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PRINCETON, N. J.
SAMUEL AQNEW",

^ • OK PHILADELPHIA, PA.







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Goldney, Edward, fl. 1759-

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A friendly epistle to the



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A

FRIENDLY EPISTLE

TO THE

DEISTS,

AND
A Rational Prayer recommended to them.

In order for their Conversion to the
CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

Humbly Dedicated ;

T O H I S

Mcft Excellent MAJESTY,

KING GEORGE.

By EDWARD'^GOLDNEY, Sen^ Gent.

LONDON,

Printed for the AUTHOR, and Sold by HIS SON,

EdwArd Goldney, Stationer, in St. Paul's Church-Tard^

the fecond Door from Watling- Street,

[Price 2s, 6d. unbound without the Copper-Plates.J
MDCC LX.



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â–  TO

His moft Excellent Majefty

KING GEORGE

T H E T H I R D.
â–  Dearly Beloved Sovereign,

\ T T I T H the Profoundeft Reverence, and the
^ ^ Highcfl Eftecm and Veneration that 1^
l^offible for a Subject to have for his PRINCE;
1 moft Heartily Congratulate Your Majefry on
Your Happy Acceffion to the Throne of Your
Royal Anceftors, to the Univerfal Joy of Rcat.
Protejftants ©f every Denomination, Nptwith-;
{landing fo fuddenly Called thereto by the AwfuJ
momentary Death of Your Royal Grandfa'ther,^
at a Time when He had in a Peculiar Manner.
Catifed all true Britifh Hearts to Triumph w}th
Thankfglvings and Praifes, His u^ifcCounfelsbein^
Blefled w^ith Succefs, and His Arms with Vidory.
in EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, and AMERICA/



[ ii ]
A KING who for Thirty-three Years, ever

fince England was Blefled with Him on the
Throne, hath not Receded from the Laws and
Liberties of His Subjefts, cither Civil or Reli-
gious ; who always, by Fadts, proved that their
Profperity and Happinefs were the Defire of his
Soul, the very Comfort and Joy of His Life ;
which muft manifeftly appear to every unpre-
judiced Mind, who is not infedted with the poi-
fonous Sentiments of the Dupes of Popifh Anti-
chriftian Government ; having ever banifhed fronii
His Dominions Perfecutions of every kind; for
All His Subjeds dwelt fafely under their own
Vine and under their own Fig-tree, as *Judah and
JJrael^x^ all the Days of the Wifeft of KINGS.

The Lofs of fuch an Excellent PRINCE would
have been more Deplorable, not only to this
Nation, but to all Proteftants in Europe, had
not the mod Worthy Sentiments of Diffufivc
Goodnefs (uncorrupted Chriftianity) been early
implanted in Your Royal Breaft, by the Precepts
and Examples of Your much-lamented Royal
Father and Grandfather, and by the Maternal
Affedion and Care of Your Invaluable MOTHER
One of the very -beft of PR IN CESS ESo^ ^^



Thefe Ineftimable Confiderations juflly raifc
our National Hopes and Expedtations of Conti-
nued Happlnefs, and Anticipate our Fears, though
Neceffarily Engaged in the Midft of War, Caufed
by Perfidious France and Ungrateful Hungary,
who with Propriety may be compared to the
two Infatiable Daughters of the Horfeleech
defcribed by King Solomon, Pro v. xxx. 15.

Your Majefty's GLORIOUS Declaration from
the Throne, " that the Peculiar Happinefs of
** Your Life fhall ever Confift in Promoting the
** Welfare of Your Subjects, by an Invariable
*' Refolution to Adhere to, and Strengthen, our
•^ Excellent Conftitution in Church and
/' State, and to Maintain the Toleration In-
** violable ; and that in order to draw down
** the Divine Favour on Your Reign, it is
«* Your .fixed Purpofe to Countenance and Encou-
" rage the Pra(5lice of True Religion and Virtue;
" and that You are Determined to Profecute the
^[ War with Vigour, in order to that Defirable
" Obj€(5t, a Safe and Honourable Peace," mufl
Neceflarily Fire every truly Proteftant Heart with
grgwing Love and AffeSion for Your Majefly, and



