port them, I fhall be ever willing, to the utmost of my ability, to contribute. As to my friend, the late excellent Dr. Morgan, I know he paffes with most people for a father of infidels, and is always mentioned by the faith-men as the vileft of mortals; but fee how he writes in respect of true religion and its minifters. "The infinite mischiefs to mankind, which have arisen from confounding human policy with theocracy, or religion with a civil, temporal jurisdiction, are fo very obvious and undeniable, that I hope in representing this, I fhall not be thought to have exceeded the bounds of truth and decency: but I would not have it concluded from hence, that I look upon all church conftitutions and regulations for the public worship of God to be needlefs, or of no benefit to fociety. Nothing can be farther from my thoughts, or intention, than this. The more the feveral duties and obligations of moral truth and righteousness are inforced and inculcated, and the more publickly and folemnly this is done, the greater hopes there must be of a general reformation, and a stricter regard to the laws of God and nature in any fociety; and while the public minifters of religion keep to this, they do their duty, anfwer the end of their office, and deferve all due encouragement, respect, and honor. Against fuch, there fore, fore, I have faid nothing, and would fooner lofe my tongue, or right hand, than fay or do any thing to discourage them. Let them promote the caufe of God and virtue, and true religion in the world, and then, I am fure, they must have the thanks of every wife and good man. Let them make it appear in life and reality, that they have true religion and virtue neareft at heart, that they regard more the spiritual duties than the temporal rewards of their office; and that they are more concerned to reform the world, than to enrich themselves, and then see what deift or infidel would dare open his mouth against them. But if they will fubftitute historical faith and church ceremony for religion, authority for reason, outward practice for inward purity, the wealth and power of the church for the power of godlinefs, and human contrivances for divine inftitutions; if they will do this, I fay, let them look to themselves, and.maintain their credit and emoluments as long as they can. But I can tell them as a friend, "That "deifm and infidelity will always prevail against such sort of churchifm." (Phyficotheology.) This paffage I think very juft and beautiful, notwithstanding the author of it has been called a profligate writer (a), and I imagine it (a) Archdeacon Law, in his theory of religion, ufes this hard expreffion, and many other gentlemen of the church have taken great pains to make him as black as the devil. But furely if the doctor feared God, and glo rified it expreffes the mind of many thoughtful christians. The cafe of Dr. Morgan is, that he had as little zeal for the hereditary right of faith as I have, and profeffed an honeft regard to truth, wherever a free enquiry finds her; tho it be not on the fide of education, custom and example, but against it; yet he ever declared for that church which presents us with the moft perfect precepts, and the moft illuftrious example of all manner of holiness, I mean the fermons and life of Jefus, and the Epiftles of his Apoftles; · and for fuch minifters of this church, as employ. their whole lives, and all their care, in teaching mankind to worship the Father of the univerfe, according to the gofpel of their advocate and legislator; and in guiding and directing the Ifrael of God in the ways of righteousness and peace. Such a church and priests the doctor thought truly glorious. What other church and priefts can be worth our notice? But rified Jefus Chrift, as the Meffiah-the chofen fervant and meffenger if he performed every duty founded in nature, and obeyed all the commands of God-if he studied to promote a good life among men, and did his best to advance the happinefs of mankind; which I affirm to be his cafe; is it not severe to pursue him with an unrelenting calumny, and treat him as if he were an atheift, infidel, dog or devil-to act against him with a rancour unworthy of men, and a bitterness that difgraces the chriftian religion?-This is fad work for modes of fore, I have faid 1 Ο But was Murgon a comition, after all the doctors have writ against him? He was, Yes. He would have joud at any time in jorupture-werkte, the he had come odd notiona of Abraham, and Jacob, Moles and David: And in, by the way, would Tindal, Cher, and Toland, notwithstanding their inability to ine inme truths in particular cafes. I can arm the fame of the great Mr. C Im; tho the author of the grounds did lay before the public fuch difficultis as he thought atended the evidence of prophecy, in order to obtain fufficient anfwers to them. Thele gentlemen were at only a worthy, hoach men as ever lived, to ang karwledge; but likewić, true christians, notwithstand purity, the wealth and poing ther abhorred the pratician baby is fay, let them look to themi against such fort of churchisi theology.) and were devoted to the detracten This paffage I think very jui ful, notwithstanding the author o called a profligate writer (a), and (a) Archdeacon Law, in his theory of re this hard expreffion, and many other gentlen church have taken great pains to make him as the devil. But furely if the doctor feared God, articles we cannot he had as lice sair de cuftom and exam, us with the maft perfect prengt, a 6, and the Epifles of his docesfor fach ministers of this chorch. their whole lives, and all then c a gofpel. We are willing, if e us their favor, to embrace and join them as chriftians, before the God and Father is Chrift, and imploring his ; that we may all be bleffed ng mankind to worthip the Father of the activerfe, according t vocate and legilator; and in garding refting the Birel of God in the ways of erinnels and peace. Such a chan priests the dottor thought truly What other church and priets can his Holy Spirit here, and d with him hereafter, as the Tediator. But this is not tors. They will have no if we will not allow their 7 come down from heaven. t we cannot, with a fafe hink of doing, we are > the approaching day of e judge of all the earth 10 are right, who, in er Deifts of this nation, who infinite perfection, and noft of their power, to by thofe rules of moral plan of light and of God brought into un an invarich. ECK e Being |