CONTENTS.

LETTER V.

The charge against Dr. Priestley's character stated' and repelled.-Dr. Priestley and his accuser equally mistaken in a passage from Chrysostom.-The nature and conduct of Dr. Priestley's argument represented and vindicated.-Conclusion.

APPENDIX.

Containing an Extract from a publication of the Rev. Theophilus Lindsey,' which expresses the judgment of that learned writer, concerning the issue of the controversy between Dr. Priestley and Dr. Horsley, and concerning the importance of Dr. Priestley's History of Early Opinions concerning Jesus Christ

Page

77

96

POSTSCRIPT.

Remarks upon the alterations and concessions in the second edition of the Letters to Mr. B. . .

103

A VINDICATION, &c.

LETTER I.

Vindication of the Author's statement of the Calvinistic system.

DEAR SIR,

THE Rev. John Pye Smith, one of the Tutors of the respectable Academical Institution at Homerton, has lately addressed to me a volume of Letters, containing animadversions upon some passages in my late Discourse upon the lamented Death of Dr. Priestley; written upon the whole with much personal civility, and perhaps with as much candour as the spirit of his theological system will admit. The truth or falsehood of that system I am not now disposed to contest; but some of the author's observations appear to require a cursory notice: especially

as they are delivered with a tone of authority, an air of triumph, and a parade of learning, which has a tendency to impose upon ignorant and superficial readers.

This gentleman distinctly charges me with misrepresenting the calvinistic system: His words are, "I never yet heard of the Calvinist "who would adopt your statement as his own "creed*." And again, "Such men as Voltaire "and Paine, or even characters of far more esti"mable fame, can, with all the ease imaginable,

66

by the combined aid of misconception, perverse "mis-statement, and sparkling witticisms, so "twist and entangle a metaphysical or moral subject, and that in a few words, or sentences, "as to require many pages of accurate writing, ❝" and much labour of patient reading, to unravel the crossing perplexities. This appears to me to be precisely the case with your picture of Calvinismt." The reader will smile to see to what expressions this pompous description applies. My words are, "The doctrine which the apostle taught

was the gospel of the grace of God. Very "remote indeed from that system which in modern times has been dignified with the title "of Gospel Doctrine; a system which teaches

* Letters to Mr. B. p. 16.

+ Ibid. p. 13, 14.

that

"that all mankind are doomed to eternal misery "for Adam's sin, with the exception of a few "who are chosen by mere good pleasure to "everlasting life*." The reason why my name is introduced in connection with those of Voltaire and Paine, is sufficiently obvious to all who are versed in the arts of theological controversy; but it would require no small portion of intellectual perspicacity to discern the precise resemblance between the plain and brief statement which I have made of calvinistic doctrine, almost in the words of its own symbols, and the misconception, perverse mis-statement, and sparkling witticisms, with which these champions of infidelity are said to twist and entangle a moral or metaphysical subject.

My generous accuser, however, exculpates me from the "charge of intentional misrepresenta"tion," and very charitably insinuates, that what he calls my caricature of Calvinism is the result of mere ignorance. Unfortunately, I cannot avail myself of this obliging apology. Having been educated a Calvinist, in the midst of Calvinists, and having been fully instructed in the creeds and catechisms, and modes of worship of this "straitest sect of our religion," I

• Funeral Discourse for Dr. Priestley, p. 26.

cannot plead ignorance of the doctrines which I and hundreds more were taught, and believed.

The worthy Remarker next proceeds to correct my supposed misconception, by stating, in form, and as one having authority, in his second Letter, what those "sentiments are, which in "their aggregate" he is pleased to call "Calvin"ism,” and in which, he professes "to glory." And truly, Sir, I must acknowledge that I was not a little surprised at the perusal of this singular, prolix, and mysterious confession. Yet if this reverend gentleman, who does not be appear to deficient either in understanding or learning, can, at this time of day, seriously believe all that he sets down to be believed, he has my free consent, and much may it contribute to his edification. Far be it from me to wish to abridge him of a single article of his capacious faith, or to deprive him of one particle of his glory. The only question between us is, whether this faith be truly calvinistic. And to this the worthy author himself has supplied the proper answer. "It is acknowledged," says he, "that this "view of the subject is different from that

* Letters to Mr. B. p.

16.

which