with Chriilian Zeal and Gratitude to Inculcate m
the rifing Generation, Loyalty to Your Ptrfon and
Government ; conftantly praying to Almighty God
that He would Bkfs Your Majefty with Perftdt
Health, Long Life, Abundance of Wealth, and
A HEART ADEQUATE to do GOOD with it.
Your Majefty being our KING, Defender of Pure
Catholic Apoftolical Chriftianity, and Determined
to Countenance and Encourage True Religion and
Virtue, is the Reafon I humbly pre fen t my fol-
lowing Eplftle to Your Majefty, becanfe it hath a
Rational Tendency to Extricate the Infatuation
and Stupidity of Incredulous Deists, that fuch
deluded Souls might become Defirous of receiving
the Truth in the Love of it j and for the further-
ing and promoting of Real Vital Chriftianity in all
Your Majefty's Subjedls : For if the SubHmity of -
the Religion of the B/eJ/eJ Jefus was complied -
with by all Ranks and Orders of Mankind, in
their various Situations and Circumftances of Life,
this World would become a Paradife in com-
parifon of what it is at prefentj then Man-
kind would Devife Methods how and in what



f V ]

Manner they might become Ufefu] and benefi-
cial to each other ; Looking not only on their own
TbiiigSy but aljO on the T'hings of other Sy Ph . ii. 4 ; con^
fidering one another to provoke unto Love and good
Works y Heb. X. 24; mindful to rebuke their Neigh"
hours, and notfuffer Sin upon them. Lev. xix. 17;
rejloring them in the Spirit of Meeknefs, G al. vi. i ;
that their Love might he without Dif/imulation^
abhorring all Sin, promoting all Goody kind and
affeBionate to ally as Brethren in Honour prefer-*
ring each other y Rom. xii. 9, 10.

If thefe Divine Precepts v^ere Confcientioufly
Praaifed by all ProfeiTors of RELIGION, Humi-
lity would be their Ornament, Goodnefs their
Delight, Pride and Vain-glory their Averfion,
Injury and OppreiTion their Deteftation, and
Real Ufefulnefs their Ambition ; then Love and
Unity, Peace and Tranquillity; would Univer-
9 f^lly Reign : For Swords would be then turned intQ
PloW'JhareSy and Spears into Pru7iing- hooks -, Na-
tion would not lift up Sword againjl Nation y neither
'would they have Occafon to learn War any more^
as Pf edited by the CouiikProph^t, Isa. ii. 4,



r ^i 3

As Your Majefly's Perfonal Happincfs in par-
ticular, and thefe Nations in general, depends
much on Your wife Choice ofaCONSORT^
therefore, from a Principle of Real Affedticn to
Your Majefly's Welfare in all Things, and for
this Our Native Country, I mofl earneflly Befeech
Your Majefty frequently to fupplicate the J^UISJ
of KINGS with Humility and Fervency, that He
would dired and influence Your Mind and Heart
with rcc^ard to the Honourable State of Matri-
mony, as well as in all other Affairs of great Im-
portance; for a prudent IVife is from the Lord,
Prov. xix. 14; her Value being much fuperior t9
Rubies, Prov. xxxi. 10. And the infallible Word
of Truth alfo afTures Your Majefty, that in all
Affairs of Human Life, by fincercly applying to
GOD, He will ejlablijh Your Thoughts, Pr. xvi. 3,
and alfo dire^i Your Adtions, Prov. iii. 6;
for if You dehght Yourfelf in HIM, He will
give Ton your Heart's DeJirCy Psal. xxxvii. 4.

