favourable education, and fituation in life, by not giving me an opportunity of distinguishing myself as you have done, has, likewise, not expofed me to the temptation of acting otherwise; and for this I wish to be truly thankful. For fince so very few of those who profess the same sentiments with you, have had the courage to act confiftently with them, no person, whatever he may imagine he might have been equal to, can have a right to prefume, that he would have been one of fo fmall a number.

No person can see in a stronger light than you do the mifchievous confequences of the corruptions of that religion which you justly prize, as the most valuable of the gifts of God to man; and therefore I flatter myself, it will give you fome

pleasure

pleasure to accompany me in my researches into the origin and progress of them, as this will tend to give all the friends of pure christianity the fullest fatisfaction that they reflect no difcredit on the revelation itself; fince it will be seen that they all came in from a foreign and hoftile quarter. It will likewise afford a pleafing prefage, that our religion will, in due time, purge itself of every thing that debases it, and that for the present prevents its reception by those who are ignorant of its nature, whether living in christian countries, or among Mahometans and Heathens.

The grofs darkness of that night which has for many centuries obscured our holy religion, we may clearly fee, is paft; the morning is opening upon us; and we cannot doubt but that the

light will increase, and extend itself more and more, unto the perfect day. Happy are they who contribute to diffufe the pure light of this everlasting gofpel. The time is coming when the detection of one error, or prejudice, relating to this most important fubject, and the fuccefs we have in opening and enlarging the minds of men with respect to it, will be confidered as far more honourable than any difcovery we can make in other branches of knowledge, or our fuccefs in propagating them.

In looking back upon the difmal scene which the fhocking corruptions of chriftianity exhibit, we may well exclaim with the prophet, How is the gold become dim, how is the most fine gold changed. But the thorough examination of every thing relating to christianity,

christianity, which has been produced by the corrupt ftate of it, and which nothing else would probably have led to, has been as the refiner's fire with refpect to it; and when it fhall have ftood this teft, it may be prefumed that the truth and excellency of it will never more be called in question.

This corrupt state of christianity has, no doubt, been permitted by the Supreme Governor of the world for the best of purposes, and it is the fame great Being who is also now, in the course of his providence, employing these means to purge his floor. The civil powers of this world, which were formerly the chief supports of the antichriftian systems, who have given their power and ftrength unto the beaft (Rev. xvii. 13.) now begin to hate her, and are ready to make ber desolate and naked,

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naked, v. 16. To answer their own political purposes, they are now promoting various reformations in the church; and it can hardly be doubted, but that the difficulties in which many of the European nations are now involving themselves, will make other measures of reformation highly expedient and neceffary.

Alfo, while the attention of men in power is ingroffed by the difficulties that more immediately press upon them, the endeavours of the friends of reformation in points of doctrine pass with less notice, and operate without obftruction. Let us rejoice in the good that refults from this evil, and omit no opportunity that is furnished us, voluntarily to co-operate with the gracious intention of divine providence ; and let us make that our primary object, which others are doing to pro

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