should gratify Jews, Heathens, and Maho metans, by denying the Trinity? They have always been found in the belief of this doctrine; and we could never hope to recover any proselytes from the errors of Popery; but on the contrary, should make the religion of Protestants more odious than ever; if under the name of reformation, we were to root up the foundations of the Gospel. You have heard, perhaps, that they have called us Heretics for these two hundred years past; and very falsely: but if we should abjure the Christian Trinity, we should no longer have the name for nothing; but should be guilty of adding that truth to the accusation, of which they would not fail to make their advantage. And lastly, the far greatest part of Protestants would reject us.

These things being considered, we are brought at length to the following issue: that to please some, we must part with the doctrine of the Trinity; and to please others, we must keep it. Which may shew plainly enough what I have had in view from the beginning of this Epistle, that merely popular arguments are of no use towards settling points of scriptural doctrine; but may be

turned

turned this way or that, as the manager finds it most convenient. Discretion and charity are indeed to be consulted by every Christian, and on every subject; but a writer who has a good cause to maintain, and knows where its proper strength lies, will not go out of his way to amuse people with what is nothing to the purpose. Whereas, if a cause is not so strong as it should be, popular considerations serve to put the reader into an heat; and when a man's passions are up, he will hear no reason on one side, and requires none on the other.

XII. There is one more of their insinuations, which is the last I shall make any remarks upon at present; and it is this, viz. that there are several Clergymen of the "Church of England, who groan under the "weight of the Athanasian forms and wor"ship, that would be very glad of your as"sistance to be delivered from so great a "burden upon their consciences." For the credit of the Church of England, I hope there are not many such: but if any clergymen should be so mistaken as to imagine,

that a contempt for any of the Christian doctrines is an argument of their superior sense and learning, they are more truly the objects of Pity, than of Envy or Imitation: and your Arian counsellors, who are so forward to caution you against human authority, will give me leave to advise you not to depend upon human example. An error is still an error, though it resides in a Clergyman; and instead of being thereby sanctified, is only more deformed and dangerous than it was before. A profane oath, or a curse, would sound the more horrible, if a Bishop were to have the uttering of it. A toad is an hideous creature in every situation; but is never so much abhorred as when it creeps into the best room of the house. The ministers of Christ are the salt of the earth; and if this salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

The Scripture will teach you, that the worship of the Golden Calf was a grievous sin, though Aaron, who was a Clergyman, had the making of it. And there was a time, when the whole body of the Clergy, I mean the Jewish, determined Christ himself to be a blasphemer and deceiver, and were instant

with loud voices requiring that he might be crucified.

Those clergymen who, like Dr. Clarke and his follower, the author of the Appeal, do by their own confession believe two different Gods, while they falsely accuse us of believeing 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 should at length prevail, by dint of popular clamour and importunity, of which some 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 persuade you to worship.

I believe it also to be very true, that they would, as their advocate tells you, be very glad of your assistance. And I have been considering with myself in what form and manner your assistance can be administered. They can hardly mean, that you should assist them with the pen and write books upon Reformation; for very few amongst you are

1

scholars :

scholars nor with the tongue, for you afe

no orators.

And I know not how you can

assist them otherwise, except it be with fire and sword, as the reforming Clergy were assisted in the last century, when loyalty was malignity, and episcopacy was anti-christianity, and the most miserable oppression and slavery of two thirds of the people, was celebrated as a state of Christian liberty to the prevailing party.

Some

We know but too well, that the Gospel, with all its doctrines, is an insupportable burden to those who do not believe it: and so is the law of the land to those who do not like to be under the restraint of it. men are fond of liberty in one shape, and some in another. Some think as they please; and others act as they please. This latter sort of people, many of whom are groaning under the weight of political forms, would also be very glad of your assistance toward amending the constitution, and restoring gentlemen to that state of freedom, in which they might follow their consciences without any danger. And, perhaps, they would not object to your assistance as unwarrantable in the sacred cause of liberty, though you should accomplish their purposes by pul