the aforementioned Doctrine would destroy the Existence of the Son, before his being united to Matter, or born of the Virgin Mary.

But I will acknowledge, that the rest of his Obfervations are indeed quite new, as he emphatically expreffeth it in his Title Page; and verily believe they never entered into the Head of any one Man living, but his own. And indeed they are fo new, that I think it would be a Pity to cut them off in the Bloom of their Infancy; and therefore I am inclined to leave them to themfelves, till they ripen into Rottennefs.

This Author however in his Preface fays, "In treating of this Matter I have, as I "think, gone a good Way towards proving "that the Author of the Efay is not only

inconfiftent, but infincere: And it is no "Wonder that he is charged with Infince

It

rity, as he is fo great an Advocate for it "in his Addrefs to the Lord Primate of "Ireland. As for my Part, continues he, "what I have offered comes from an honeft "Heart, and with a good Intention." feems that this Gentleman is forced to be his own Trumpeter. But why is the Author of the Effay on Spirit, not allowed to have the fame

C

fame Honesty of Heart, and good Intention with this Author? And why is he taxed with Inconfiftency and Infincerity? Is it because he defires in his Address to the Lord Primate of Ireland, that the Act of Uniformity may be rectified, which only requires our Affent and Confent to the Use of those Things which are contained in the Book of Common Prayer; whereas the Form of Declaration appointed to be read in the Church is fo worded, as to make the Affent and Confent abfolute? Which is a Matter of Fact that I think nobody has yet ventured to contradict. And if this be true, where then is the Inconfiftency and the Infincerity to be charged?

Or is he to be reckoned inconfiftent with himself, and infincere, because he has changed the Opinions which he was bred up with in his Youth; and owns that he has changed them? If this be what is meant by this Charge, it is the oddest Charge that ever was made against any one; fince I always looked upon the public Acknowledgement of one's Errors, to be the strongest Proof that could be given of any Man's Sincerity; especially in a Cafe where fuch a Declaration was visibly oppofite to the temporal Intereft of the Con

feffor,

feffor, and was likely to turn out to his Prejudice; as hath probably happened in this very Inftance: For I have been told, that a certain Bishop in Ireland was fet afide lately from being made an Archbishop, only because he was suspected of being the Author of the Essay on Spirit; although the Perfons who made the Objection, acknowledged that that he was in all other Refpects the fittest Perfon for filling that Station.

Silly however and fhallow as this Dissertation on the Scripture Expreffion, The Angel of the Lord, is, it was, foon after its publication here, reprinted in Ireland; where, I hear, it was much admired by the orthodox. Gentry of that Country, it having been there entitled, An Answer to An Effay on Spirit, which is calculated to fet afide the Doctrine of the Trinity in Unity; in a Differtation, &c. Which, however, any one may eafily fee, was only a Piece of Bookfeller's Craft, to make the Pamphlet fell,

IV.

The next Treatife, which comes under our Confideration, is Dean Swift's Sermon on the TRINITY; which, though not written as an Answer to the Essay, hath been lately reprinted in Ireland as fuch. From which Kingdom it was fent me fome Months ago, with the following Advertifement printed on the Back of the Title Page. Advertisement by the Editor. Several Gentlemen of Abilities and Learning having undertaken to answer the Effay on Spirit, yet as their Labours will require Time and great Confideration, it is thought necessary, in the Interim, to republifh the following Sermon (written by the late Dean Swift) which in fome measure may ferve as a fit Prefervative against the evil Effects of that Treatife.

W

HAT put it into these Gentlemens Heads to imagine this Sermon of Dean Swift's would ferve as a fit Preservative

against

against the evil Effects of the Essay on Spirit, was, I suppose, the panegyrical Praises which Lord Orrery (in his Letters on the Life and Writing of Dean Swift) hath, in this one Part of his Book, where he is fpeaking of this Performance, lavishly fpent on his FRIEND Dean Swift. But though I have little Opinion of the Abilities or Learning of fuch Gentlemen, as could place Dr. Swift in the Front of their Battle in a theological Difpute; (who, though he was a Man of Parts and an excellent Pamphleteer, and was capable of putting the best Glofs on any Subject he took in hand, whether true or false, yet was far from being famous for his Learning in Divinity) nevertheless, it was in Expectation of fome Production from this able and learned Club, that I have waited fo many Months in hopes of meeting fomething material on this Subject; but this Mountain having not yet brought forth any thing but this Mouse of an Advertisement, I do not think proper to wait any longer. And therefore I fhall proceed to attack this their Goliah, with a few round Pebbles of Arguments, which I hope to fling so directly in his Face, that you will foon fee him lying proftrate on the Ground.