ERRATA.

PAG 8. 1. 19. credite leg. credita.

P. 10. Not. fecundum

Ib. I.

leg. fecundum. P. 46. 1. 12. former leg. latter.

13, 14. latter leg. former.

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REMARKS

ON

CHRISTIANITY AS OLD &c.

With Regard to

Ecclefiaftical Antiquity.

'T is now a Year and a half, fince the Author of the Book entitul'd Christianity as old as the Creation made his first appearance in the World. A Deift he certainly is by Profeffion of the highest Magnitude,. and out of profound Efteem of, and Devotion to Natural Religion, the Law of Nature, and Human Reafon, (Terms altogether illufive and equivocal) endeavours to depreciate the Use and Authority of all external Revelation, by all the Topicks and Arguments which the brightest Wits and Faculties of a Freethinker were capable of urging. To these surprizing Pretences (full of the Paradox and Perverse) feveral Answers have already appear'd, and are ftill preparing by Eminent Hands. But I do not find that any Cenfure as yet is either paft or promis'd on one confiderable part of the Book, MM

A

Book, which is that relating to Ecclefiaftical Antiquity. This is a part which our celebrated Author has labour'd with peculiar Industry and Zeal, defigning it (I fuppose) as a delicate fort of Entertainment to Himself and Difciples, and a fhrewd Reflection on that Revelation in particular, which produc'd in event such strange Defects and Infirmities in its Primitive Profeffors. The Subject no doubt on't was a very great Darling and Favourite with our Author, as it ever has been with all his Predeceffors, and 'tis pity indeed to rob him of fo fine a Flower, and to disappoint with a barbarous rudeness at once both his Pleasure and his Vanity. But the Author has here difplay'd the Natural Moralift in fuch beautiful Colours, and given us fuch noble Specimens in the Laick of Candour, Sincerity, Probity, Judgement, and Learning, as cannot but demand a diftinguish'd Light and Eminence for the publick view, and extort Expofition and Illuftration from the Mouth and Pen of the moft virulent Priest.

THESE alone (not to mention at present particular regards to Antiquity) are Motives fufficient to the following Remarks: and the principal aim, defign, and business of them is, to give one Inftance at leaft, of Truth and Sincerity in a Chriftian Priest, by exhibiting to the curious World with a most religious ex

actness,

actness, the Moral and Learned Attainments of a Deift and Laick.

BUT before I enter on this Subject, it is proper juft to acquaint the Reader, that I do not intend to confider the Paffages of my Author, as they lie in his Book, but chufe for the fake of convenience and perfpicuity to caft them together under feparate Heads or Titles, however diftin&t and remote their local Situation may be. As first, I distinguish his feveral Characters of Antiquity with regard to their Direction and Application, fome being defign'd to reflect on the Antient, others on Modern Churches. Again, I diftribute thefe Reflections according to their different Kinds, into different Claffes or Heads of Charge, as ift of Fraud, 2d Error, 3d Superftition and fo on, preventing by this method any irregular confufion of Things and Ideas, and eafing the Reader by a clear and open view of particulars prefented before him. With this premife, I now go on to my Au thor's Allegations.

Characters of ANTIQUITY reflecting on the PRIMITIVE CHURCHES.

SECT. I.

of ANTIENT FRAUDS,

A

REMARK I.

S for the holy Fathers, fays he, they as Daillé has a whole Chapter to prove, did not think themselves in their Controverfial Writings (and most of theirs were fuch) oblig'd to speak the truth; but that every thing was lawful which ferv'd to gain the Victory. They thought they might by way of Oeconomy or Difpenfation fay one thing and mean the contrary. From hence we are to look upon the Fathers as arrant Juglers and Jefuits. They did not think themselves oblig'd to speak the truth. That is, in plain English and our Author's Intention, they would lye, deceive, and impose without the leaft fcruple of Confcience. That every thing was lawful which ferv'd to gain the Victory. Juft as Salluft says of Catiline,

a Christianity as old &c. p. 161. Ed. 4to. p. 142. Ed. 8vo.

Sub