Chris

tian Religion, which spread abroad his fame, though, it is said, he was then desirous of living in obscurity. Not long after this he became Minister and Professor of Divinity at Geneva. In this department he acquitted himself with ability, and was indefatigable in promoting the Reformation. He died in the year 1564, continuing to discharge the duties of his station to the last with his usual fidelity. His bringing Servetus, a Spanish physician, to the stake, for writing against the doctrine of the Trinity, leaves an indelible stain on his memory.

JAMES ARMINIUS, founder of the sect of the Arminians, was born at Oude-Water in Holland, in 1560, educated at the university at Leyden, and finished his studies at Geneva. He was ordained minister at Amsterdam 1588, where his sermons were admired for their learning and solidity. Being appointed to defend the doctrine of Predestination, he, upon examining the subject, found himself under the necessity of relinquishing the doctrine, and of embracing the opposite opinion. This raised a clamour against him, but his integrity was unimpeachable. In 1603 Arminius was made professor of Divinity at Leyden, and in 1607 he wrote an excellent letter to the Ambassador of the Elector Palatine, vindicating his opposition to Predestination and his opinions on other controverted topics. These contests however shortened his days, though he lived long enough to expose the slander of his enemies. He died 1609, not having reached the fiftieth year of his age. He was distinguished for the evenness of his temper and the mildness of his manners. The celebrated Grotius wrote a poem on his death, which had this remarkable line, "DAMNATUS ALIIS, IPSE NEMINEM DAMNAT

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