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Perversions of the Writers of Controverfy: A true Copy of which Letter does here, follow:

Camb. July 17. 1708.

May it please your GRACE.

Having been lately examining with all the

Care, Application, & Impartiality I could, theOriginal Doctrines of Chriftianity, concerning the ever-bleffed Trinity, and the Incarnation of our Lord and Saviour, both in the New Teftament and in the most Primitive Antiquity; And having in that Enquiry obferv'd, as 'tis very easy to do, that the Opinions of the two, and almost three firft Centuries were very different from thofe of the Fourth & following ones; I think it my duty to propose the Confideration & Examination of thefe matters to the Chriftian World; but more efpecially to the Proteftant Churches; because they have never yet been examin'd in any publick Manner, either at or fince the Reformation: and because the common Doctrines appear all along to have been fetled and establish'd by the See of Rome, and thence to have been propagated to the rest of the Chriftian World. It feems to me plain, that the Scripture, the Apoftolical Fathers, and, in the main, the fecond Century do agree in the explication of thefe facred Doctrines. Nay even the Body of the Chriftion Church appears to have been of the fame Opinions fo low as the Council of Antioch itself, in the latter part of the third Century, abating only one or two particular Perfons, (contradicting themselves) and fuch Parts of the Church as were under the Influence of the BiShops of Rome; who, ever fince the Days of Pope Victor, have taken upon them to be the Arbitra

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tors of these and other Controverfies among Chriftians. I hope your Grace will believe that I am boneft and fincere in my Intentions; and that if I were not fully convinc'd of the great Importance of what I have to propofe, I would not trouble your Grace, or the World, in this Matter. I am fure I have no Difficulty upon me in believing Mysteries, whenever I find them reveal'd by God. Nor have I the leaft Design to detract from the great Dignity of, or from the Divine Worship due to the Son of God, and the Bleffed Spirit; on whofe Redemption and Sanctification all my own Hopes of Salvation are entirely grounded. But I cannot easily believe that the Doctrine of the Fourth and following Centuries, I mean that which at length prevail'd in them, can be purer than that of the Two first; that Vigilius Tapfenfis, Athanafius, or Councils themfelves can make Articles of Faith; or that their late Authorities can excufe me, or any honeft Chriftian from examining and embracing that Original Faith, which was once deliver'd to the Saints, and receiv'd in the first Ages of the Gospel.

As to the most proper Method of Propofing thefe Matters to the Publick, I fhall have the greatest Deference for your Grace's Judgment and Directions, and thofe of my Lord Archbishop of York; who, as the Principal Guides of this Church, have a juft Right to be confulted in Matters of this Nature and Moment. For my own Part, I not only believe, but know, that, for the main, what I affirm to have been the Ancient Doctrine, is fo; having examin'd all the certainly Genuine and most Ancient Books and Fragments hitherto publish'd. I have alfo a pretty compleat Collection of the Teftimonies by me, and a fhort Chronological Account by what Steps

(b)

Steps the Primitive Faith was gradually either alter'd or improv'd, till it came to the Model of the Creed of Vigilius Tapfenfis, the Standard of Modern Orthodoxy in thefe Matters. So that I think my felf in fome measure prepar❜d to give an Authentick Account of the Faith of the Two First Centuries. Nor do I find any plain Teftimonies to be alledg'd on the other Side. But then, because in fome Particulars I may easily have made Mistakes, or Omiffions; because, as a peaceable Member of this Church, I ought to confult its Unity and Quiet as much as poffible; and because, if it may be, I would have this Matter calmly and fairly debated and fettled by the Learned, before it comes into the Hands of the Ignorant: Upon all these Accounts, I humbly propofe it to your Grace's Confideration, What Way I fhould take in the particular Management of this Matter? My own Thoughts are, That it might be convenient to have fome Copies tranfcrib'd, or rather a few printed, for the Ufe of the Learned. But, if any other Method fhall be propos'd, which may better attain the fame Ends, I fhall very readily comply with it. I am aware that feveral Political or Prudential Confiderations may be alledg'd against either the doing this at all, or at least the doing it now: But then, if the Sacred Truths of God must be always fupprefs'd, and dangerous Corruptions never enquir'd into, till the Politicians of this World fhould fay it were a proper Time to examine and correct them, I doubt it would be long enough e're fuch Examination and Correction could be expected in any Cafe. I think my felf plainly oblig'd in point of Duty, to communicate my Collections to the Publick Confideration: And therefore, from this Refolution in general, no worldly Motives whatever,

by

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by the Bleffing of God, fhall diffuade me. But, as to the particular Propofitions themselves when they are fent, your Grace will please to look upon them as a fomewhat hafty Account, I do not fay of mine own Opinions, for they are of fmall Confideration, but of the Opinions of the Two firft Centuries of the Church of Christ, ready for all well-grounded Alterations CorreЯtions and Improvements, if my own fartherEnquiries, or the Suggeftions of the Learned, fhall make any of them neceffary hereafter. I moft humbly crave your Grace's Pardon, for the great Freedom and Boldness of this Address, with the Continuance of that Candid and Favourable Opinion of me, my Intentions and Labours, which hitherto your Grace has been pleas'd to afford to,

[I have fent the fame Letter to the Archbishop of York.]

Your Obliged & moft
Obedient Servant,

WILL. WHISTON.

Soon after the Receipt of this Letter, both the Archbishops were fo fair and kind, as to return me their feveral Answers. True Copies whereof do here follow.

SIR,

Lambeth, July 24. 1708. Received your Letter; but cannot judge of your Work therein mention'd without Perufing it: And I had rather at first see it in Writing, than in Print. Perhaps your Second Thoughts may be different from your firft, after you have drawn them out, and laid them before others, and they have given you their Opinions upon them. Amongst them, it feems to me (b2)

very

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very proper to confult the Learned Bishop Bull, who hath fhew'd himself a great Mafter in this Argument. For my felf,when I fee your Scheme, 1 fhall freely, and without Byafs, give you my poor Thoughts of it. May the God of Wisdom guide us all in all our Researches, and make us wife to Sobriety. I am,

SIR,

Your Loving Brother,
CANTERBURY.

Dear Sir, Bishops-Thorp, Aug. 6. 1708. Had the Favour of your Letter above a Fortnight ago. I carneftly beg your Pardon for not fooner returning my Thanks to you for it; which I certainly had done, had not fomething or other continually happen'd when I defign'd it. I fay, Returning my Thanks to you, for the Civility you exprefs to me in that Letter; For, as for giving an Anfwer to it, I prófefs I am not able. I must own, I do by no means approve of the Defign which you tell me in your Letter you are upon; (as thinking that, if you do purfue it, you will do a great deal more Hurt to the Chriftian Religion among us, than you will do Good;) and being of this Opinion, to be fure I can give you no Advice as to the Method in which you fhould make the World acquainted with it; which is that you defire in your Letter. If I was able to give you any Advice, it fhould be this; That you would lay afide this Project, at leaft fo long as till you have had Opportunity of talking freely about this Matter with your Friends at London; which you may have in the Parliament-time, if you will then be fo kind as to make a Journey thi

threr.

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