A treatise of the causes of incredulity wherein are examin'd the general motives and occasions which dispose unbelievers to reject the Christian religion : with two letters, containing a direct proof of the truth of Christianity / translated from the French of Monsieur Le Clerc.

To the READER.

'TIS some Years since I first form'd a Design of writing upon the Subject of this small Piece, which I publish at present; and had my other Occupations purely de∣pended upon my own Choice, this had been perform'd long ago: but be∣ing necessarily engag'd in some other things, I was forc'd to put it off till now. At length having finish'd my Latin Writings upon the Pentateuch, I happily became Master of Time e∣nough to turn my Applications upon this Subject. I can freely say, that I never thought of Matters of this nature without extreme Satisfaction; for, af∣ter what manner soever I could consi∣der the Christian Religion, it always appear'd to me grounded upon the firmest Proofs, and the Doctrines of it perfectly conformable to sound Reason, or (to say all in one word) worthy the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Nor did I in my whole Life labour with more ardour and delight than I did in composing this Work, wherein I have,

I think, evidently made out that Un∣believers act against all good Sense in refusing their Assent to the Gospel: and I perswade my self, that if they consider the same things that I have, they must necessarily acknowledg the Truth of it. But whether I'm mistaken or not, that the World shall judg. If this Book have the good luck to meet with that Reception in French, which several others of this kind have had, I may one time or other put it into La∣tin; and in my Annotations upon it confirm all that I say by the Authority of the most antient Apologists of Chri∣stianity, and that too of the most con∣sidering Heathens; as the incompara∣ble Grotius has done in his Books of the Truth of the Christian Religion. I'm far indeed from equalling my Work to his, nor do I flatter my self with the same Success, as to the Judg∣ment of the publick: but if Men had regard only to the Intentions of those that write, I think I may safely say that none in the World had better than mine, nor was more convinc'd of the Goodness of that Cause I have under∣taken to defend.

John Le Clerc.