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these the great Cause they maintain is very willingly submitted.

Very many, and particularly the unlearned, would be greatly aided in their determination, if a New Translation, or at least a just and accurate Revisal of the Bible were accomplished. For, though

as a man approved of God, by miracles, &c. which God did by him. As this language can never be strained into unison with certain rooted Opinions, some may be apt to wish that the Apostles had appeared more strictly Orthodox (as it is called) or the Fathers less so.

"The Christian religion, in the most early times, was "proposed to the Jews and Heathens without the article "of Christ's Divinity" (says, with others, Dean Swift, Works, vol. xvi, p. 44). But, the Successors of the Apostles and earliest Christians were pleased by degrees to propose and teach the Christian Religion with the article of Christ's Divinity; at last maintaining his Divinity to be such as renders him fully Equal in all respects to his God and Father. What proper Authority they had (and it certainly required the very highest), to advance so prodigious a step beyond the doctrine of the Apostles, doth not appear. The consequences of such presumption, however, have been perceived and felt both within and without the bounds of Christianity for many ages.

our common Version hath been a general blessing, yet, without meaning any reflection on the Translators, it certainly might be much improved. To make so extensive a Collation of ancient Manuscripts (and ancient Versions), as might now be made, was not in the power of our Translators; and it will not be said that the Scriptures, or the languages in which they were originally written, are less understood at this day, than in their time. Several very worthy and enlightened men have pointed out the scattered defects and improprieties in our English Version: and it appears from the numerous and valuable specimens lately given to the public, that the various readings, some of greater, some of less importance, found in the different MSS. (owing to the mistakes or carelessness of Transcribers) might be properly corrected in a new Translation (or Revisal), and some of them better reconciled with the context; and also the genuine sense restored to many disordered

passages*. These are objects of great concern. The best, however, that can be done at present, by the generality, is, to compare one part of Scripture with another written on the same or on a similar sub

*

ject, and expound the obscure passages by those which are more clear; ever having it in mind, that the original Writers meant to be comprehensible and uniform, and not to perplex.

We wish to apprize the Reader, that, although the subtilties found in the writings of some Trinitarians, have obliged us to enter occasionally into reasonings somewhat Metaphysical, in order to shew the insufficiency of their Arguments; yet, the Essential part of the controversy is very far from being confined to Theory; it re

*The Reader must be referred to the writings of Bishop Lowth, Kennicott, Geddes, &c.-See also Commentaries and Essays, vol. i, published by the Society for promoting the Knowledge of the Scriptures, sold by J. Johnson, St. Paul's Churchyard.

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lates directly to Practice, and finally centers in the rightful Object of Religious Worship. The unitarians contend, that (whatever subordinate honours become due to Christ) there is but One most Holy Person who is truly and properly Gop; and, consequently, but one proper Object of Divine Worship, namely, The Father, the Lord of heaven and earth, as our Saviour called Him (Luke x, 21); and it remains with the Trinitarians to prove the contrary, if they can, from Scripture or from Reason, Thus the great All-interesting Point may be put upon a clear and short issue ; and it certainly demands their most serious attention,

If this treatise should happily lead to the further discovery of Truth; if it should, in any measure, be productive of that Peace which passeth all understanding, and which infinitely supersedes all earthly enjoyments whatsoever; the praise be to God, from whose kind Dispensations every

true light ariseth.-May the advantages be reaped, in the fullest sense, by every pious Christian, as well as by the humble Instrument, who, deeply sensible of the awful Subject he is engaged in, has endeavoured, in strict conformity to the Precepts of Revelation, to assert the exclusive right of our omnipotent and benevolent CREATOR, to every possible testimony of our Highest Gratitude, Love, Obedience, and Praise.

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