Clergy [b]; fo that, when the particular rites, therein prohibited, were introduced into the Christian worship, in what age foever we should fuppofe it to have happened, the introducers could not be ignorant of their being Pagan rites; and confequently could not be originals, or inventors, but, as I have affirmed in my Letter, the meer borrowers of them from their Pagan Ancestors.

I will not pursue this point any farther, how much foever the occafion may invite me. I have no defire to enter into controversy with any man; much less with one, whofe friendship I value, and whofe uncommon abilities I fhall fhall always esteem. What I have thrown together haftily in this Poftfcript, will be confidered, I hope, as a neceffary act of defence; not due fo much to myself, as to the judgement of the public, and the merit of an old argument, that has long been of fervice to the Proteftant caufe; and which, in all ages of the Church, if it had been attended to, as it ought, would have prevented the admiffion of those corruptions, which, at this day, fo grofly deform the fimplicity of the Chriftian worship, through the greatest part of the Chriftian world.

[b] Paulinus, the Bishop of Nela, above mentioned, published a fort of Panegyric upon the Emperor Theodofius, containing a particular defence or apology for his laws: In relation to which, St. Jerom, in a letter to him, fays, Happy Theodofius, who has fuch an Orator of Chrift for his Defender. You have illuftrated his dignity, and confecrated the utility of his laws to future ages. Hieron, ad Paul. Op, t, iv. p. 567;

init.

M 4

ΑΝ

1

Some curfory Animadverfions on his late APPENDIX, or ADDITIONAL DISSERTATION,

CONTAINING

A farther Inquiry into the Mofaic Account of the FALL.

ΑΝ

EXAMINATION

OF THE

Lord Bishop of LONDON's Difcourses.

ON THE

Use and intent of Prophecy.

T

HE Reader perhaps may wonder, that thefe Difcourfes, which I am going to examine, concerning the Ufe and Intent of Prophecy, published fo many years ago by Dr. Sherlock, now Bishop of London, and fince corrected and inlarged by him in feveral fucceffive editions, fhould meet with a Cenfurer at last so hardy, as to call the merit of them into queftion. But the truth is, I had never read them till very lately; or otherwise these animadverfions might have made their appearance probably much earlier. My omiffion however to read them did not flow from any contempt, either of the subject, or of the Author's capacity to adorn it. I know the fubject to be important; and, for that reafon, did not chufe to take my notion of it upon truft: I knew His Lordship alfo

to