now, having given a just character of this eminent
minister of the gospel, a true account of his life, and some slight
remarks upon his writings, I shall no longer detain the reader from the
perusal of those treatises that are contained in this volume; from which
you will know more of Mr. Binning, than from all I and others have said in
his just praise. I shall now conclude, by acquainting the purchasers and
readers of this volume, that I am allowed by the publishers to assure
them, that the rest of his practical manuscripts are revising for the
press; and that with all expedition they shall be printed; from which I am
hopeful they shall receive as great satisfaction, as from any of his
pieces already published.

THE COMMON PRINCIPLES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, CLEARLY PROVED, AND
SINGULARLY IMPROVED; OR, A PRACTICAL CATECHISM.

Original Preface.

To The Reader

_Christian Reader_,--The holy and learned author of this little book,
having outrun his years, hastened to a maturity before the ordinary
season, insomuch that ripe summer fruit was found with him by the first of
the spring, for before he had lived twenty five years complete, he had got
to be _Philologus_, _Philosophus_, _Theologus eximius_, whereof he gave
suitable proofs, by his labours, having first professed in philosophy
three years, with high approbation, in the university of Glasgow, and
thence was translated to the ministry of the gospel in a congregation
adjacent, where he laboured in the work of the gospel near four years,
leaving an epistle of commendation upon the hearts of his hearers. But as
few burning and shining lights have been of long continuance here so he
(after he had served his own generation by the will of God, and many had
rejoiced in his light for a season) was quickly transported to the land of
promise, in the 26th year of his age. He lived deservedly esteemed and
beloved, and died much lamented by all discerning Christians who knew him.
And, indeed, the loss which the churches of Christ, in these parts,
sustained in his death was the greater upon a double account; first, that
he was a person fitted with dexterity to vindicate school divinity and
practical theology from the superfluity of vain and fruitless perplexing
questions wherewith latter times have corrupted both, and had it upon his
spirit, in all his way to reduce(134) that native gospel simplicity,
which, in most parts of the world where literature is in es