Lord, when I declare, that nothing but an earnest desire to support the Truth, on an Article of the utmost Importance to Mankind (in doing which I have taken example from very high Authority), and to shew the agreement of Scripture to that Light which God himself implanted in us, hath prompted me to open myself to your Grace and to the world. I have thus discharged (certainly without any regard to worldly Interests) what I have conceived to be my Duty; and the issue is cheerfully resigned to Providence.

It will appear evident, I hope, to every anbiassed Mind, that the Tract aforegoing, contains not a presumptuous attempt to injure or to alter any part of the Religion of Christ, but that it is expressly designed to forward its GENERAL reception on its own Foundations; and to promote that Union and Peace in the Church, which are alone to be expected from a strict adherence to the revealed Will of God. The leading Principles maintained in that Tract, and in some other late Publications, are taken from no mortal Source; and they will, I believe, be found to include the very means by. which the Christian Faith may be reduced to its primeval simplicity, relieved from confusion,

and defended effectually from the shrewd objections of many of its Adversaries *.

THE indolent custom (followed by many who are blessed with noble Advantages) of sitting down contented through life, with the most prevalent or the most fashionable Doctrines, without ever investigating their Truth and Consistency, must be deemed a mean prostitution of common Sense;-a Prostitution which has continued Error and Idolatry from generation to generation. I beg leave, therefore, to observe, that the zealous Inquirers into the true Object of Divine Worship, are sometimes, very irrationally, accused of an overweening Curiosity; it is said, that they do wrong in disturbing the Minds of themselves and others, by searching into Mysteries which are not on a level with our Understanding. Now without entering into any

It may be here remarked (but it is not a singular instance), that the late Bishop Chandler, in his successful Defence of Christianity from the Prophecies, drops all discordant Unintelligible tenets, and adopts, almost without exception, much the same easy Principles that any Unitarian Christian would now use on a like occasion.-See the Four last Sections of the Bishop's Work. In truth, it will ever be found a hard task to Defend Christianity, on opposite Principles, against Unbelievers; as any one may experience who will try it.'

formal argument against this reasoning, a very plain answer may be given. That, if we would settle our Faith on substantial grounds, we must both Search and Think: and that when those Mysteries are perpetually brought forward in the Church, and warmly defended out of it, not as points merely Speculative, but as Articles of Belief (regulating a Practice) necessary to Salvation, we very naturally endeavour to comprehend them; and indeed they then become of too Important a nature to suffer the truly Religious Mind to remain Indifferent about them. Thus, Men, seriously disposed, are unavoidably driven, by regard to their inward quiet, to seek for satisfaction to themselves; and to take refuge from the distractions of Controversy, under the peaceful safeguard of the Bible:-Not, however, rejecting the assistance of learned and pious Teachers. What we have reason to lament is, that the sacred Writings have been violently wrested into mystic senses, which very often have no place but in the Imagination; and favourite Opinions have been urged and defended, by bold assertions without Proof, or by deductions extorted without any appearance of sound Argument ;-without even any due regard to the allowed signification of words, to grammar, or the general Design of the Scriptures:It is unlikely that any System, not in opposition

*

to that Design, would ever require such very extraordinary measures for its support.

As these strained and irregular modes of construction are never likely to fix our Religious Principles on a firm basis, I have endeavoured to con fine myself to the most obvious Sense of Revelation, and it is my consolation, that I can humbly and openly appeal to the Great Judge of All, that, if I have erred in the search of Him and his Truths, I have not erred Wilfully. I could not possibly have sought my own Interest in so doing. In designedly trying to mislead others, I should certainly undermine my own tranquillity, without the smallest prospect of advantage; and surely no man of common dis+ cernment will be charged with such consummate folly. The Point I have contended for, is, indeed, of such infinite Importance, that, I readily own, I found myself unable, in the prosecution of my endeavours, to free myself from the deepest anxiety and fear, lest I should sometimes grossly mistake, and give offence in a matter wherein my future Peace and Happiness are so directly concerned. But I humbly rely on the Mercy and Compassion of God, in whom I have trusted and not in myself.

Conscientious motives prevailed on me not 'to conceal the result of my inquiries. To free

others from perplexity, as well as myself, and to prove by clear deductions, that the Bible doth not enforce an article of Faith repugnant to our inward suggestions, but that It is filled with confirmations of that first Principle, the Unity of God, which appears to be a Truth harmonizing with human Reason:-These have been my chief wishes and designs. Yet I am convinced, my Lord, with Yourself and others, that even the stedfast Belief of this Great and leading Principle, and the consequences deducible from it, will avail us but little, unless the Moral Excellencies, which should arise from that Belief, are put in Practice. True Charity, Piety, Virtue, Integrity, are essentials in true Religion, and the stipulated means of our acceptance with God.

THE History of Europe, as your Lordship well knows, records the most melancholy Proofs how far Men, in support of their several Systems, have departed from Christian Charity. Human Nature shudders at the Relation, and is relieved alone by reflecting on that Light and Liberality which, by the favour of God, now pervade and Dignify the Minds of Men almost throughout Christendom.

The Maxim, which so long prevailed, that the Gift of God, our distinguishing Faculty, is a