The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul Illustrated in A Course of Serious and Practical Addresses Suited to Persons with a Devout Meditation, or Prayer, Subjoined to Each Chapter.

THE INTRODUCTION TO THE WORK WITH SOME GENERAL ACCOUNT OF ITS DESIGN.

1, 2.That true religion is very rare, appears from comparing the nature of it with the lives and characters of men around us.—3. The want of it, matter of just lamentation.—4. To remedy this evil is the design of the ensuing Treatise.—5, 6. To which, therefore, the Author earnestly bespeaks the attention of the reader, as his own heart is deeply interested in it.—7 to 12. A general plan of the Work; of which the first fifteen chapters relate chiefly to the Rise of Religion, and the remaining chapters to its Progress,—Prayer for the success of the Work.

1. WHEN we look around us with an attentive eye, and consider the characters and pursuits of men, we plainly see, that though, in the original constitution of their natures, they only, of all the creatures that dwell on the face of the earth, are capable of religion, yet many of them shamefully neglect it. And whatever different notions people may entertain of what they call religion, all must agree in owning that it is very far from being a universal thing.