Mr. Vicechancellor,

Camb. Feb. 22. 17%.

Aving now in good Measure finish'd those Papers which I have been about for fome Time, concerning the Primitive Faith of Christians, and concerning the Apoftolical Constitutions; and therein, by the Bleffing of God, made Difcoveries of fuch Confequence as ought not any longer to be conceal'd from the Chriftian Church, I prefume to Addrefs my felf to you in this Matter, and to Offer the foremention'd Papers to your, and to the Universities Publick Confideration. As I have the Honour to be a Member of this Body, and defire ever to be a peaceable Member of it, I think it very well becomes me to submit my Papers to the Éxamination of the fame; both as it is an University, or Society of Learned Men; and as it is mainly an University of Clergy-Men, or of Perfons either already of, or defign'd for the Sacred Office of the Miniftry, and fo peculiarly concern'd in these Sacred Enquiries. I am well aware that not a few of the Difcoveries contain'd in my Papers are contrary to the receiv'd Notions, and the Establifh'd Doctrines and Practices upon them, not only of this, but of almost all the other Chriftian Churches. But then, I am fo well, fo fully affur'd of the certain and undeniable Truth of the fame Discoveries notwithftanding, that the commonnefs of the oppofite pernicious Errors, fo fatally overfpreading the Chriftian Church, difhonouring the Gospel of Chrift, and hindring the Propagation and Effects thereof in the World, ought to inspire all fincere and honest Christians, that is, all thofe that make the Doctrines and Laws of their Blef fed Lord, and of his Holy Apoftles, the proper Rule

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Rule and Standard of their Faith and Practice, with the greater Concern and Zeal in the Examination and Correction of them. 'Tis not yet Two Centuries fince all the fe Parts of Chriftendom did almoft as univerfally believe Purgatory and Tranfubftantiation as they now do thofe Doctrines which I oppofe. And I venture to say, that the Foundations for those ftrange and abfurd Opinions are yet full as good and as plaufible in the Scriptures, and the most Primitive Fathers, as they are for the common Doctrines in thefe Matters; and so they ought upon Examination to be equally rejected with them. But then, the Correction of thofe Dorines, and the Practices founded on them, is not all, nor the main thing that I labour for. The Discoveries I have made are of ftill a higher Nature. For I have, I think, certainly found that thofe Apoftolical Conftitutions, which the Antichriftian Church has fo long laid afide as Spurious or Heretical, are no other than the Original Laws and Doctrines of the Gospel The New Covenant, or moft Sacred Standard of Chriftianity; equal in their Authority to the Four Gofpels themselves; and fuperior in Authority to the Epistles of fingle Apoftles: fome parts of them being our Saviour's own Original Laws deliver'd to the Apoftles; and the other parts the Publick Acts of the Apoftles themselves met in Councils at Jerufalem and Cæfarea before their Death and this was the constant Opinion and Teftimony of the earliest Ages of the Gofpel. Nay, I have discover'd also very lately, that the larger Epiftles of Ignatius, which are ftil'd the Interpolated ones, and which give undeniable Atteftation to thefe Conftitutions, are alone the Original and Genuine Epiftles of that Apoftolical Bishop; and that by confequence the Imal

