PRE FAC E.

THE Defign of drawing up the Life here offered to the Public was fuggefted by the Author's meeting with an Account of SOCINUS in the Works of PRZIPCOVIUS, a Polish Knight. From this Narrative he was led to conclude it would be of fervice to the Caufe of Religion and Virtue to exhibit to more general View a Character which appeared to him to be, in reality, but little known.

Nor does he apprehend the accounts of SOCINUS, already published by BIDLE and in Biographical Dictionaries, are fo full and impartial as to fuperfede the prefent attempt.

He was inclined to hope that a review of the Life and Opinions of fo diftinguifhed a Founder of a religious

religious Sect would intereft thofe to whom an enquiry after religious truth appears important, and afford entertainment to the curiofity of others.

And he has been happy to find that the fentiments of many very respectable perfons, whofe encouragement of this work does him no fmall honour, have coincided herein with his own. He deems himself greatly indebted to their friendship in promoting this publication; and begs them to accept his warm and grateful acknowledgements of the patronage with which they have, very obligingly favoured it.

How far the attempt is adapted to anfwer their expectations and wishes he must refer to their candour which he does with the greater confidence, as he has already received very encouraging proofs of it.

In excufe for its defects and errors he may be allowed to plead, that he found it difficult to procure materials for furnishing an account of the Man, though numerous have been the publications relative to the Sentiments that bear his name. That his defign was not to compofe a critical history of SOCINIANISM, but to draw the Character

Character of SOCINUS in that familiar and popular manner in which he would reprefent the life of any great and good man. And that, in his tranflations from the works of Socinus, he aimed principally at fidelity, and judged it right to facrifice to that the freedom and ornaments of style.

The delay, with which this publication has been attended, has given the Author an opportunity to enlarge it with new matter, beyond what was at firft propofed. After all, he fubmits it to the public eye with much diffidence and fear: though his aim, he trufts, has been higher than to fecure the reputation of a good writer; even to correct ill-founded prejudices, to animate rational zeal, and to excite fome to piety, virtue and integrity. Thefe are important and valuable objects, very favourable to the best interests of mankind, and worthy our moft vigorous efforts to promote.

He will conclude, in this connection, with a quotation from LACTANTIUS, as he finds it ufed by a diftinguifhed Author and an excellent Perfon.

But,

"But, if life be an object of defire to a wife man, "truly, I could wish to live for no other end but to do

fomething worthy of life; and which may enable the

Reader, not to be more learned and eloquent, to

which I can form but little pretenfions, but to be a good man, which is the chief thing of all. And this,

if I can but accomplish, I fhall think I have lived

long enough and fulfilled my duty as a man, if, by

any labours of mine, fome few may be delivered from error and directed in their road to Heaven."

* LINDSEY'S Apology, Pref. P. 5

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