the Oppofition with which it has met, tho not that (after the Pulpits, Preffes, and Juries) the Commons of Ireland (hould likewife honour it with their Animadverfion.

Now what is faid to have been objected in the Committee is, 'First, That the very Title CHRISTIANITY NOT MYSTERIOUS is Heretical. Whether the Committee decrees, a new or declares an old Herefy, Mr. Toland neither knows nor is much concern'd to understand, being confcious to himself of neither. If the Title be made good in the Book, 'tis orthodox or found enough; and if not, yet he's still Left out in to feek for the Herefy of it. "If it be an the Origi- old Opinion, others would gladly be inform'd in which Century it was first "taught, who the Author of it might be,

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or by what Council it was condemn'd: "and if it be a new Notion, they defire "likewife to know whether the House of "Commons alone can decree it Herefy, be"ing yet. perfect strangers to any fuch "Power claim'd by that Honourable Bo"dy.

But 'tis affirm'd,that by hisTitle he rejects the Mysteries of the Gofpel. If by Myfteries be meant the Doctrines themselves, he denies none of them; but that after Revelation they are not myfterious or obfcure,

he

e ftill maintains for the Honour of Chrif ianity. A great many without doors very vifely conclude that he believes not the Doctrines, because he thinks they are plain, and therefore the more credible; for that's all he means by not mysterious. But fome People, otherwife credulous enough, believe no body capable of rendring that clear and eafy, which to themselves feems difficult or infuperable.

It was likewise objected, that he makes a doubt whether the Scriptures be of Divine Authority. That bare Expreffion, If the Gofpel be really the word of God, imports no fuch matter, but very frequently the contrary; as for example, If the Gospel be true, this frame of the World shall be diffolv'd, which is not to queftion, but more emphatically to affert the truth of the Propofition. But this, I confefs, is nothing to the cafe before us. The words in the Conclufion of the Book are these, Nothing contradictory or Pag. 1703 inconceivable, however made an Article of Faith, can be contain'd in the Gospel, if it be really the Word of God: for I have hitherto argued only upon this Suppofition, for the Reafon to be feen towards the end of the Preface. The fenfe of the words then must be determin'd by that Reafon; and the Paffage referr'd to in the Preface is this, viz.

Pref.p.24. In the following Difcourfe, which is the firft of three, &c. the Divinity of the New Testament is taken for granted. In the next Difcourfe, &c. I attempt a particular and rational Explanation of the reputed Myfteries of the Gospel. And in the third, I demonftrate the Verity of Divine Revelation against Atheists and all Enemies of Reveal'd Religion. Now is it not fomething strange that a Man should queftion what he takes for granted, and which the Method he follow'd would not permit him to prove before his time, that is, not form the Conclufion before the Premifes? In one place he pofitively affirms Pag. 33. the Scriptures to contain the brightest Charailers of Divinity. But that the force of Calumny may evidently appear, let this other Paffage of the fame Book be confider'd: Fag. 46. What we difcours'd of Reafon before, fays he, and Revelation now,being duly weigh'd,all the Dodrines and Precepts of the New Teftament (if it be indeed Divine) must confequently agree with Natural Reafon and our own or dinary Ideas. THIS every confiderate and well difpos'd Perfon will find by the careful pe rufal of it; and whoever undertakes this Task will confefs the Gospel not to be HIDDEN from us, nor afar off, but very nigh us, in our Mouths and in our HEARTS. But this whole Chapter must have been transcrib'd,

were

were all that's to our purpofe in it to be nicely quoted; for every word of it from N° 22. to the end, is a Juftification of the Method and Stile of the New Testament. Yet left any fufpicion of Fallacy might re main where the Particle IF occurs, I demand what Declaration can be conceived in stronger terms than the following Paffage; for you fhall be troubl'd with no more, tho I might eafily cite forty others relating to this Head. The words are, Whether or no Christianity is mysterious,ought Pag. 88. to be naturally decided by the New Teftament, wherein the Chriftian Faith is originally contain'd. I heartily defire to put the Gafe upon this Iffue, I appeal to this Tribunal; for did I not infinitely prefer the Truth I learn from thefe facred Records to all other Confiderations, Ifhould never affert that there are no Myfteries in Christianity. The Scriptures have engag'd me in this Error, if it be one; and I will fooner be reputed Heterodox with these only on my fide, than to pafs for Orthodox with the whole World, and have them against

me.

It was likewise objected that Mr. Toland fhew'd not a due Refpect to CHRIST, because he always ftiles him in his Book barely CHRIST, or at most only JESUS CHRIST.

CHRIST. If this be any Disrespect," the most Orthodox Divines are as guilty of it in their Writings; and the Apostles themfelves fpeak of him without any additional Titles a great many times in the Gospel. 'Tis otherwife, I grant, when some special occafion requires them to be more exprefs; and when Mr. Toland was declaring the Pref.p.25. Head of his Church, he says, I am neither of Paul, nor of Cephas, nor of Apollos, but of the Lord JESUS CHRIST alone, who is the Author and Finisher of my Faith. And here I cannot forbear admiring how Mr. Toland fhould be deem'd an Arian or Socinian, seeing, for ought appears in his Book, he may lay a better claim to any other Sect, except the Papifts, than to them; for thefe three are the only Parties he opposes by name. But if his Religion is to be really discover'd by his Book, 'tis utterly impoffible he should be either an Arian or Socinian. They both of 'em (from different Notions) believe JESUS CHRIST to be a meer Creature-God, which Mr. Toland does not ; and, to mend one Abfurdity by a greater, they join in paying their Deify'd Creature Divine Worship, which Mr. Toland judges impious and ridiculous. His own words are thefe; Tho the Sociniins difown this Practice (of admitting Con