real advantage redound from hence, because they meddle with things out of their reach, and invade a province that does not belong to finite mortals, who ought to fubmit their undentandings to the word of truth, but fhould never affect to be wife above what is written.

We fhall always find, that men who wast their time, in projecting methods of explaining what is really inexplicable, have fuch a fondness for the products of their own fancies, that they think they meet with very hard measure, if the vanity and infufficience of their hypotheses be laid open; but unless they reckon themselves to be the perfons with whom wisdom muft die, they ought not to be against others ufing the liberty which belongs to men and Chriftians: who certainly have as much right, to defend the

truths

$

truths of the Gospel, as they have to cloud and obfcure them.

fo

I know, Sir, your regard for the faith once deliver'd to the faints, is great, that there is no need to make any apology to you, for my publishing the following work; I believe it was a regard to the truth, which I defend, made you overlook the imperfections of what I wrote, with an honest intention, and induced you to declare your approbation of it. I wish what is now added, may not be unpleasing to you.

That you may be favour'd, every day, with more light into the great doctrines of the Gospel; that you may be bleffed with a fufficient measure of health, to make use of the good talents entrusted to you; that your ministry may be abundantly fucceeded; and

that

that you may be long continued a witness for the truth, and an useful labourer in the church, where your lot is cast, is the fincere prayer of,

Reverend Sir,

Your fincere friend,

And unworthy brother,

ABRAHAM TAYLOR.

THE

PREFACE

T

HE doctrine of the bleffed Trinity is a matter of fuch importance, that all who wish well to Chriftianity, ought ever to be on their guard, against any attempts made, either to weaken their faith, or to puzzle their minds, as to this great and adorable mystery: And they, who without any ill defign, give out erroneous hypothefes, relating to this prime article of faith, ought no more to be left to vent their fancies without controul, than others who oppofe this truth, thro' malice, fhould be fuffered to pafs without contradiction.

It was because I really thought the reverend Mr. Watts obfcured the doctrine, which he imagin'd he might, perhaps, be able to clear, that I appear'd against his books: and when I finifh'd my treatise against him, I had little apprehenfions, that I fhould have farther concern with him for as I did not think he would be for launching into controverfy, fo I was determin'd, not to concern my felf with any other perfon, who fhould thruft himself into the debate. there was occafion, this winter, for a new impreffion, I took the opportunity to review what I had wrote, and to look into Mr. Watts's books. This made fome thoughts occur to me, which, I chose rather to throw together, in the form of a preface, than to trouble the world with them separate.

As

This fmall tract was publifh'd without my name, not becaufe I was afhamed of any thing contained in it, but that it might make its own. way into the world, and that the cenforious might have the lefs opportunity to run it down, without weighing the merits of the cause concerned. It has met with fo favourable a reception from many among our felves, and from fome of the church of England, whofe judg ments I value, that I can fit very eafy and unconcerned, under the bitter invectives, which have been utter'd against it, by the admirers of the gentleman I undertook to refute.

I have however the fatisfaction to find, that tho' this worthy and ingenious perfon has many, who defervedly efteem him, on other accounts, yet he has few, very few, who admire him, or who will indeed defend him, as to the things wherein I am concerned with him.

When the first edition was publish'd, I lived not in London, and fo I could be guilty of no unfairness, in the title I took to my felf, of a diffenting country gentleman. I have now thought it proper, to throw off my difguife, and to fet my name, in order to let the world fee, that I fcorn to do, or fay, any thing, under cover, which I am afraid of doing, or faying, in open view. I would not do any thing in private, without confidering, I am in the prefence of the fearcher of hearts; therefore I look upon my felf to be under the fame reftraint, as a Chriftian, whether I choose to be known

a That many who admire Mr. Watts, are not pleafed with his attempts relating to the Trinity, appears from hence, that tho' fome thousands of moft of his other works have been fold; yet an impreffion of five hundred, of the fecond part of his differtations on the Trinity has not gone off.

or