Likewise I have open’d a large communication between the patriarchal family, of _Abraham_ particularly, and of the first planters of the coasts on the ocean of _Spain_, _Gaul_, _Germany_ and _Britain_. ’Tis plain, what religion was here first planted, as being an almost inaccessible island, flourished exceedingly, and kept up to its original system, even to the days of _Cæsar_, I mean among the aboriginal inhabitants. The new planters from the continent, on the southern and eastern shore of the island, were tinctured at least with idolatry, in the later times. Whilst on the continent, where more frequent changes of inhabitants happen, idolatry every where polluted it. But in all accounts of the first beginnings of nations, they had the first religion: ’till as every where, time, riches, politeness and prosperity bring on corruption in church and state. We find, on the continent, idolatry crept on by degrees universally, which was the occasion of providence exerting its self in the _Mosaick_ dispensation: and thereby changing the manner of these temples, altogether polluted. Nevertheless we have no reason to think but that the Druids, in this island of ours, generally kept up to the purity of their first and patriarchal institution. And that is the reason that all our classical writers, tho’ much later than the times we are treating of, represent them as a people of a religion diametrically opposite to that of the rest of the world, even as the _Jews_ then, or christians afterwards. Therefore I thought it fully worth while, to bestow some pains on these temples of theirs, as the only monuments we have left, of the patriarchal religion; and especially in regard to their extraordinary grandeur and magnificence, equal to any of the most noted wonders of the world, as commonly termed. I have shewn largely enough, the evidences that there were such kinds of temples built all the world over, in the first times; but probably nothing of them now remaining, comparable to those in our own island: which therefore we ought to seek to rescue from oblivion, before it be too late. I propose to publish but one volume more to complete this argument, as far as I have materials for that purpose. What I have done, I look upon as very imperfect, and but as opening the scene of this very noble subject. The curious will find sufficient room to extend it, to correct and adorn the plan I have begun. And I take it to be well worthy of the pains; as it lets in upon us an excellent view of the scheme of providence, in conducting the affair of true religion, thro’ the several ages of the world. We may hence discern the great purpose of inducing the _Mosaick_ dispensation, on that very spot of ground where the main of idolatry began, and from whence it was propagated over all the western and politer world; and over which world providence rais’d the mighty _Roman_ empire, to pave the way of a republication of the patriarchal religion.