Is it not agreeable to the Principles of Natural
Religion as well as Revealed, to Believe that
That DIVINE BEING who MADE Mankind



[ vii ]

Capable of Thinking and Acfting, m'uft Always
Have Immediate Accefs to Their Minds, and
therefore POWER to DIRECT Them What to
Think and How to Adl } for that in Him we live
and move and have our Being, was the Declaration of
Wife Heathens as well as Chrifliansy Acts xvii. 28,
Bdoved Sovereign, pleafe to permit the Divine
Oracles to be Your First Privy Counsellor;
and able Men, fuch as fear God, Men of Trutb^
hating Covet oufnefs, to be in the Diredion and
Management of all Public Affairs, Ex. xviil. 21.
2 Sam. xxiii. 3. For when the Righteous are in Au-^
ihoritythe People rejoice; but when the Wicked bear-
eth Rule the People mourn, Pro v. xxix. 2.
" Young Jofhua (Mofes' SucceforJ was full of the
Spirit of Wifdom, Deut. xxxiv. 9. whom God
commanded frequently to confuit Holy Writ,
that He might be very careful and cxaS in obey*
ing it, which would render Him very Pro-
ipcrous in His Princely Government, Josh. i. 8,
as the Sacred Hiftory affures us He was;
for that His Renown was very great y Josh. vi. 27,
leing Refolutely Determined that He and His Houfe
mould ferve the LOR D, Josh. xxiv. 15.



[ viii 3

Your Mnjcfly making it Your Principal Concern
to feek Wifdom from GOD, carneftly defiring
above all Things, that Your Thoughts, Words,
and Aftions, might always be Influenced by it,
will moft Affiircdly draw down from Heaven on
Your Majefty all Bleffings Your Heart can Defire;
As *' Perfed Health, Long Life and Peace,
'-' the Peculiar Favour and Friendfhip both of
'' GOD and Man, Riches and Honours, Durable
^' Riches and Righteoufncfs, Infinitely preferable
'" to the greateft Abundance of the moft Refined
*/ Silver and Gold, or the Valuable^: of Jewels;
V or any worldly Riches, Honours, or Pleafures
« whatibever," Pro v. iii. 6 to 27. viii. 10 to 22,'

With the Utmoil Humility and Sincerity I fubrcrlbo
myfelf Your Majefty's very Aifcaionatc ami Obcdlcjit Subjca,
always at Your Majcfty's Command in any Thin? that is r.of
Inconfiflent with my FIDELITY to the J^lttgofKiNGS^



lONDON,

From My Son Edward Geldney's,
Stationer in St. Paul's Church-yard,
^c SecoRd Door from l^^atli-dg-Strgti.



Gold key's AfFedionate Advice

TO THE KING

FOR HIS HAPPY CHOICE

OF A GOOD QJJEEN.

Graceful GEORGE the Third ! On Thee many Ladles Wait^.
And at Your young tender Heart, with Looks and Glances Bait;
Beware! Beware! Chufe the Christian Indeed, a Noble Fair,
Whofe Meeknefs, Piety, Benevolence, and Goodnefs Ornament Her,
Much more than Diamonds, coftly Apparel, Paint or plaited Hair,
Which will happily guard and prevent Her from becoming a Snares
Young, chearful, comely, and courteous let Her be, fit for to Grace
Thee with Her Lovely Charms, and Europe withThy Glorious Race:
For when Virtue and Goodnefs, Youth and Beauty, in a Palace Shine,
Subjects will Revere theii Earthly Sovereign, next to DIVlNEs
Let thy own Eyes be acquainted with the Lovely Lady's Real Face,
Her Smiles, Beauties,Virtues, Goodnefs, all Her Excellencies Trace:

Injudicious Kings and Princes other Maxims follow.
Who Marry by Proxy, But, afterwards forrow.
When Envoys fetch from far a foreign Queen,

Her Virtues are Unknown, as Her Charms unfecn.



IN PERSON, Dear SOVEREIGN,
Court The Listening Maid.
No Envoy like Your Self, can Pleafe, Conquer, and Perfuade^
Should a Stately Princefs of Royal Blood,,
Of Her Anceftors full, as Lucifer Proud ;
Boafting High Birth, inilead of Virtue's Charms,
Attempt thy Heart, endeavour to fill thine Arms,.
Shun the Dangerous Bait, Her Allurings Flee;
Neither wed a mean, a vain, iniipid Pedigree,
Sad Experience has Ihown, as is well known.
How many a Monarch from an ill-bred Dame, ,
Fled with Difdain, and on the ignoble Brood
Scatter'd their loofe Remains of Royal Blood :
From ILLS like thefe, GREAT SIR, Betimes Remove,
Continue Wife, Marry no Lady but whom You Heartily Love,
GOD grant Thy Nuptials BLEST with Aufpicious BIRTH,
To GRACE the EARTH, with A GEORGE the FOURTH.

