it treats of, and of fuch known Abilities plac'd in an eminent Station, as your Lordfhip is. And I have this peculiar Satiffaction, in having obtain'd the Favour of Your Lordship's Patronage; that tho I am confcious, the Defects in the Performance, cannot eafily lie conceal'd from Your Lordship's Judgment; yet I am under the Protection of fo much Goodness and Candour, that I dare be eafy, even when I reprefent Your Lordship to my felf, in the feverer Pofture of an Examinant.

My Design in the following Papers (My Lord) does not go fo low, as a bare Vindication of Christianity; and I fhould

have thought it almoft a Crime, to have given them that Name. - Your Lordship knows, Chriftianity does not need to be merely Defended, after fuch a Course of Miraculous Triumphs, as Divine Providence has given it over all the vain Reafon and Philofophy, as well as the Power and Malice of the World.

Indeed, when the Religion was Young, and lay open to Publick Slander and Calumny, then, the humble Method of Apology, was every way the most proper and useful. But I know of no Reafons that oblige us, at this time of the day

day, to apologize for our Faith, to the Enemies of Chriftianity; who tho they have a Right to civil Usage, yet are not to be treated with Form and Ceremony. Not fo much, because Chriftianity has now the Civil Power on its fide; as because it has victoriously made its way thro all Oppofition, by the bright Evi dence of Truth it carries along with it, and for fo many Ages put to filence all the Ignorance of Gainfayers. It was for this Reafon (My Lord) that I propos'd to do nothing else in this Treatife, but to fet the great Argument of our Saviour's Refurrection, in a fair Light before them; to fhew them upon what unquestionable Principles, they may, if they will, affure themselves that the Doctrine is true; and fo leave it entirely to them, to make the Conclufion as they fhall think fit.

Your Lordship very well knows, what fort of Answers ufe to be return'd, to all Undertakings of this kind; which, as far as I could ever yet find, are reducible, either to Banter and Ridicule, or flight Reflection, upon Matters remote from the grand Point in Difpute. By thefe Methods indeed, a Controverfy may be made Perpetual; but then they who make use of them, plainly fhew, that it is neither

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their

their Intereft, nor their Defire to have it decided.

I have often thought, My Lord, how lucky it is for the Enemies of Christianity under Chriftian Governments, that the prudent Care of the Magiftrate, has made it unfafe for them to fay all, they pretend they have to fay, against Reveal'd Religion. For by this means, they not only avoid the Difcredit of coming off poorly, after very loud and infolent Boafts; but also get the Reputation of having fome very fhrewd Objections in Reserve, which now 'tis alledg'd, they are forc'd to fupprefs, for fear of affronting the Publick. This is a moft happy Co-incidence! And those Gentlemen may think themfelves indebted to a Government, for fuch a Favour, as that of refufing them the Liberty, of Speaking and Writing, as freely as they think. Nor does fuch a

neceffary Restraint as this, any more deferve the odious Name of Perfecution; than Perfecution it felf, merits the glorious Title, of pure Zeal for the Gofpel.

However, My Lord, tho the very indecent Liberties that have been taken with Christianity, have juftly induc'd those, who have Power in their hands, to

take

take proper Measures for its Defence, from open and rude Affaults; yet I can scarce perfuade my felf, that any Chriftian Protestant State, would deny Unbelievers of Reveal'd Religion, who fhew'd a fincere Defire of being better inform'd, the Liberty of propofing the real Scruples of their Minds in a convenient, fober and modest way. And till they have tried to obtain fuch a Liberty, and been folemnly refus'd it; I think it is to no purpofe for them to pretend, that their Mouths are stop'd by the Laws of the Country. For they may argue without Spleen and fcurrilous Reflections; and no impartial Perfon would be angry, to fee Men fairly endeavouring after a fatisfactory Refolution of their Doubts, in a Cafe wherein their Everlasting Happiness was fo nearly concern'd.

May Your Lordship long continue, an Ornament and Support to True Religion and useful Learning, the fure Friend of the Poor and Diftrefs'd, and a vigorous Promoter of all that concerns the Intereft and Glory of your Country.

And may the Church of England ever have, as it has now, fuch Paftors at the Head of it, whose chief Ambition it fhall be, to imitate the Sublime Ex

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ample,