Thofe Clergymen, who, like Dr. Clarke and his follower, the author of the Appeal, do by their own confeffion believe two different Gods, while they falfely accufe us of believing Three, would undoubtedly be very glad to be well rid of a Trinity in Unity; as the Turks were, when they took the religion of Mahomet into the place of it. And if they fhould at length prevail, by dint of popular clamour and importunity, of which fome wonderful effects have been seen in this kingdom, the Turks, and the Jews too, would congratulate them upon their victory; and so would every determined Deist and Atheist in the nation. Yet, after all, none of them would worship that imagined inferior Deity, whom this author would perfuade you to worship.

I believe it alfo to be very true, that they would, as their advo cate tells you, be very glad of your affiftance. And I have been confidering with myself in what form and manner your affiftance can be adminiftered. They can hardly mean, that you should afsist them with the pen, and write books upon Reformation; for very few amongst you are scholars: nor with the tongue, for you are no orators. And I know not how you can assist them otherwife, except it be with fire and sword, as the reformed Clergy were affifted in the last century, when loyalty was malignity, and epifcopacy was anti-christianity, and the most miserable oppreffion and flavery of two thirds of the people, was celebrated as a state of Chriftian liberty to the prevailing party.

We know but too well, that the Gospel, with all its doctrines, is an infupportable burden to those who do not believe it: and fo is the law of the land to those who do not like to be under the reftraint of it. Some men are fond of liberty in one shape, and fome in another. Some think as they please; and others act as they please. This latter fort of people, many of whom are groaning under the weight of political forms, would also be very glad of your affiftance toward amending the conftitution, and reftoring gentlemen to that ftate of freedom, in which they might follow their confciences without any danger. And, perhaps, they would not object to your affiftance as unwarrantable in the facred cause of liberty, though you fhould accomplish their purposes by pulling the magiftrate from his chair, the judge from his bench, the two houfes of parliament from their feats, and the King from his throne.

These are the profpects I have before my eyes, when I hear Deifts and Socinians haranguing the public upon the fubjects of

Confcience and Impofition: which prospects having been once realized in this Church and Kingdom, cannot be deemed altogether chimerical. Such popular reafonings as I have now been contending with, have already produced the most fatal confequences, to the triumph of the Papifts, and the scandal of the Reformation: they have deceived you once: and unless you are upon your guard, they will deceive you again: and the laft error fhall be worse than the firft; worse in itself, and worse in its confequences. It pleafed God to deliver the Church from its captivity under the Puritans, and the people from their infatuation: but if experiments, when they have been tried, leave us no wifer, or, perhaps, not so wife as they found us, it is much to be ques tioned whether we shall again meet with the like indulgence: at leaft, it will be safest always to bear in mind that courfe of divine Providence in a fimilar inftance, propofed as a warning to all Chriftians by the apoftle St. Jude, How that the Lord having faved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards deftroyed them that believed not.

Thofe authors who would ftir you up to feditious motions, make you so many fair speeches, and lay claim to fo much candor and charity, that you may eafily mistake them for your best friends. But I must now leave you to judge for yourselves, whether a writer, who lies fculking in the dark, under a nameless title-page, can really love you better than one who is not afraid to subscribe his name at length to what he has written, and is expofing himself for your fakes to be reviled and perfecuted in the monthly publications of infidel Critics, who on account of the information I have here given you, with a defire to clear away fome of that duft, which they and their friends are perpetually throwing into your eyes, will find, if poffible, fome worfe names for me than they have ever done yet. They have expressed their wrath against me more than once or twice; and probably they will now do it again. But a little more ill language will do me no harm; and if I can do you any good at fuch an expence, it will all be chearfully taken by your

Very fincere Friend,

And most affectionate

Brother in Chrift,

WILLIAM JONES.

PLUCKLEY, Dec. 16, 1766.

Humbly recommended to the ferious Confideration of all thofe who are entrufted with the EDUCATION of YOUTH.

By a PRESBYTER of the CHURCH of ENGLAND.

VOL. II.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE Reader may be fhocked when he is, told, that there is a difpofition to Heathenifm in an age of fo much improvement, and pronounce the accufation improbable and visionary; but he is requested to weigh impartially the facts here offered, and then to form his judgment. The following Letter was intended only for the inspection of a friend; but if there is any tendency in the public to fuch a peculiar kind of corruption, as is here pointed out, they ought to have fome warning of it; and therefore it has been judged that the prefent publication can be neither impertinent nor unfeafonable.

The prefent Edition of this Letter, in the year 1794, is more feasonable than the firft; now we have been witness to the profane affectation of Heathen manners by the Philofophers of France; with its malignant effects on Religion, Government, and the Peace of the Christian world.