most virtuous and excellent person that ever appeared amongst men; and thereby in the strongest manner encouraging us to be virtuous) and that as by him God made the worlds, fo by him he now governs all things. That he will at last by him raise the dead and confer rewards and punishments upon men according as they behaved. Now, adds Mr. Benfon, Are not all these things in themselves high'y reasonable? It is evident that God makes us the daily Ministers of Good to one another, and chooses in this manner to govern the world, not immediately, but by the Mediation of other intelligent Beings. The Mediatorial Scheme therefore has nothing abfurd in it; but is most wise and reasonable, as the Perfon honored with that Commiffion is the moft lovely pattern of all Moral Perfection. Thus far Mr. Benfon. Had the Chriftian Religion been always reprefented in this light, I believe it would have few Enemies now, if any at all.

THOSE Perfons who are commonly called Free-Thinkers can never be brought again into the Pale of Chriftianity but by Men of Free Thoughts.

DE LA ROCHE.

UPON Conftantine the Great his profeffing the Chriftian Religion, it affumed a different afpect: for the Church, which, till now, had been perpetually exposed to troubles by the Emperors, not only obtained a respite from them, but began to raise it's head, many following the example of the Emperor. But this external advantage was followed, as is but too often the cafe, by a depravation of manners, and a departure from the true primitive fimplicity. The good old Humility difppeared by degrees, and a certain haughtiness unknown till now, began to fhew itself. This Age beheld the Chriftians turning their arms against themselves; and Orthodox and Arian, by turns, hurl

their Anathemas in different Councils, at

each other.

FORMERLY the Clergy were diftinguished into three orders, Bifhops, Prefbyters, and Deacons, to whom were added the acolytes, exorcifts, readers, chanters, doorkeepers. There were very few ceremonies, few religious rites, and the cenfure of the church against heretics, and those that fell off in times of danger, confifted only in a feparation from them. But no fooner did Religion appear dominant than new and splendid dignities began to arise, and Archbishops, Metropolitans, Exarchs, Primates, Archdeacons, &c. were appointed; facred rites are multiplied, and feverer punishments, as of Death and Banifhment, are inflicted on those that err. HOLBERG'S Introduct. to Hiftory, p. 4.

UPON which Dr. Sharpe has this Note.

CONSTANTINE in his old age, is faid to have turned Arian: and he is thought

to have carried the Council of Nice by management, the Members seeming to be of a different opinion in the morning from what they were in the afternoon. However, the Arians had their Councils too, of Rimini, held under Conftantins, who gained a Subscription to the Arian Opinions and in this Council there were 400 Bishops. [Whereas there had been but 318 in the Council of Nice.]

Dr. MIDDLETON, in his Introductory Discourse to the Miraculous Powers, fays, It has always been confidered as a fundamental Principle of the Reformation, That the Scriptures are a complete Rule both of Faith and Manpers, and as fuch are clear and intelligible in all fundamental Points to every private Chriftian. In this all Protef tant Churches agree, how much foever they may differ in any other Article. And if this be true, then whatever be the Character of the Ancient Fathers, or whatever they may have taught and practised

in any age of the Church is a matter wholly indifferent, and makes no part in the Religion of a Proteftant; and consequently no Difference of judgment with regard to these Fathers ought to be any cause of offence or hatred amongst the Members of that Communion. For if the Scriptures are fufficient, we do not want these Fathers as Guides, or if clear, as Interpreters. Every one therefore may enjoy his opinion of them with the fame liberty as of any other writer whatsoever, with this caution only, that an Esteem of them is apt to carry us too far, and has actually carried many into great and dangerous Errors: whereas the neglect of them cannot be attended with any ill confequence, fince the Scriptures teach every thing neceffary either to be believed or practifed. I cannot Illuftrate this Principle fo effectually as by the following words of the excellent Chillingworth, who of all men best understood the real ground's of the Controverfy between the Proteftants