perceive, that it is not a doctrine according to godlinefs, which the true apoftolic gospel certainly is, but a doctrine which has a na-, tive tendency to introduce and encourage licentioufnefs, all manner of impiety and wickedness, and to expofe religion and all ferious godliness, with the profeffors thereof, to ridicule and contempt. And indeed from the author's manner of writing one would think, that his defign muft have been rather to prove, that there is no fuch thing as any, true faith or godlinefs in the world, than to fhew what they really are.

This author begins his letters with fome fine compliments, which it seems he thought fit to pay to the celebrated author of the Dialogues between Theron and Afpafio. And here, it must be acknowleged, he acquits himself very handfomely; with the language, air and addrefs of a polite Gentleman; the honour of all which we are willing to allow him. Nor have I any quarrel with him for the encomiums he beftows on fome valuable writings published by the ingenious Mr. Hervey, before he wrote his Theron and Afpafio. But had he been as zealous for the peculiar doctrines of Chriftianity as he pretends to be, I cannot help thinking, that fome things advanced in the two volumes of Meditations writ by that author would have as readily alarmed him, as thofe paffages in

the

the Dialogues, which he fignifies he was fo much fhocked at, as to be laid under the disagreeable neceffity of concluding, that the author had fo far loft fight of the imputed righteousness as to fubftitute in its place a preliminary human one. It is the opinion of fome, no less friends to the doctrine of imputed righteousness, and other truths of the gospel neceffarily connected with it, than the letter-writer, that there are some things dropt occafionally in the Meditations much more exceptionable, than any thing advanced in the Dialogues. I do not intend, by this obfervation, to caft any reflection upon the memory of the worthy author of the Meditations, whofe very fingular modefty and humility made him fometimes extend his charity farther than either the honour or intereft of truth will allow; but mention it only as an evidence of the partiality of the letter-writer and his brethren, who have thought fit to fhew a much warmer oppofition to the doctrines contained in the Dialogues, as explained and improved by the author, than ever they did to the fame doctrines taught in the Meditations; though in the opinion of fome, who may be allowed to be as good judges as the author of the letters and his brethren, lefs clearly and unexceptionably in the latter than in the former.

Had

Had the author of the Dialogues only been fo cautious as to have concealed his acquaintance with his new friends in Scotland, there is ground to think he would have been treated more civilly by the letter-writer and his party; but the uncommon regard and efteem he has unwarily profeffed to have for them, and the warm recommendation he has given of their writings and fermons, appear to have provoked the refentment of thofe Gentlemen, and wrought up their zeal against him and his doctrine to fuch a degree of fervour, that, whatever good opinion they might formerly have had of him from his other writings, now they have so little charity for him as to rank him with the perverters of the ancient gospel, and those popular preachers who have hit upon the art of making all the doctrines of Chriftianity fubfervient to the gratification of human pride; and therefore in all the explications they give, and all the improvement they make of thefe doctrines, while pretending to fpeak in the name of their divine Mafter, deal doubly and deceitfully both with God and man.

Strangers may be furprised to find the author of the letters difcovering fuch a degree of refentment against fome eminent minifters of the gofpel in Scotland, lately deceased, whose character, fo far as I know,

was

was never before attacked by any but open enemies to truth and godlinefs, and whofe valuable writings have recommended them to the efteem of many ferious Chriftians who never had any perfonal acquaintance with them; but thofe who have any particular knowledge of the hiftory of the noted author of that fect in Scotland, whofe particular tenets and opinions the letter-writer has undertaken to defend, and any particular acquaintance with the fpirit, and temper of that Gentleman and his followers, will be at no lofs to account for. it. These are men by themfelves; the only church of Chrift that has been in the world. for many ages, the only believers and lovers of the apoftolic gofpel, if we may take their own word for it; and all the doctrines and principles that do not tally with their notions of the kingdom of heaven, and that extraordinary opinion they have conceived of themfelves as the only apoftolic Christians and genuine believers, this day, in the world, must be rejected as falfe, fpurious, and Antichriftian. But it would argue too great

* Mr. John Glafs, a noted feparatift in Scotland, whofe peculiar turn of mind, joined with an uncommon degree of opinionativeness, has given birth to most of those whimfical conceits and oddities by which he and his adherents have thought fit to diftinguish themselves from every other denomination of Chriftians.

credu

credulity, without any farther trial to believe their teftimony concerning themfelves. It is but reasonable that their pretenfions to that extraordinary character which they affume to themfelves be examined, before we give implicit faith to their dictates and opinions; and if thofe fhall be found well fupported, this is what we cannot well refufe to do; for indeed their pretenfions are fo high, and the confidence with which they deliver their opinions fo great, that we do not fee How any thing fhort of infallibility can warrant either.

These Gentlemen often inveigh with great warmth against Antichriftianifm, and affect to fhew an uncommon zeal against every thing that feems to discover the leaft affinity to it; but fuch as are ever fo little acquainted with their writings may eafily fee, that though they want the power, they have the Spirit of Antichrift. As they arrogate to themselves the only true church of Chrift upon earth, they are bold to denounce their anathemas against all who prefume to deny, or impugn their favourite notions; branding the very beft and moft eminent among them

feducers, Pharifees, hypocrites, inveterate enemies to the truth and gofpel of Chrift, &c. for no other reafon that I can fee, but because they cannot adopt thofe extravagant notions, and whimfical conceits, which they VOL. I.

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would