and that there fhould be a new edition of the whole in three volumes, in which the feveral additions and illuftrations fhould be diftributed in their proper places. But as this would render the former edition very incomplete, and might seem to be a wrong to those that had purchased it, it was judged more advisable to publish a distinct volume, which should comprehend all those additions and illuftrations, leaving the former volumes to ftand as they are. Among the additions which are now published, one relates to the Earl of SHAFTESBURY. Some gentlemen, who are great admirers of that noble author, thought I had pushed the charge against him too far, especially on the head of future rewards and punishments. This occafioned my reviewing that part of the firft volume, and adding to the obfervations which had been there made, and which, upon the most impartial confideration, I have found no reason to alter, or retract. Another large addition relateth to the pamphlet intitled, Deifm fairly

5

fairly ftated, and fully vindicated, which fome thought was too flightly paffed over, in the firft volume of the View, and which is now therefore more fully confidered. There is alfo a confiderable addition relating to the remarks I had made on Mr. Hume's Effay on Miracles; and which was occafioned by an inge→ nious paper that was fent me not long after the publication of the fecond volume. I have added fome obfervations on those paffages in Mr. Hume's Enquiry concerning the Principles of Morals, which feem defigned to caft a flur on the evangelical morality. These are the moft confiderable additions. The reft are smaller pieces, and are, for the moft part, such as were originally defigned to have been inferted in the fecond volume, when it was first published; to which several others, relating to both volumes, are now added. And the reader is directed by proper references to the paffages in the two preceding volumes, to which they belong. I am fenfible, that as they are now published, they have the A 3 difad

disadvantage of appearing as fo many detached pieces, without much order or connection. This will ftand in great need of favourable allowances. And I may perhaps be thought to prefume too much upon the indulgence the public has fhewn me, in publishing what may look like incoherent fragments. But I chuse rather to incur the cenfure this might subject me to, than to do any thing that might render the former edition less valuable to those who have fo generously encouraged it. And I have endeavoured, in fome measure, to make up for that defect, by introducing them in fuch a manner as to form fome kind of connection between the fcattered pieces; and, for that purpose, have thrown them into the form of Letters, which, like thofe of the former volumes, are directed to my worthy friend the Rev. Dr. Wilson.

It has been hinted to me, that an INDEX would be highly proper in a work of this kind, which treats of a great variety of matters, and in which many authors are referred to. I had thoughts

accord

accordingly of adding an Index at the end of the fecond volume. But it was become fo large, that I was afraid it. would have fwelled it beyond its due proportion; and therefore omitted it. But there is an Index now fubjoined, which may serve for both the former volumes, and for that which is now published. And this may perhaps be looked upon as a real advantage to the work.

I have been defired to prepare a new edition of the Reflections on Lord Bolingbroke's Letters on the Study and Use of Hiftory. And as this hath a near affinity to the subjects treated of in the View of the Deiftical Writers, and will help to complete that part of it which relates to Lord Bolingbroke, it is here added to this volume. The political part is left out, as not fo well fuited to the main defign of this work; but there is a confiderable addition made to it, with relation to the curfe pronounced upon Canaan, which, in the opinion of fome judicious friends, was not fo fully confidered before as it ought to have been. A 4 This

This addition was drawn up by me fome time ago, and fent over, in order to be inferted in the new edition of these Reflections, before I faw Dr. Newton's accurate differtation on this fubject, in his excellent differtations upon prophecy, which came but very lately into my hands.---It will now probably be thought not fo neceffary: but I have chofen to let it ftand as it was firft drawn up; be cause it may poffibly not be without its ufe, and will tend to render the Reflections on Lord Bolingbroke's Letters more complete.---The method I have pursued is fomething different from Dr. Newton's. He feems to incline to think there is an omiffion in the Hebrew copies.--- But I chufe to defend the paffage according to the prefent reading of the Hebrew copies, which is followed by almost all the antient verfions, as well as by our own tranflators; and, in my opinion, good reafons might be given to fhew that it is to be preferred to the reading fome learned men would fubftitute instead of it.