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.24.14.

My next Task therefore is(God willing) to prove the Doctrines of the New Teftament perfpicuous, poffible, and moft worthy of God, as well as all calculated for the highest Benefits of Man. Some will not thank me, it's probable, for so useful an Undertaking; and others will make me a Heretick in grain for what I have perform'd already. But as it is Duty, and no Body's Applaufe, which is the Rule of my Actions; fo, God knows, I no more value this cheap and ridiculous Nickname of a Heretick than Paul did before me: for I acknowledg. no ORTHODOXT but the TRUTH; and, I'm fure, where-ever the TRUTH is, there must be also the CHURCH, of God I mean, and not any Human Faction or Policy. Befides, the Imputation of Heterodoxy being now as liberal upon the flighteft Occafions, out of Ignorance, Paffion, or Malice, as in the days of Ireneus and Epiphanius, it is many times instead of a Reproach the greateft Honour imaginable.

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Some good Men may be apt to fay, that, fuppofing my Opinion never fo true, it may notwithstanding occafion much harm; because when People find themselves impos'd upon in any part of Religion, they are ready to call the whole in queftion. This Offence is plainly taken, not given; and my Defign is nothing the lefs good, if ill-difpos'd Perfons abuse it, as they frequently do Learning, Reafon, Scripture, and the best things in the World. But it is vifible to every one that they are the Contradictions and Myfteries unjustly charg'd upon Religion, which Occafion fo many to become Deifts and Atheists. And it fhould be confider'd likewife that when any, not acquainted with it, are dazl'd by the fudden Splendor of the Truth, their Number is not comparable to theirs who fee clearly by its Light. Because several turn'd Libertines and Atheists when PRIEST-CRAFT was laid fo open at the Reformation, were Luther,Calvin, or Zwinglius to be blam'd for it? or which fhould weigh moft with them, these few prejudic'd Scep

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ticks, or thofe thousands they converted from the Superftitions of Rome? I'm therefore for giving no Quarter to ERROR under any pretence; and will be sure, wherever I have Ability or Opportunity, to expofe it in its true Colours, without rendring my Labour ineffectual, by weakly mincing or foftning of any thing.

FINIS.

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