the ancient religious Patriarchs feem to have been fo unwilling to die, as good Chriftians are in our later Ages. And as for the Martyrs, they were carried to their Graves, when they were permitted to have any, with Hymns of Praise for their having escaped the Miseries of this finful World; and the Day of their Martyrdoms was called the Day of their Nativity, and celebrated yearly with great Joy. &c.

Your affectionate Friend and Servant,

WILL. WHISTON.

In the Year 1742, I published III. Tracts, con

taining

I. A Letter to the then Archbishop of Canterbury; with two Accounts of the laying afide unfcriptural Articles at Geneva, 1706. And the King of Pruffia's Letter to the Clergy at Geneva, in Commendation of thofe Proceedings.

II. An Abftract of the Minutes of our Society, for promoting primitive Christianity.

III. An Account of Mr. Baratier's Enquiries into the Chronology, the Doctrines, and Difcipline of the primitive Church. 8vo. Price Is. 6d.

N. B. What is now at the End of Page 53, of thefe Tracts, in all 54 and 55, and almost all the 56th, is fo much better stated in my Sacred Hiftory of the New Testament, Page 87, 88. 597.608.

1

that I defire those Pages may be quite omitted in future Editions.

About the Year 1744, Dr. Webster published and fent me a small Paper, for the Payment of Tythes to the Clergy; and that as of fuch indefeafi- ' ble Right, that the Meffiah himself could hardly alter it; and at the End, hinted that this his Writing was, in a Manner, put upon him by Inspiration. Whereas the Fact is plain, and proved in my Account of Tythes before mentioned; that those Tythes were indeed to be paid originally into the Bishop's Hands, but not to fupport either himself or his Prefbyters or Deacons, but to be diftributed to the Widows, the Orphans, the Poor, and Strangers in Diftrefs; and befides to the Orders inferior to Deacons, who moft probably, were of the poorer Sort alfo; while the first Fruits and voluntary Oblations were allotted to the Maintenance of the fuperior Clergy, Bishops, Priefts, and Deacons. See the forementioned Paper, Page 77, 78. But when Dr. Webfter intimates a divine Impulfe for a Clergyman to write in Vindication of Tythes to be paid Clergymen, contrary to the original Law of. Chriftianity; Credas Judus Apella, non ego. Chrift has indeed ordained that those that preach the Gospel fhould live of the Gofpel; which gives the Clergy a Right to a Maintenance: But that the Maintenance fhould be by Application of the Tythes thereto, is no where ordained: However, Clergymen fhould always get Laymen to write for their Maintenance, but never fhould do it themfelves.

In the Year 1744, I published a Single Sheet about our Saviour's Refurrection, from Beza's double Copy of the IV Gofpels, and Acts of the Apoftles ; with fome Obfervations, fhewing that almost all the Difficulties which have long puzzled the most learned Commentators in our vulgar Copies are here cleared, by this much more antient and much more authentick Copy, 8vo. price 3d. It is added alfo a little corrected at the End of my Primitive

New Teftament.

In the Year 1745-6, I publifhed Bishop Sherlock's most excellent Sermon, preached at Salisbury, October 6th, 1745. When he was in Dread of Popery and Perfecution; which makes Men much better Christians than Times of Prosperity. Concerning whom I fhall add a few Things. When his Lordship made a Speech for Bribery and Corruption, in the Houfe of Lords; for it was esteem'd no better at that Time; I took fuch a Prejudice against him, that I did not go to dine with him for a great while, as I used fometimes to do before. This I told Mr. Venn, who was acquainted with us both; and this was fo well understood by the Bishop, that he told Mr. Venn himself, that he believed fomewhat was the Matter between us: Mr. Venn knew what it was, but durft not tell it. At laft, when I was once at the Mafter of the Rolls, Sir Joseph Jekyl's, the Bishop came upon us on the fudden, and ask'd me, what the Matter was that I did not come as ufual to dine with him fometimes? I faid, No my Lord, never fince your political Speech in the House of Lords. He reply'd,

that

that I knew he took my Reproofs patiently, and he was defirous I would come to him as formerly. I answered, No my Lord, political Bishops are the Ruin of all [Religion:] and fo I went away in fome Indignation. Moreover, I well remember, that when I had presented to his Lordship the second Edition of my Effay on the Revelation of St. John, and he had found I had introduced a Brother Politician of his, the Author of the Codex, as one that was aiming at a new Kind of Perfecution, which I call the Codex Perfecution; he knew not how to bear my new Expofition. I acknowledged it to be a new one, but juftified what I had fo lately discovered; and I venture to affirm ftill, that I take that my late Difcovery and Expofition of those Matters to be both very true and very confiderable alfo. I alfo well remember, that I once enquired of his Lordship," How the Chuch of England could pretend to be fo pure and primitive, as fhe has long boasted herself to be, while fhe ftill retains the Book of Canticles in her Bible, and the Athanafian Creed in her "Common Prayer Book?" To which he made me no Answer. And I really believe no good Answer can -poffibly be made to either of those Questions. I farther wifh, very heartily wifh, that this Bishop Sherlock, who is fo well able to speak both in Parliament and Convocation, would be the first to propose the Exclufion of that Book and that Creed. If he would do it, I verily hope feveral good Men would fecond him, and not one fober Man would oppofe him, in either of thofe Places; and he might thereby begin that publick Reformation, without

which not only revealed, but even natural Religion are foon likely to be banifhed out of thefe Kingdoms. And when they are once banished, where pray will be the Church of England?

I

In the Year 1745, I published my Primitive New Teftament in English, in IV. Parts. Part I. Containing the IV Gofpels of Matthew, John, Luke, and Mark; with the Acts of the Apoftles; according to the Greek Part of the Manufcript of Beza, now probably above 1600 Years old, in the publick Library of the University of Cambridge, collated by Patrick Young, Abp. Usher; and at least twice by Dr. Mills, befides a still later Collation. The Imperfections of this Copy are here supplied from the vulgar Latin.