That
YOUR MAJESTY'S EXCELLENT EXAMPLE,
Of Countenancing and Encouraging the Practice
Of Virtue And True Religion
May be Preserved to Britain
In The Protestant Line
To The End Of Time.



THE AUTHORS

GENERAL PREFACE.

To All His Readers.

MY following Works are composed from a
hearty fincere Principle of real Love and
AfFedion for the Spiritual Benefit and Advantage
of all Mankind, particularly to roufe 2D0iOS and
3[CU)S out of their ftupid dreadful Incredulity, that
the H!)CiC0 niay confcientioufly adl agreeably to all
the Moral Obligations of Natural Religion, and
the 3[CtDS as Ifraelitesmdtcd, fo that they may be-
come proper Objedts of the Divine Gomplacei>cy 5
That each of them might mend their Ways, the
Evil of their Doings, that Almighty God might
caufe the Cloud and Mift that is before the Eye of
their Underftanding to vanifh, " that they might
** believe on the Lord Jcfus Chrift, and be faved/
ABsxwx. 31. That they may know that the Sort
of God is come, that He might give them an
Underftanding, that they might know Him that ig
True, even Jefus Chrift, who is the true God, and
Eternal Life, i John v. 20.

Likewife that meer nominal ProfefTors of Chriflj-
anity, (both of the Clergy and Laity,) might not
deceive themfelves by relying on a Speculative,
or Head Belief, and complying with Modes and

A ForiBS



PREFACE.

Forms of R E L I G I O N, while they are defli-
tate of the Power of it, its Holy Influences, the
Sou! and Life of Chriftianity, its very QuintejSence,
RELIGION IT S E L F, as was theCafc
of the Hypocritical Pharifees and Scribes, "who
'' honoured God with Their Lips, while their Heart
*' was far from Him," Mark vii. 2. to 7.

I have exemplify 'd both from Reafon end Re-
velation, that if Profeflbrs of Chriftianity, would be
Difciples indeed of the Blefled Jefus, their very
1 houghts. Words and A(fl:ions, the whole Courfe
and Tenor of their Lives and Converfations muft
be moved or influenced by the Gofpel of ChriA,
as Watches and Clocks are by their Main Springy
which fets a going all its mechanical Powers in
due Order and Regulation.

I have notchofen a florid Language, or a formal
concife Method of writing, not endeavouring to
tickle the Ear, but to mend the Heart, and have
proved from many Paffages of Holy Writ, that
thofe Happy Souls, who experience that their
corrupted polluted Natures are in a Degree fandi-
fied, that have a Tafte and Relifh for Righteoufnefs,
will earneftly defire and endeavour to grow in
Grace, that they w^ill hunger and thirft after it.

For the greater Proficiencies Mankind marke ia
the Spiritual and Divine Life, they will continu-
ally



preface;

ally 2pply to if\lmlghty God for further Degrees of
His Rich Grace, in order to make greater Progrefs,
that they may increafe in the Fruits of Rightc-
oufnefs, that they may be inriched with every
Thing to all Bountifulnefs, 2 Cor, ix. ir. To be

* filled with the Knowledge of God's Will in all

* Wifdom and fpiritual Underflanding, that they

* might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleaL

* ing, being fruitful in every good Work, and

* increafing in the Knowledge of Godj flrength-

* ned with all Might, according to his glorious

* Power, to all Patience and long-fuffering with
Joyfulnefs 5 Giving Thanks unto the Father
which hath made them meet to be Partakers

