can exercise; but that they likewise every one of them understood all the learned Languages to perfection, particularly those in whom the Scriptures have been originally written, and that they were abfolutely appriz'd both of the feveral fyftems of Divinity and of all Church-history from the Apopoftle's time to this day. He, who thinks the contrary, is not of opinion that one perfon is fitter to rule and examine, than a felect number, be they ever fo prudent, fo pious, or fo able: befides that fuch a man ought to be fhrewdly fufpected of reflecting on your Lordship, whofe frequent and numerous Ordinations we learn by the public papers. Nor do I in the leaft doubt, for my part, but you take as much care that the young Preachers be duely qualify'd by fecular attainments and fpiritual gifts, as by canonical titles and the special vocation of the holy Ghoft. But left I might be thought to befpeak your favor, who defire nothing but a clear ftage and fair play, I humbly acquaint your Lordship, that fome time ago I wrote a Book intitul'd NAZARENUS, which the care of your Diocese, and the examination of fo many candidates for the gown, may not have given you time to read; tho abundance of thofe who have read it no more than your self, were the forwardeft to blame and condemn it. Nevertheless, how giddy and prepoffefs'd foever fome of the Laity may be, none of them prov'd guilty of this grofs injuftice, till a filthy noise was made by one or two of your Lordship's Clergy, as little mafters of the fubject as of their tempers; and then fome of the moft ignorant and fequacious Laity fell in with the cry, whom I fhall wholly forget and heartily forgive, as not knowing what they did. But to my no small comfort on the other hand, feveral perfons, distinguish'd by their character no less than their number, found

no

no harm in my book, nay many found what they much approv'd in it; and have readily adopted the plan of Religion therein laid down, or the effential diftinction of Gentil and Jewish Chriftians: I have letters of thanks from feveral learned men on this fubject, which I preferr to the applause of all fuperficial pretenders, as they make fufficient amends for their clamor and fenfelefs calumnies. The occafion of my book was the discovery I made of an apocryphal Gospel father'd upon the Apoftle BARNABAS, and interpolated if not quite forg'd by the Mahometans. I cou'd not imagine that the communicating of this discovery to the world fhou'd be any crime, after the voluminous difcuffion of fuch apocryphal pieces by Cook, RIVET, DAILLE, SIMON, ITTIGIUS, GRABE, MILLS, FABRICIUS, and fuch others; among whom the excellent PFAFFIUS, Profeffor at Tubinge, is pleas'd to reckon my felf, on account of the notable Catalogue he fays I gave in AMYNTOR. And that fame no lefs celebrated than able and induftrious FABRICIUS, whom I have juft nam'd, has very lately, in the third volume of his Apocryphal Code of the New Teftament, inferted the whole hiftorical part of NAZARENUS, without altertering or omitting one word. But fome of your

I

* Quod verò eos attinet, qui vel planè fuppofititium cenfent effe Novum Teftamentum, aut faltem maximam illius partem, quod veteres Haeretici magno numero arbitrati funt, nova Evangelia, Acta, Literas, Apocalypfes, aliofque libellos orbi Chriftiano obtrudentes, quorum (præter fummos viros Jo. ALB. FABRICIUM in Codice apocrypho Novi Teftamenti, Jo. ERNEST. GRABIUM in Spicilegio Patrum, itemque Jo. MILLIUM in Prolegomen. ad Novum Test. part. ada; & quos primùm nominare debebam, Jo DALLAEUM, RIC. SIMONIUM, THO. ITTIGIUM, aliofque) infignem dedit Catalogum Jo. TOLANDUS in Amyntore, part. 1. pag. 20-38. In Differt. Crit de genuina librorum Novi Teftamenti lectione ritè inveftiganda. cap. 1. §. 2.