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ler Epiftles, which now pafs for the Genuine, and Original Ones themselves, are only later Extracts made out of the former for the Purpofes of Orthodoxy. These Discoveries, if true, are certainly of the highest Importance to every. Christian; and therefore they ought moft certainly, without farther delay, without all Paffion, and Prejudice, to be honestly enquir'd into and openly examin'd among us. I am my felf fo fully fatisfy'd of their certain and undoubted Truth, and Divine Authority, that I am willing and ready to hazard all I have or hope for in this World for their Reception and Establishment and do hope, that if Violence and Perfecution should be my Lot on this Account, God would afford me Grace and Courage to refift even unto Blood, with Patience and Submiffion, in fo good, and glorious, and Chriftian a Caufe, But I hope, the Churches of Chrift, especially the Reformed Churches, begin to lay afide that Antichriftian Spirit of Perfecution which has fo long prevented the free Enquiries of Chriftians into the Original Doctrines and Duties of the Gofpel. And I do alfo believe, that our Saviour Chrift is bringing on foon his Kingdom of Peace and Holiness, when all fuch Designs fhall be vain and fruitlefs for ever. Good Mr. Vicechancellor, do but fo far encourage Truth and Honesty, as to allow my Papers a fair, a publick, and a careful Examination ; and when that is over, take what Refolutions you fhall think meet concerning them and their Author. Thefe are Matters of the Highest and most Sacred Nature that have ever come before the Church of Chrift. And as we may all hope for Mercy at the Hands of God, as to our paft Subfcriptions, Creeds, and Practices, fo contrary to Christianity, in cafe we now readily fet our felves to examine and

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correct

correct them for the Time to come, with a fincere defire to know, and firm Refolution to practise the Truths and Duties of Primitive Christianity, how contrary foever they may prove to our Modern Notions, Cuftoms and Interefts: So will any Degree of wilful Ignorance, Obftinacy, and Difobedience, be hereafter a Crime of much greater Guilt, and fo bring down upon us a much heavier Punishment. The Times of the former Ignorance, St. Paul tells us, God winked at: But when the Divine Truths were plainly reveal'd, he more exprefly commanded, and juftly expected, that all Men every where fhould repent. 'Tis of no Confequence how inconfiderable the Means or Inftruments are which our Saviour makes ufe of to difcover his Truths and his Word to Mankind. If they appear to be bis Sacred Truths, and his holy Word, we have no farther Excufe to make for our Difobe dience. Nor can all the Authority of Articles, Canons, and the like Acts of Human Contrivance excufe us either from a ferious Enquiry into, or from a fuitable compliance with the Will of Chrift, when it is plainly reveal'd to Mankind. If you, Sir, with the reft of the Heads and Members of this University please to encourage that fair Examination which I defire and infift upon, I will immediately apply my felf to the Governors of the Church, the Archbishops and Bishops, for their Permiffion and Directions therein, which I have good Hope they will not deny in fo important a Matter. And indeed, I look upon it as the peculiar Duty and Bufinefs of the Clergy,to reform and amend the Corruptions which at any Time appear to bè crept into the Faith or Practice of the Church: Accordingly, I moft earnestly defire that the Clergy would themselves fet about the prefent Examination,

amination, while my Papers are in mine own Power; left otherwife the Neglect and Refufal of fuch Examination be justly laid to their Charge, to their Reproach and Condemnation, both in this World, and in that which is to come.> I have my self acted with all Sincerity in thisMatter. I have fairly fet down the Refult of my own Enquiries; and earnestly defir'd the Affiftance of others; that fo all even leffer Miftakes or Omiffions might be avoided, and the whole be as compleat and Authentick as poffible, before it comes to be publish'd to the World. I do ftill earnestly defire the fame Affiftance ; which a fair and folemn Examination, by a felect Number of Learned Men, empower'd and requir'd to enquire and fpeak freely, would afford me. If this be refus'd or neglected, efpe-. cially by the University and by the Clergy, I think no fmall Guilt will lay upon them both before God and Men. Only after this direct Offer and Representation here; as I have already: made, and do again intend to make the fame Offer and Representation to the most Reverend the Arch-bishops, on account of the Body of the Clergy, I hope I fhall my felf be efteem'd wholly clear and blamelefs, as having fincerely dif charg'd my Duty and Confcience in this ferious and weighty Concern. And I heartily wish that the rest of my Brethren of the Clergy would think themselves oblig'd to do that which is now, without Difpute, become their bounden Duty. I am Sir, with all due Refpect and Obfervance,

Your most humble, and,

obedient Servant,

WILL. WHISTON.

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