* of the Inheritance of the Saints inLight ; who hath

* delivered them from the Power of Darknefs, and

* hath tranllated them into the Kingdom of His

* Dear Son, in v/hom They have Redemption

* through his Blood, even the Forgivenefs of Sins,
Cclojf. i. 9 to 1 5,

If any of my fellow Mortals fliall receive the leafl:
Degree of Spiritual Benefit or Advantage from any
of thefe Works, I mod humbly andearneftly befeech
them to give Almighty God all the Honour and
Praife. '' Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but
*^ unto thy Name give Glory. Pf. cxv, i. for it
is the Work of Omnipotence only, that caufeth

real



PREFACE.

real Good to proceed forth from any Human En-
deavours whatfoever, yea even from a Paul or an
jlpoUo, I Cor, iii. 6, 7. '' By Grace IMankind are
** faved through Faith, and that not of themfelves,
" it is the Gift of God". Eph, ii. 8.

" By the Grace of God I am what I am (fays
humble holy Heroick St Paid) *' and his Grace
" which w^as beitowcd on me, was not in vain -, but
" I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not
•' I, but the Grace of God, which was with me,'*
I Cof\ XV. 10.

The Principal Human Affiflance, I have had to
compofe my followingWorks, was a Concordance to
the Holy Scriptures, By Alexander Crude?!, M. A,
which very ufeful valuable Book, (without the leaft
worldly Advantage) I moft fincerely and earneftly
recommend to the perufal of all thofe who would
willingly take Pleafure and Delight, by being
Honoured with a very intimate Correfpondence,
a beneficial Acquaintance with the Word of God,
Vvhich is able to m.ake them Wife unto Salvation,
through Faith, which is in Chrifljefus, 2 Ti;;;. iii. 1 5.
Almiehty God grant that this m.ay be the happy
Cafe of us all, is the hearty fincere Prayer of your
mod Humble Servant at Command, in Chrifl,

Edvvard GoldneVj &;r

London, the Joyous
















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GOLDNEY's EPISTLE



TO THE



B€S




(Thofe who deny all Revealed Religion,
acknowledging only Natural ; as the Exift-
ence of a G O D, his Providence, Virtue and
Vice, the Immortality of the Soul> and Rewards
and Punifhments after Death.)

Dear Fellow^Creatures>

IT is with the greatelt fmcerity of foulj and a real
love and affeclion from my heart, that I make
this addrefs to you, for the benefit of your immor-
tal fouls^ which you ar6 confcious will be deftined to
unlpeakable happinefs or mifery at the grand and awful
day of judgment J when the whole world will be lum-
moned to give an account of their behaviour in it as
,rational and accountable creatures.

All mankind, by creation, are the fons and daughters
of God, wlio are m.ade of one blood ^ confequently

B of



[ i J

<bf one grand family : from which confideration I find
an earnell defire in myfelf to be an inftrument in the
hands of Providence, to be of as much fervice to my
brethren univerfally as pofTible, both for foul and body,
as my capacity, fituation and circumltances in life will
admit of, "whether they are Greeks or Jews, Barbarians,
^' Scythians, bond or free, of every kindred, tongue
" and nation " yea, even if I could fuppofe them all my
enemies. This is the fjblime religion I learnt from the
glorious gofpel of the blefled Jefus ; the fatisfadlion
and pleafure of which naone can conceive, but thofe
who experience it, and have it communicated by its" divine
author Chrifl, " the only begotten Son of God," Johnxiv.
21. Therefore I fhould rejoice that you experienced the
fame divine pleafures which are the happy confequences of
knowing " the only tKie God, and Jefus Chrifb, whom
^' he hath fent ; whom to know is life eternal," John
rtvii. 3. The blefled Jefus declares, ^' his dodrine was
" not his own, but God's that fent him ; and thr^ if
*' any man will do his will, he fliall know of the doc-
*' trine, whether it be of God, or whether he fpake of
*' himfelf He that fpeaketh of himfelf, feeketh his
" own glory : but he that feeketh his glory that fent
*' him,- the fame is true, and no unrighteoufnefs is in
*' him," John vii. 16, 17, 18. which fingle confidera-
tion is an invincible argument of the divine authority
and mifTion of the blefled Jefus, to every rational, un-
prejudiced mind.

