By George Horne, 5.0.

The doctrine of Epicurus is ever ruinous to Society:
It had it's rife when Greece was declining, and
perhaps haftened it's diffolution, as alfo that of
Rome; it is now propagated in France and Eng-
land, and feems likely to produce the fame effect
in both: GRAY MEMOIRS, P. 202.

OXFOR

D

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS, MDCCLXXX VI

SOLD BY D. PRINCE AND J. COOKE, OXFORD:

G. ROBINSON, J. F. AND C. RIVINGTON,
AND T. CADELL, LONDON.

PREFACE.

L

ET no reader take offence, though the subjects debated in the following pages be of a ferious nature, if the ideas and images employed fhould fometimes border upon the ludicrous. The contest between Elijah and the votaries of Baal was a very ferious one, and heaven itself interpofed in it's decifion. Yet, ftrong and pointed is the irony of the Prophet-" Cry aloud, "for he is a God; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or "he is in a journey, or perad

Some

"venture he fleepeth, and must "be awaked!"* Impiety provokes a frown; abfurdity occafions a smile ; and many who glory in the imputation of the former, cannot but feel when they are convicted of the latter. opinions and arguments become rifible, on being ftated. A portrait is fufficient; a caricature needlefs; perhaps, impoffible. Where fuch is not the cafe, nothing, it is hoped, has met with this treatment, unless proved to deferve it. Ridicule is not the teft of truth, because truth must always be the test of ridicule; and

I Kings XVIII. 27.

he