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Bayer. Staatsbibliothek

AN

APOLOGY

FOR

CHRISTIANITY,

IN

A SERIES OF LETTERS,

ADDRESSED TO

EDWARD GIBBON, Esq;

AUTHOR OF THE

HISTORY of the DECLINE and FALL of the
ROMAN EMPIRE.

By R. WATSON, D.D. F.R.S.

AND REGIUS PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY IN
THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE.

We have not followed cunningly devised fables. 2 Pet. 1. 16.

SECOND EDITION.

CAMBRIDGE,

Printed by J. Archdeacon Printer to the UNIVERSITY;
For T. & J. Merrill, and J. Woodyer, in Cambridge;
B. White, J. Dodley, J. Wilkie, J. Robfon & Co.
H. Hingefton, Strand, and T. Evans,
Pater-nofter Row, London.

M. DCC.LXXVII.

BIBLIOTHECA

REGIA

MONACENSIS.

LETTER FIRST.

SIR,

I

T. would give me much uneafinefs to be reputed an Enemy to free inquiry in religious matters, or capable of being animated into any degree of perfonal malevolence against those who differ from me in opinion. On the contrary, I look upon the right of private judgment, in every concern refpecting God and ourfelves, as fuperior to the control of hu