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[6] The Syftem therefore or Scheme of Things fet up by Mr. W. feems to me to combat the Chriftian Scheme received in all Ages and Times, and afferts what is contrary to the moft notorious Fact, and to the most univerfal Practice of all Chriftians before, as well as after, JEROM. For if any one Christian Fact be true, it is, that Chriftians in all Ages and Times, and more especially in the primitive Times, have both understood the Apostles to have argued allegorically from the Prophefies cited by them out of the Old Teftament, or have themselves argued allegorically from the Prophefies they themselves cited out of the Old Teftament; which laft seems fufficient to prove the Apostles to have been allegorical Interpreters of the Old Teftament, according to the common Topick of Divines, who contend that the earliest Fathers beft teach us the Senfe and Doctrine of the Apoftles. And Mr. W. is the firft Theorift-Divine, who, to affert the Authority of the New Teftament, has pretended, that the Old Teftament (in really genuine Paffages) is corrupted; all other Chriftians afferting the Integrity of the Old (and fome even with Refpect to corrupted Paffages) to prove the Authority of the New. And I believe he is the firft Chriftian Author, who ever afferted, either that all the Prophefies cited by the Authors of the New Teftament from the Old, were fulfill'd in their literal Sense; or that to confider the Apostles as applying any of them in an allegorical Manner, was a weak and enthufiaftical Scheme

;

all

all others, as far as I can learn, contending at moft for the literal Senfe of fome Prophefies only; and fome (f) making it the Glory of Christianity to be founded on Allegory, and not in Criticism, which, they fay, would have render'd the Writings of the Apostles ten Times more liable to Exceptions than now they are; and alfo to be a wonderful Confirmation of Christianity, that the Apostles, who were Men of no Literature and Education, and never Spent their Time in the Schools of the Rabbi's, fhould be fuch eminent Masters in Allegory or Rabbinical Learning, and fhould be fo excellently verfed in their traditionary Explications of Prophefies.

It feems therefore most destructive of Chriftianity to fuppofe; that typical or allegorical Arguing is in any Refpect weak and enthufiaftical; and that the Apoftles always argued in the Matter of Prophefies according to the literal Senfe of the Prophefies and the Way of Reasoning used in the Schools; fince it is moft apparent; that the whole Gofpel is in every Refpect founded on Type and Allegory; that the Apostles in moft, if not in all Cafes reafon'd typically and allegorically; and that, if the Apoftles be fuppofed to (g) reafon always after the Rules ufed in the Schools, and if their Writings be brought to the Teft of thofe Rules, the Books of the Old and New Tefta

(f) Nichols's Conf. with a Theift, Vol. 3. p. 64, 65.
(g) Simon Hift. Crit. du N. Teft. c. 21, & 22.
Guneus Rep. des Heb. Vol. 1. p. 376, 377.

ment

ment will be in an irreconcileable State, and the Difficulties against Christianity will be incapable of being folved. Any that call themfelves Chriftians, fays (b) Dr. ALLIX, Should take Heed how they deny the Force and Authority of that Way of traditional Interpretation, which has been antiently received in the Jewish Church.

XI.

That Mr. WHISTON's firft Propofition is fubverted by his Book.

R. W's firft Propofition, (i) That the prefent Text of the Old Testament is, generally Speaking, both in the Hiftory, the Laws, the Prophefies, and the divine Hymns; or as to the main Tenor and Current of the whole, the very fame now that it ever has been from the utmoft Antiquity; is fubverted by and inconfiftent with the whole Scheme, and most of the following Parts of his Book, which chiefly confifts in afferting and proving, that the Text of the Old Teftament is (k) confiderably and greatly different from what it was in the fecond Century, and not a little corrupted; and that the Old and New Teftament are in fo irreconcileable a State, by

b) Allix's Judgment of the Jewish Church against the Unitarians, p. 51.

(i) Whilton Eay, p. 1.

(k) Ib. p. 15. 18. 33. 49. 88. 113. — 116. 128. 182, 183. 220. 262, 263. 281 289.

Means

Means of Dislocations in the Old Testament, and of the Introduction of fuch other Changes therein, which make the most apparent Inconfiftencies and Contradictions between the Old and New Teftament, as to overthrow the Proofs of the Truth of Chriftianity cited by the Apoftles from the Old Teftament; which great Corruptions are the Foundation and Reafons of Mr. WHISTON'S Efay towards reftoring the true Text of the Old Teftament.

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THE

CONCLUSION.

CONTAINING

An Account of Mr. WHISTON Himfelf.

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AVING made an End of my Remarks on Mr. W's Effay, I proceed to give you fome Account of the Gentleman himself; who for fome Time past has made no fmall Noife, not only in England but in divers Parts of Europe, by his numerous Writings.

He is a Perfon of extraordinary natural Parts; and of great acquired Learning, particularly in Philofophy and Mathematicks, but, above all, in Theology; which he has study'd with the greatest Application and Integrity in the Scriptures, and in the Writings of the Antients; defpifing the Catechifms, Confeffions, or Articles of Faith and Traditions of all modern Churches, and the Commentaries on Scripture, and fyftematical Books of all modern Theologues.

He knows how to make the best of every Argument he takes in Hand. By his Sagacity

and

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