A DISCOURSE QF THE GROUNDS and REASONS OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. In two Parts. The first containing fome CONSIDERATIONS ON The fecond containing an EXAMINATION of the To which is prefix'd an Apology for free Debate Who bath also made us able Minifters of the New Testament, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit; for the Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life. 2 Cor. iii. 6. Omnia a MOSE ordinata enumerans, oftendere poffem figuras & notas & denunciationes effe eorum quæ CHRISTO eventura erant, eorumque in ipfum ut crederent præcogniti fuerant, atque item eorum quæ CHRISTUS ipfe erat facturus. JUSTINI MARTYRIS Opera. p. 261. Sin dixerint poft adventum Domini falvatoris & prædicationem Apoftolorum libros Hebræos fuiffe falfatos, cachinnum tenere non potero Ut Salvator, & Evangeliftae, & Apoftoli ita teftimonia potulerint, ut Judæi poftea falfaturi erant! HIERON. Oper. Tom. 3. p. 64. c. 6. in ISAIAM! LONDON. MDCCXXXVII. PREFACE HE Title of my Book, and the Contents, which I fhall T place at the End of this Preface, will fufficiently ex- `plain the Subject and Method thereof, and make all farther Preliminary to thofe Ends needlefs. But it may not be im- fecond Part, which more particularly concerns Mr. WHISTON, may perhaps occafion. It is very poffible that, in oppofing the Opinions of that ingenious and learned Gentleman, I may be undefignedly instrumental in raifing up against him the Paffions of fome Readers; who may think, that the Opinions, he maintains, are fuch, as fhould not be allow'd to be advanced or defended; and that he ought to fuffer in his Perfon or Fortune for maintaining them. Wherefore, to clear my own Intention, and to prevent, as far as I can, fuch Thoughts in my Readers Minds against my Adverfary, I will here offer a few Particulars by Way of Apology for his Liberty of Writing; which, in my Opinion, is not only juftifiable in itself, but highly becoming a Man, a Chriftian, and a Protef tant; and especially a Clergyman, a Scholar, and a Philofopher. 1. In Matters of Opinion, it is every Man's natural Right and Duty to think for himself, and to judge upon fuch Evidence as he can procure to himself, after he has done his beft Endeavours to get get Information. Human Decifions are of no Weight in this Matter. Another Man has no more right to determine what Mr. WHISTON'S Opinions fhall be, than Mr. WHISTON has to determine what another Man's Opinions fhall be. It seems amazing to confider; how one Man can prefume he has fuch Right over another; and how, any Man can be fo weak as to imagine another has fuch Right over him. Suppofe, fays (a) STILLINGFLEET, a Man living in the Times of the Prevalency of Arianifm, when almost all the Guides of the Church declared in Favour of it; when feveral great Councils oppofed and contradicted That of Nice; when Pope LIBERIUS did fubfcribe the Sirmian Confeffion, and communicated with the Arians; what Advice would you give fuch a one, if he must not exercise his own Indgment? Muft he follow the prefent Guides? Then he must join with the Arians. Must be adhere to the Nicene Council? But there were more numerous Councils, which condemn'd it. What Remedy can be fuppofed in fuch a Cafe, but that every Perfon must fearch and examine the feveral (a) Stillingfleet's Answer to several Treatifes, &c. pt. 1. P. 152. |