2 From page 387, to page 394.

Lord

Lordship's Clergy, without your privity or appro bation to be fure, have with equal virulence and un fairness attack'd me on this very score. Their procedure puts me in mind of lamenting with your Lordship and all good men, for that perverfe difpofition in fome of our Proteftant Clergy, which ought to be folely left to the Popish Clergy, whofe Practice as well as Intereft it is to keep the people in ignorance. The thing I mean is the ftrange uneafinefs they fhow, and too manifeft to be deny'd, that any of the Laity fhou'd ever write on points of Divinity or Ecclefiaftical history: wheras by the original right of Nature, and the main principle of the Reformation, tis the privilege of every man, whether by word or by writing, to inform others, or to feek information from them; and this in all places, the Pulpits and other public Chairs onely excepted, which no man may lawfully fill, but they to whom the fupreme power has affign'd them. To confine writing on the fubjects mention'd to any one fet of men, wou'd be the certain way in a fhort time to have neither true doctrine nor true hiftory; as is the cafe in fact, where and whenever this practice has been fottifhly autho riz'd or even indulg'd. Ignorance becoming thus tri umphant begets Credulity, as Credulity unavoid ably occafions Lyes; and Lyes have recourse to Force for their fupport against Reafon, which left free wou'd foon expofe them to contemt, and then quite explode them. This is the natural progrefs to that fpiritual Tyranny, which as Freemen and Britons, under the best of Kings, with a fa mily educated to protect Liberty civil and religious, I have no apprehenfion (thanks be to heaven) fhou'd happen in our days, nor of a long while afterwards, maugre all machinations to the contrary. Wherfore I fhall take up none of your Lordship's time, with fuggefting means to obviate

fuch

fuch a tyranny. But I wish that envious and bitter difpofition, which has taken up the room of it in the moft groveling fpirits, may be feafonably check'd; for as there is no fuch defpicable compofition in the world, as ignorance and malice join'd together: fo there is no readier way to make the inferior Clergy both difrefpected and difregarded, than this odious manner of writing; which I make no queftion therfore, but you'll exercise your utmost authority either to prevent or to correct in those that are guilty.

II. To come now to the particular Persons of whom I have reafon to complain, if their rage and fcurrility be not a ftrong prefumtion that I am in the right, tis however a certain fign that they are fo farr in the wrong: as I fhall make them appear to be much farther fo, by demonftrating that they have had no regard to truth or honor; going directly contrary to plain matters of fact, and attributing defigns to me that never came into my head. As tis obferv'd of leud women, that what's uppermoft in their thoughts comes fooneft into their mouths, calling every other woman whore that gives 'em the least provocation: so it may reasonably be thought to fare with certain men, that charge every one who differs from them with Infidelity, to which their conduct no doubt is fome temtation in weak minds; and if the mifreprefentation of my adverfaries will not warrant me to abandon all Christianity, yet it will neceffarily give me a very indifferent notion of theirs. So farr have they been from dealing with me like good Chriftians, that they have not acted like honeft Heathens; who wou'd never (for example) make the objections of others pafs for my own, and this even after I had folv'd 'em. I muft (forfooth) be an unbeliever for grounding

my

my Religion on the Scripture, which I make the fole rule of faith, by which Fathers, Councils, all Chriftian writings and determinations ought to be try'd. But I hope to convince your Lordship before I have done, that I efpouse, as I profefs, the Religion truly taught by JESUS and the Apoftles, ftript of all fabulous or fuperftitious difguifes, free from all human additions, mixtures, and inventions. That I did not write my book in Latin is the peculiar objection of certain mungrel Divines who study MACCHIAVEL more than the Bible, and who have an admirable project of telling onely half truths, which makes 'em confider'd but as half-politicians, by those who are for telling no truth at all. Now, waving all generalities, I begin with Mr. MANGEY, one of your domeftic Chaplains, who's reported to have receiv'd his degree of Doctor, as a reward for clapping a masquerading habit on NAZARENUS: nor fhall I wonder if this report proves to be true, having been us'd to beftow ecclefiaftical preferments; for I made a Bishop before now in another kingdom, that deferv'd the mitre full as richly as your Chaplain the hood. I fincerely believe Dr. MANGEY, when he fays in his Preface, that be undertook his answer not onely without the incouragement and importunity of friends, but without the privity of fome, and against the judgement of others. Whatever were the reafons of thofe gentlemen (for difcreet friends will not always give their true reafons, but the likelieft to perfuade) tis certain they knew the Doctor better than he did himself. His apology for not hearkening to them will never hold wa ter for if my book be weak and contemtible, and Ibid. page neither my religion nor learning worth notice, how came he to take notice of either of them ? what makes him with that I may retrieve, if poffible, the great mischief I have done to Chriftianity? or is

page 1.

Ibid.

2.

Ibid. p. 5.

this