unto him shall ye hearken. If you think this ambiguous or obfcure, I anfwer, That it is not a hiftory, but a prophecy; and as fuch unavoidably liable to fome degree of obfcurity, till interpreted by the event. Nor was the conduct of the Apoftles more ambiguous, than the language of the old Teftament; they did not indeed at first comprehend the whole of the nature of the new difpenfation; and when they did understand it better, they did not think proper upon every occafion to use their Chriftian liberty; but, with true Christian charity, accommodated themselves in matters of indifference to the prejudices of their weaker brethren. But he who changes his conduct with a change

of fentiments, proceeding from an increase of knowledge, is not ambiguous in his conduct; nor fhould he be accused of a culpable duplicity, who in a matter of the laft importance endeavours to conciliate the good-will of all, by conforming in a few innocent obfervances to the particular perfuafions of different men.

Oneremark more, and I have done. In your account of the Gnoftics, you have given us a very minute catalogue of the objections, which they made to the authority of Mofes, from his account of the creation, of the patriarchs, of the law, and of the attributes of the Deity: I have not leisure to examine, whether the Gnoftics of former ages really made

made all the objections you have mentioned. I take it for granted, upon your authority, that they did: but I am certain if they did, that the Gnoftics of modern times have no reason to be puffed up with their knowledge, or to be had in admiration as men of fubtile penetration or refined erudition; they are all miferable copiers of their brethren of antiquity; and neither Morgan, nor Tindal, nor Bolingbroke, nor Voltaire, have been able to produce scarce a fingle new objection. You think, that the Fathers have not properly anfwered the Gnoftics. I make no queftion, Sir, you are able to answer them to your own satisfaction; and informed of every thing, that has been

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been faid by our induftrious di vines upon the subject: and we fhould have been glad, if it had fallen in with your plan to have administered together with the poifon it's antidote; but fince that is not the cafe, left it's malignity fhould spread too far, I must just mention it to my younger readers, that Leland and others, in their replies to the modern Deifts, have given very full, and, as many learned men apprehend, very fatisfactory answers to every one of the objections, which you have derived from the Gnoftic heresy.

I am, &c.

LET

LETTER SECOND.

:66

SIR,

T

HE doctrine of a future life, improved by every additional cir

"cumftance, which could give "weight and efficacy to that im66 portant truth," is the fecond of the causes to which you attribute the quick increase of Christianity. Now if we impartially confider the circumstances of the perfons, to whom the doctrine, not fimply of