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FRIENDS: Some of whom have hinted their suspicions in private; and others given more open intimations of its falsehood.

This, in part, may be owing to those ticklish circumstances in the evidence of the Fathers, which, on examination, we have shewn to be its principal support. But what hath chiefly occasioned this neglect, I am persuaded, is the state and condition of the Ecclesiastical History of that time; when the light of miracles was surrounded with such a swarm of monkish fables, as was enough to darken the brightest of its rays; and, indeed, nothing, but the force of its divine extraction, could ever have broke through them: for, as if these unhappy artificers designed what they brought to pass, they were not content to counterfeit the hand of God on other common occasions: they would try their skill on this, where it had been so eminently displayed; and actually contrived to mimic its most essential and triumphant circumstances. Accordingly, Church History informs us, that when Julian and his brother Gallus projected to build a temple over the sepulchre of one St. Mamas; that part which Julian undertook fell down again as soon as built; the saint, it seems, disdaining the service of the future apostate. The cloudy monk, who invented this fable, had, we see, two conceits in his head: he would make Julian's offering as unacceptable as Cain's; and resolving likewise, he should be an unlucky builder through life, would not give him the skill or privilege of that primitive out-law. The same History again informs us*, That once, when Julian sacrificed, there was found impressed upon the entrails of the victim, a cross within a crown or circle: for when the monks had once got the apostate into their hands, they treated *Greg. Naz. Orat. iii. Soz. 1. v. c. 2.

him as a true Demoniac; and so plied him with CROSSES, that sovereign Panacea of the Exorcists.

Thus they dressed up their impostures as like as they could, in garb and fashion, to the miracles of heavenly extraction; with the spirit, or, must we say, in imitation of those Pagan priests, who forged their Ancilia to secure the SACRED SHIELD which fell from heaven as if they had taken it into their heads, that true miracles, unattended with these delusions, were in the same danger from the enemies of the Faith, that the Palladium of Rome was from robbers, without a numerous guard of brazen counterfeits.

END

OF TREATISE

ON JULIAN'S ATTEMPT TO REBUILD

THE TEMPLE.

THE

DOCTRINE OF GRACE;

OR,

THE OFFICE AND OPERATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

VINDICATED

FROM THE INSULTS OF INFIDELITY

AND

THE ABUSES OF FANATICISM:

WITH

SOME THOUGHTS

(Humbly offered to the Consideration of the Established Clergy)

REGARDING

THE RIGHT METHOD OF DEFENDING RELIGION
AGAINST THE ATTACKS OF EITHER PARTY.

IN THREE BOOKS.

1750.

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ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

WHILE I was composing these sheets to vindicate the honour of Religion, it was given out, that I was writing in defence of a late Minister of State.

I have a Master above, and I have one below; I mean GOD, and the KING. To them my services are

bound.

The most sacred of all private ties are Friendship and Gratitude. The duties arising from these, though not altogether so extensive as the other, are subservient only to them.

With respect to the great Minister here understood, His vindication, had he wanted any, could come, with proper dignity, only from himself. And he, though for the first time, would be here but a Copier: I mean, of the example of that First of Romans *; who being calumniated before the people by one Nævius, an obscure Plebeian, when he came to make his defence, which happened to be on the anniversary of the battle of Zama, addressed the assembly in this manner: "It

66

was on this day, Romans, that I subdued your mighty "Rival for Empire, the Carthaginian. I would it "become the friends of Rome to waste such a day in "wrangling and contention. We should now be re"turning thanks to the immortal Gods for the signal

*Scipio Africanus; who restored his country by carrying the war from Rome to Carthage.

"protection

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