The whole fcope and defign of the dodlrine whicH
Chrill delivered, eminently tends to promote the glory
of Godj and the univerfal good of mankind. This is'

an-



[ 3 J

^n undoubted proof and evidence that his do(?lriije was
only from heaven.

It is declared by divine authority, that the reafon or
caufe why you, the Jews, or any other part of mankind
do not beheve in Chrift, is for want of doing the will of
God : which is implied in our Lord's anfwer to the Jews,
recorded John vii. 1 7. I make no manner of doubt but
"that you will readily anfwer me, and fay, If mankind
were to judge of the truth of Chriftianity by the pro-
feHbrs thereof, the pradlice of many heathens would
be much more preferable to theirs ; which is too no-
torious to be denied, but muft be acknowledged as a
lamentable truth, even am.ongft many who make the
greateft pretences to it. But this is not to be attributed
to the dodlrine of the gofpel, which abfolutely alTures
us, that every one who wilfully lives in " the breach of
^' any one fingle command, is guilty of the whole :'*
and that it is " not the hearers of the law, but the
*' doers of the law, who Ihal) be juftified ; and that not
" every one that faith unto Chrift, Lord, Lord, Ihall
** enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doth
^^ the will of his heavenly father."

Therefore St. Paul cautions mankind, left they ftiould
deceive themfelves, and fays, " Know ye not that the
" unrighteous ftiall not inherit the kingdom of God ;
*' neither fornicators, idolaterSg^ adulterers, effeminate,
" abufers of themfelves with mankind ; nor thieves, nor
" covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extor-
^* tioners," i Cor. vi. 9, 10. Thofe profefTing Chriftians
who live in an avowed commiflion of any of thefe, ov



r 4 ]

any other fins or vices, may be faid to be only ipeculative
believers, for their faith reaches the head, but not the
heart : they are only nominal Chriftians ; but far frorn
beino- the difciples indeed of the blefled Jefus, and will
" receive their portion with unbelievers," Luke xii. 46.
Therefore my principal defign, by the grace of God,
is to propofe and point out fuch methods, whereby you
may become proper objects to receive evangelical faith. .

The firft virtue I would recommend to you is
humility, a humble apprehenfion of the weaknefs and
infufficiency of your own underftandings, to com-
prehend thofe things which do not fall under our fenfes ;
to be of a felf-diffident difpofition, your minds always
flexible, open to conviclion, always willing and ready
to receive and embrace the trudi in the love of it. I
would alfo heartily and lincerely recommend the necef-
faiy dutv of felf-examination •, not in a flight, curfory
manner, but with the greated deliberation and impar-^
tiality, as an affair of the utmoft importance. It being of
the greateft confequence, whether you have or have not
acted agreeably to the lavv s of natural religion ; whether
you do conftantly live in the true fear and reverence of
the Lord of heaven and earth. Whether you do go-,
vern your corrupt, unruly, headftrong paffions by your
reafon, which almighty God has invefted you with for
that excellent purpofe : whether in every refpefl: you,
do to others, as you would have others do to you :
whether you arc of a compafiionate, fympathifing, tender-
hearted difpofition : whether you do not do any injury
10 your fellow-creatures : but, on the contrary, do you

da



I s 1

do them all the good your circumftances and fituatlom
of life will admit of ?

Thefe, you mufl acknowledge, are the duties of na-
tural religion.

Examine yourfelves, whether you have given that
due attention, that juft regard, to the external evi-
dences to the truth of divine revelation, as the import-
ance of it demands. Have you thoroughly weighed the
authenticity of the writings of Mofes and the pro-
phets ? with what exceeding great care they were pre-^
ferved from one generation to another ; and how tliQ
Jews had in their cuflody copies of all the laws, in fb
exaft a manner, as not to fufFer a fingle point either to
be added to them, or taken from them, on any confider-.
ation whatfoever,

Have you conflderedj that thefe writings contain noe
only their laws, or their inftitutional rites and cere-
monies, and their religious obfervances from time to