now of the civil state of some countries ruined, and overturned by them. But this power to transmute water into wine, without labour and expence, would have been of better worth to them, than all their other priestly offices. Not that our conduits would thereupon run with wine, instead of water; or that wine would be cheaper and more plentiful than it is now, excepting among themselves, if they could withal curse vineyards. They would make the best penny they could of their divine power. And as surely as they can now sell the water drops of their fingers at a christening, at a good rate, they would set a better price on their miraculously made wine: and give a notable reason for its dearness, namely, that miracles should not be cheap, which would bring them into contempt, and lessen the wonder and admiration of them."

Thus ends the invective of a supposed Jewish Rabbi against this miracle. And as Mr. Woolston has favoured us with several such like observations, on the miracles of Jesus, I shall take the liberty of laying them before you in order that you may take them into consideration, and decide accordingly, when I come to treat on them. As Elihu told Job, "Let us choose to us judgment; Let us know among ourselves what is good," (Job xxxiv. 4.) rightly dividing the word of truth,75 and carefully avoiding giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men that turn from the truth.76 Men who will compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, they make him two-fold more the child of hell than themselves. 77

Matthew further says, "that he went travelling about, followed by great multitudes of people from all parts, healing all manner of sicknesses, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom."

In so doing Jesus might be justified, as neither he nor any of the holy men of God knew anything of printing, it being a thing unknown in those days; consequently, they had no other means of publishing or making known this new Kingdom, but by preaching or proclaiming it about the streets to the people. But I cannot see what occasion there is for preaching in these

days, when printing is so much in fashion. Even if the preachers had a new thing to acquaint us with, they could easily make it known through the medium of the press; by which means we should have a better opportunity of proving all things, and judging for ourselves, that which was right, as Jesus and Paul have both advised. 7 8 Instead of which, that which they preach now is an old thing, having been preached throughout the earth, if what Paul says be true,79 1800 years back; and must be by this time, nearly worn out!

Besides, by what I can learn, Jesus preached gratis! whereas, in the present day, people are obliged to pay the preachers a most enormous sum, for preaching that which but few, compared with the multitude, ever go to hear. And those that do go, might stay at home and learn, by reading the same books, the same things which they learn by hearing the preachers read; besides saving their money and time, and being less prejudical to their health; for, surely, nothing can be more injurious to the constitution of the human frame, than being penn'd up together in a cold, damp, and pestiferous place, like so many wethers and ewes at a fair.

If we employ men for teaching us, that which we may easily know of ourselves; we might as well employ preachers to tell us that George the Fourth, is King of England! For if Jesus were the Son of God, and did those things which they say he did; we shall learn the truth equally as well, if not better, by reading and judging for ourselves. Jesus commanded that we should search the Scriptures;80 he nowhere commands that we should employ Popes, Archbishops, Cardinals, Bishops, and all those ridiculous titles, which some men have given to themselves, to search them for us.

Neither did he think any thing at all about us, as I have already shewn you in a former letter; it being evident, that he thought his days were the last. And if God did employ any one to explain his words for him; surely, he would never employ such ugly old men, and beardless boys, as we now see starting up everywhere, as servants of the Lord. I think that it would have been more to his credit, if he had written

them in a plain and intelligible manner at first, so that all might have easily understood them, without having recourse to the assistance of others, who are evidently as ignorant, and know no more of God and his words than those who employ them; he would then have saved us all this trouble and expence, besides, prevented that effusion of blood, which has been shed in consequence thereof. However, as I intend, in my next letter, to make an inquiry into the evidences, that prove the existence of this being, called a God, about whom there is so much talk; I shall conclude for the present, and remain,

LETTER VII.

TO DR. ADAM CLARKE,

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW.

CHAP. V.

Verse 1. "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set, his disciples came unto him; and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

In Luke vi. 12, we read, that "Jesus went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Why should Jesus spend so much time in prayer to God, if he himself were 66 very God of very God?" especially, as he condemned the practice of making long prayers.) And when he had chosen his Apostles "he came down with them, and stood in the plain;” and there he taught the people.

Mark says, (iii. 19.) that, as soon as he came down from the mount, they went into an house, where they began to eat bread; instead of preaching on the mount or in the plain! while John takes notice of neither mount, plain, or sermon !

It is not my intention at present to unfold the doctrine contained in this sermon, but merely to consider the promise that is held forth to those who are pure in heart, namely, a sight of God: it being in consequence of this idea that I am excluded from society, torn from the bosom of friends and relatives; and doomed to