Their Scheme of Virtue no better as to any religious Application to the Deifts in a Demonstration of the Wisdom, Justice, Honour, and Authority of God; alfo his Love, Mercy, and Goodness in the Dif penfation of the Mediator; and of the Beauty, Harmony and Fitness of all that was done, The Goodness of God in this Channel incomparably beyond the Deifts Notion of it; and more engaging HE Mediator, after his Refurre&tion, af Of Drifts Objection of God's Arbitrarinefs hence confu- ibid. The Idolatry of the Papists in applying to other In- What good Effect the true Notion of our Mediator's Interceffion ought to have upon Chriftians, in cu HE Wisdom of God, in laying bis Com- What ought to be the Influence of our believing him The Deifts Miftake of the Apostle's Words, concern- INTRO- INTRODUCTION. T HE Author of Chriftianity as old, &c. introduces his Book, declaring, "The Subject he writes upon is " of the laft Importance, and "makes no Apology for writing upon it, but writing fo late." I readily agree with him in the vaft Importance of the Subject; and, after fo many Answers, the Publick may justly expect fome Apology for my writing fo late. THE true State of the Cafe is this: The Author of the following Sheets living at a great Distance from London, and not able to purchase many Books, had never, till very lately, read either of the Authors he replies to. Upon a particular Occafion, he was favour'd with the Loan of one of the Anfwers to the firft Author, by a neighbouring Clergyman; which fo awaken'd his Curiofity, as to make Intereft with other Neighbours to borrow the two Authors he has taken under Confideration, and all the Replies to them he could procure; and it has been his good Fortune to have feen moft, he may add all of any Character, by the Report of others. NOTWITHSTANDING thofe Answers, which have their feveral Value and Ufe; the Author of the following is of Opinion, that VOL. I. a an an Attempt to cure Deifm effectually, can never be too late, but is particularly seasonable in an Age fo lamentably infected with it, according to the univerfal Complaint and Concern of all Chriftians from all Quarters, as the Sin of the Age, productive of many others nor too carefully adapted to Perfons fo feemingly ftudious of the Nature of Things, and the Force of Arguments, industriously at the fame time lying upon the catch, to collect and expofe all weak ones in Defence of Chriftianity. He is fo far in the Belief of modern Deifts, as to regard the Two Authors he replies to, as the chief Bulwarks, or rather the Old and New Testament of their little Faith, I meant to fay, their fmall Reason: Who being dead, yet fpeak, as the Two Oracles of all their Sentiments. As fuch, they can't be displeased that I have quoted them as juftly, and argued as fairly, as they ought to do with respect to the Scriptures of the Chriftians. And, as they fo very well know and hug themfelves in the victorious Certainty of all that can be alleg'd in Defence of their Opinion, by those mighty Champions, laborious in the Scheme, and perfect Masters of the fame, they can no longer offer an Excuse for suspending their Judgment; that they are, or can now be ignorant of ALL that can be faid for their Cause. They are fure no After-Argument can arife, that can exceed what has been urg'd by them; with great Confidence and Satisfaction therefore, they retire, one and all, under that |