A fuccinct and genuine Account of their original and prefent
CONSTITUTION, DISCIPLINE, DOCTRINES, WORSHIP, and
CEREMONIES: With a general Account of the various Sectaries of
lefs Note, fince the firft Eftablishment of Christianity.

Including a general Hiftory of the REFORMATION, and so much of
Civil and Ecclefiaftical Hiftory as is connected with, or neceffary
to explain and illuftrate the WORK.

TO WHICH IS ADDED,

A DICTIONARY of the principal Religious ORDERS, OFFICES, DAYS,
RITES, CUSTOMS, HABITS, and CHARACTERS; the most impor-
tant TRANSACTIONS of Ecclefiaftical COUNCILS, SYNODS, &C.
explaining all fuch ambiguous Words and Phrases as have a proper
Connexion with the Subjects of this Hiftory.

By an IMPARTIAL HAND.

THE SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:

Printed for C. HENDERSON, at the Royal Exchange; W. NICOLL, in
St. Paul's Church Yard; and J. JOHNSON, oppofite the Monument

· MDCCLXIV.

104

THE

PREFACE.

O improve the Understanding in any Branch of useful Knowledge, has ever been esteemed a laudable Purfuit; and every Attempt to facilitate the Propagation of Knowledge, in Proportion to the Nature and Importance of the Subject, and the Propriety of the Method, will, it is prefumed, meet with Approbation and Encouragement.

To obtain a Skill in the Sciences is, indeed, the Bufinefs and Profeffion only of a few Men of distinguished Abilities; but there are many who have Capacity and Leifure to improve and enrich their Minds in various Branches of Knowledge; even the lower Order of Men have particular Callings and Concerns in Life, in which it behoves them to employ their Reason in the Use of proper Helps for their Improvement.

The common Duties and Benefits of Society, which interest every Man living, as he is a focial Creature; even our particular and neceffary Relations to a Family, a Neighbourhood, or Government, oblige all Perfons to exercise their reasoning Powers in a Variety of Cafes, before they can come

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to

Dup. EX