A LETTER ΤΟ WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, Esq. ON THE SUBJECT OF HIS LATE PUBLICATION. By GILBERT WAKEFIELD, B. A. LATE FELLOW OF JESUS-COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. Beware of falfe prophets !-Ye fhall know them by their Ye blind guides! which ftrain out a gnat, and swallow a Nefas illic fetum jugulare capella; Carnibus humanis vefci licet.-In mare nemo JUVENAL THE SECOND EDITION, ENLARGED AND CORRECTED. LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY A. HAMILTON; AND SOLD BY I. CUTHELL, MIDDLE-ROW, HOLBORN. 1797. 4-845 LETTER то WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, ESQ. SIR! THE privilege, which you have claimed and employed, of addreffing "the higher "and middle claffes of this country" on the religious system "of profeffed Chriftians, "contrasted with real Christianity," cannot be grudged with consistency, in application to yourself, from one, according to the vulgar acceptation of those words, neither in the high nor middle clafs, but in the very lowest order of the community, in which we live. Your attention to religious fubjects, in the midst of a corrupt and faithless generation, is regarded with more honour and approbation by none of your warmest friends than by your opponent: nor, I believe, have your thoughts, fince we were contemporaries once B at at Cambridge, and before that period, been more intenfely occupied in the fame speculations and purfuits, than mine. Our conclufions, however, from thefe diligent refearches prove not only different, but in many points totally contradictory: yet, (for I am disposed to pay no futile compliments and to facrifice no felf-applaufe, at the expence of conviction and fincerity, though ready to concede in your favour all that can poffibly be true) I prefume your purposes and affections to have been equally pure, equally zealous, and equally difpaffionate, with my own. Perhaps, in confequence of your elaborate publication, which, from the peculiar fituation and character of it's author, is likely to engage a confiderable portion of popular attention, it may be a circumftance not alto-. gether unimportant to fome of our fellowcitizens, nor abfolutely unworthy of your own regard, to contemplate fome prominent particulars of our difagreement, and the grounds on which we differ. But, Sir! my leading motive to this public and free addrefs had it's origin in that countenance, which the favourable opinion of your your character, very generally entertained, as a fincere and pious Chriftian, has reflected on' the political conduct of thofe ftatesmen, whofe views you have promoted with eagerness and conftancy; and whofe interefts you have interwoven with your own. It becomes on this account, I am perfuaded, a confideration of no mean concernment to Englishmen at large to be fupplied with fome measure of determination, whether one, thus fanctified in the estimation of his countrymen, thus affuming the dignified office of a religious cenfor in fociety, be indeed entitled to this large tribute of admiration, and illuminated with that knowledge of his subject, which has a claim to enfure his precepts a reverend acceptance with his disciples. That reasonable poftulatum too, I apprehend, is no lefs pertinent to the fubject of Chriftianity, than to topics of philology and taste; founded on a requifite alliance between magifterial animadverfion and perfonal accomplishment; Let fuch teach others, who themfelves excell; It was my primary intention to examine your publication in detail; but this object I |