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both by Discourses and Writings, declare openly his religious Sentiments, which as an honest Man he could not conceal. And he most fubmiffively address'd (m) himself, in particular, to both the Archbishops, and to feveral of the Bishops, and other learned Divines, and to the Convocation, and to both the Univerfities, offering to lay before them Papers for their Examination, which have been fince publifh'd; wherein he pretended to discover the true, old, original Chriftianity, from which all Chriftians had for many Ages before the Reformation departed, when, according to him, a Part only of Christianity was revived. But this free, open, chriftian Proceeding, had no other publick Effect, than to draw upon him, an arbitrary and illegal Expulfion (n) from the University of Cambridge and from his Mathematick-Profeffor-fhip there, by the Heads of Houfes, and That without conferring with him in Relation to his Notions, they urging, that it was (0) not ufual to argue with Hereticks; an Address of the Convocation to the Queen against him, wherein they defired to be put into a Method how to punish him; a Representation of him, by the said Convocation to the Queen and the Nation, as a Perfon carrying on the Cause of Irreligion; the Convocations fecret Cenfure (p) of divers of

(m) See his Hiftorical Preface.

(n) Appendix to Hift. Pref. p. 160.

(2) Account of bis Banishment, &c. p. 39-42. (P) Supplement to Hift. Pref. p. 63.

his Pofitions, which Cenfure has fince ftole out into Print; and their open Refufal (q) to examine his Papers and to hear him in his own Defence, though he demanded it of them, as a Matter of Right, and laftly, a Profecution commenced against him by Dr. PELLING, which upon the Death of her late Majesty dropd'.

He lives for the moft Part in London, the Place of the greatest Refort of Men of Understanding, Birth, Fortune, and Learning in the Universe. There he vifits perfons of both Sexes, and of the highest Rank, who are delighted with his Plainnefs, Integrity, Senfe, and Learning; and to whom he difcourfes with the greatest Freedom about many important Points, and especially about Athanafianifm, which feems his moft peculiar Concern. He frequents the most publick Coffee-houses, where most are prone to fhew him Respect, and none dare fhew him any Difrefpect; the Clergy either flying before him, or making a feeble Oppofition to him. By all which he has made a Multitude of Converts to the Belief; that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three different intelligent Agents, and not three intelligent Agents, making but one intelligent Agent; that the Father was before and is greater than the Son; that the Son is not the fame Being with the Father; and that the Father is the One God, (as

(9) Second Append. to Hift. Pref.

fay

fay both the (r) Scripture and Nicene Creed), or that there are no other Gods but him; all Doctrines contrary to the prefent Orthodoxy. And he has foften'd the Zeal of many more, who used to call for Fire from Heaven, or the Sword of the Magiftrate to defend their Sentiments. He has at this Time fo much Credit, that he now fays and prints what he pleafes, without incurring any Hazard of Perfecution from real or pretended Zealots; who are forced to yield to the fuperior Splendor and Power of his Honefty, Senfe, and Learning, and fear drawing upon themselves fomething of more fatal Confequence, than the present Converfions that he makes. And I am perfwaded, that if any Country could but furnish twenty fuch Men as he; that they would, without Pay and with mere Liberty to speak their Sentiments, put to flight twenty thoufand lifted to fupport Error.

He is a Perfon, who forms vaft Projects and Defigns for the Defence of natural and reveal'd Religion, and for reftoring what he calls primitive Chriftianity among us; as appears by his Theory of the Earth; his Chronology of the Old Teftament and Harmony of the Four Gofpels; his Efay on the Revelation of St. JOHN; his Primitive Chriftianity revived; his aftronomical Principles of natural and reveal'd Religion; his Effay to restore the true Text of the Old Teftament; and his Defign

(r) Matt. xii. 32. John xvii. 3. I Cor. viii.

Ti:n. ii. 5:

4, 6.

of

of a new interleaved Bible with large Additions and divers Particulars to confirm and illuftrate the fame, that fo all honeft Enquirers may be able to judge for themselves, about the Truth of thofe Scriptures, and to understand the greatest Part of them impartially, without the Danger of Impofition from common Prejudices; from any later particular Expofitions or Miftakes whatsoever; to fay nothing, or not to enter into the Detail of his leffer numerous Projects, Effays, Defigns, and Theories in Behalf of Religion. Nor is he without great Designs for the Improvement of Philofophy, and for the Welfare and Trade of his Country; as appears by his Attempts to explain the Philofophy of Sir ISAAC NEWΤΟΝ, and his other Works in Mathematicks and Phyficks; but above all, by his Attempts to difcover the Longitude, for which he deferves the Reward promifed by Parliament, though he fhould not fucceed. But the greatest Good, that he promotes, feems to me what he does not defign; and That is, by putting Men upon Enquiries, to make them fee farther than himself, and to reject his narrow Opinions.

He is a very ferious and grave Perfon, but yet chearful, and no Enemy to innocent Mirth; and he is, even, capable of laughing (s) heartily at egregious Nonfenfe, Stupidity, and Folly in the moft folemn Perfons, when they speak about the moft folemn Things.

See one of his printed Letters.

I will

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I will conclude this Account of him, with obferving that all the reformed Churches, and efpecially your Church of Scotland (which is in a peculiar Manner the Object of theological Spite among us) are highly obliged to him for a moft ingenious Defence of the Validity of their Ministry in his Argument to prove, that either all Perfons folemnly, though irregularly fet apart for the Ministry, are real Clergymen, and all their minifterial Acts are valid; or elfe there are now no real Clergymen or Chriftians in the World. Wherein your Ministry, which is fo undeservedly contemptible in the Eyes of our Clergy, who do not make a juft Comparison between themfelves and their Neighbours, is, as it ought to be, fet upon as good a Foot as any Minif try whatsoever.

I have nothing farther to add, but that I hope this Letter, tho' long delay'd, will not be unacceptable to you, from,

Reverend SIR,

Your most humble Servant.

A

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