Religious tenets, as fundamentals, which have no sufficient authority from the Bible, may obstruct the propagation of the Gospel:-how far it may disturb the tranquillity, and diminish the happiness of the Christian World (even beyond our present state of existence), is an inquiry worthy of the most serious attention.

Let us remember, that God is not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace*. An extravagant and rooted fondness of Mystery, especially in religious tenets, prevailed anciently in an extraordinary manner, and brought on endless disputations, even amongst the most eminent advocates of Christianity, as is conspicuous enough in their Writings; and to this hour it is evident that the same infatuation, in some degree, possesses us; insomuch that we are often unwilling, or afraid to trust plain sense and reason in our researches into Scripture, notwithstanding we are directed

* 1 Cor. xiv, 33.

in those very Scriptures to employ our Judgment; to prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.-1 Thess. v, 21; see Luke xii, 57; 1 Pet. iii, 15.

Abstracted from the more difficult, or figurative passages (which, however, are by no means inexplicable), suffer it to be repeated, the Scripture declarations of the Unity of God, are full, clear, and express. Let us, therefore, abide by this pure Light, which is so graciously shed upon us, and which so benevolently unites with that inferior gift of God, our Reason*.

* MEN may be very blameable for not admitting the Unity; "though it be supposed that they have only "moral Presumption, or traditional Proofs of it; be"cause the greater Probability ought to determine their

Judgment, and because it is unquestionable Matter of "Duty, in dubious Cases, to take the safer Side." If this be sound reasoning (applied by the Author, more particularly to the Heathen of old), the Safer Side for Us to take, seems to be this:-to compare the Scripture declarations for and against the proper Unity of God, and yield to the Strongest and Clearest Evidence. On which side this is likely to fall, it is hoped, will appear, with accumulated force, in the following sheets. The passage

Indeed, an Intelligible Religion, suited to our Understanding, is the Only Religion that can be really Beneficial to us; and therefore, if God himself, intending. to communicate any essential Knowledge to men, were to speak to them, at any time, He must certainly speak in the language of men, and according to the powers of Conceiving and Judging, which He hath been pleased to bestow upon them; otherwise He could neither be understood nor obeyed. The same Rule holds good with respect to any Delegate that God might appoint. This is self-evident. As to the greater part of the Mysteries, which have so long distressed our faculties, we must look to some other Cause for them.

It must be obvious to those who have given any attention to the Epistles of the New Testament, and to Ecclesiastical His

just quoted is, however, from a Writer (supposed Dr. Waterland) who was a strenuous Advocate for the Athanasian Doctrine.-See Dissertation added to Bishop Law's Inquiry into the Ideas of Space, Time, &c. p. 76.

tory, that, even in the first century, the Christian doctrines began to be Corrupted

by the Gnostics; and, soon after, by other learned Philosophizing Converts, who had newly embraced Christianity, and who, under a notion of Refinement, endeavoured to infuse into the Christian System, some of the subtilized Tenets of the Orientalists and Platonists, of which, many of those Converts, it seems, were full, and valued highly. How much soever, therefore, our curiosity may be gratified by the perusal of ancient writings, it appears, after all, that we have no Solid foundation to rest upon, but in the plain Doctrines of Christ and his Apostles.

Yet, it is confessed, that the refined Passion for spiritual arcuna, so cherished of old*, is far from being extinct.

To

* "The very pious and learned Dr. Grabe, has ob"served, that, in the second Century, about the time of "Justin Martyr, it became a prevailing custom to im

port into the sacred text senses, which did not belong "to it."-See Middleton on Miraculous Powers, p. 28.

favour its Influence, the sacred Doctrines are still often incumbered with hidden meanings, and darkened by unnatural Interpretations; and that easy captivating manner in which they were, at first, delivered, and conveyed directly to the heart, is not, in general, thought worthy of being imitated. Simplicity, the handmaid of Truth, appears to have long lost her charms in the eye of the learned Christian: She is, therefore, very willingly, neglected or discarded his exalted Ideas might sometimes make him blush at the suggestions of so unreserved and lowly a Companion.

Instead of a Gospel of Peace, a Revelation kindly suited to our common faculties, some will admit of no Dispensations from Heaven, but such as strike the Soul with Astonishment, and fill all her powers with doubt, dismay, and confusion :-As if the mild and Instructive communications of Divine light, would be wholly insufficient, or totally lost, even in the bosoms