History of the English General Baptists

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The author has too frequently found his duty painfully deli cate. To record the failings of his associates and friends has cost him many a struggle. On these disagreeable occasions, he has laboured to preserve the fidelity of the narrative, and at the same time to do as little violence as possible to personal feeling. One great advantage of the work would have been entirely lost, had these unhappy circumstances been consigned to obllviod. It is hoped, that the perusal of the, deplorable apostacy of some who made high professions, and the contentions and imperfec tions of other sincere but weak Christians, together with the awful mischief which the cause of the blessed Redeemer has sus tained by these means, will cause him that thinketh he standeth to take heed lest he fall: and excite every reader, but especially every minister, to be more earnest and constant in praying for grace to preserve him from giving any occasion to the enemies of the truth to blaspheme, and doubly vigilant in shunning every appearance of evil. The work is now sent abroad with a cheerful hope, that it may, through the blessing of Him, in whose hands are the hearts of the children of men, give the religious world more just ideas of the design, doctrines and character of the New Con nection of General Baptists than have hitherto been entertained, and thus procure for it, that esteem and countenance among other denominations, which it may appear to deserve, and that it may call the attention of those who compose that Connection to the true nature and principles of their union, and amniate them to pursue, with greater zeal, affection and ability, its important objects. Should these hopes be realized, the labour of the writer and the support of his friends will be abundantly rewan ded, in' the increasing prosperity, respectability and purity of that cause. To which they, have, from principle, devoted all their energies.