chapters, the principal doctrine of which is most irrational, as well as the argumentation perfectly inconclusive, on the Socinian hypothesis. For instance: what makes a greater figure in the writings of St. John, or is more frequently mentioned or expatiated upon, than the doctrine of the great love of God manifested in his sending “his Son into the world, that we might live through him?” But, if what he advances upon this subject be understood of a mere man, how unworthy is it, I will not say of the inspiration of an apostle, but of the reason and common sense of a man? We need not go far to seek examples of this. I appeal to the passage last quoted. Only suppose it to be spoken of a mere man, and how insipid and unmeaning, nay, how absurd and ridiculous, does it appear! "In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent a mere man, whom I term "his only-begotten Son, into the world," (not that we are to suppose he had any existence prior to his being sent,) "that we might live through him," that is, through his teaching and example! "Herein is love! not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent" a mere man, called “his Son, to be the propitiation for our sins;" that is, says the doctor, to die a martyr to confirm his doctrine! "Beloved, if God so loved us," and sent a mere man among us, to teach us his will, we ought also to love one another. We have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son," I mean, that the eternal God sent a mere man, "to be the Saviour of the world." One mere man, to save the whole human race! 1 John iv. 9-11, 14.

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The doctrine of the next chapter is yet more irrational, if more can be. Thus: "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus," a mere man, “is,” by adoption, "the Son of God? This is he," the mere man, "that came by water and blood, even Jesus; not by water only," in which he was baptized, (an emblem of his own purity, and our regeneration,) "but by water and blood," atoning blood, the blood of one mere man, shed for the sins of millions. "And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the

Holy Ghost," that is, on the Socinian principles, the selfexistent Jehovah, a mere man, and the power of God:

and these three are one," the eternal God, his power, and a mere man, are one. "This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son," is in a mere man. "He that hath the Son," that hath this mere man, dwelling in him, (see 2 Cor. xiii. 5,) "hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God," that hath not this mere man dwelling in him, "hath not life. We know that the Son of God is come," that is, that a mere man hath been raised up to instruct us, "and," though a mere man, "hath given us an understanding, to know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, in," or by "his Son Jesus Christ," a mere man. 'He," the mere man I speak of, "is the true God, and eternal life." But, though I gave these high titles to a mere man, yet, let me add, "little children, keep yourselves from idols!" Verses 5-7, 11, 12, 20, 21. A necessary caution indeed; but very absurd in this connexion.

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The second epistle he inscribes "to the elect lady," or as some rather think it should be rendered, "to the elect Kuria," making Kuria a proper name; and, like St. Paul, he prays for " grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ," that is, on the unitarian hypothesis, from the supreme God, and a mere man! Many deceivers," says he, "are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh;' I speak of that mere man, born in Bethlehem, who having had no pre-existence, must come in the flesh, or not at all: "this is a deceiver and antichrist. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ," the doctrine of a mere man, "hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son," both the eternal God and a mere man. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed for he that biddeth him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds!" Verses 7, 9-11. How far this caution concerns the abettors of the doctrine of Christ's mere humanity, the reader must judge.

The short epistle of Jude is of a piece with the epistles of the other apostles. It is also written without common sense, as certainly as without inspiration, on the supposition that he believed Jesus Christ to be a mere man. "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ," that is, the servant of a mere man, "to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in” the same mere man, "Jesus Christ, and called. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ," that is, denying the infinite Jehovah, and a mere man. "Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord," that is, a mere man, "cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ," namely, the apostles of a mere man. "Ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ," the mercy of a mere man, “unto eternal life." Jude 1, 3, 4, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21. Praying, rev. sir, that this mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, which St. Jude mentions, may be extended to Dr. Priestley also, although he takes such pains to persuade himself and others, that it is but the mercy of a mere man; and that whatever strange and unscriptural speculations he may amuse himself and others withal, he may not live and die without the experimental and practical acquaintance with the Trinity, spoken of in these words;

I remain, rev. sir,

Yours, &c.

LETTER X.

REV. SIR,

In the foregoing letters I have reviewed all the epistles of the new testament, and have selected most of the texts in which the Lord Jesus is spoken of; and, methinks, every reasonable man must allow they are all absurd, and the greatest part of them even profane, on supposition that he is a mere man. The same observation may be extended to the other books of the new testament. They also contain sundry passages, which, to say the least, are very ridiculous, and manifest, either that the authors of them were not unitarians, in the Socinian sense of the word, or that they were wanting in common sense. In many of these passages our Lord Jesus Christ himself speaks, either while on earth, or after his ascension into heaven. So that, if Dr. Priestley's doctrine be true, it appears that the Lord Jesus Christ himself (I speak it with reverence) was as much wanting in common sense as any of his apostles, and his doctrine, like theirs, is absurd and impious. Permit me, rev. sir, before I conclude, to give you, in one or two letters more, a few instances of the truth and propriety of this remark. But as I have already enlarged so much, they shall be very few, in comparison of what might be produced, and shall be chiefly taken from the gospel of St. John, and the revelation of Jesus Christ communiIcated to him. In the latter book we meet with the following passages among others :

"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: grace be unto you, and peace, from him who is, and who was, and who is to come," namely, from the eternal God; "and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne," namely, the Holy Ghost, whose operations are manifold; "and from Jesus Christ," a mere man, "who is the faithful witness, the first-begotten from the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him," the mere man, "that hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and made us kings and priests unto VOL. VII.

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God and his Father, to him." mere man as he is, "he glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he," a mere man, "cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also that pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus," the kingdom and patience of a mere man, "was in the isle of Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ," the testimony of a mere man. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day," the day of the same mere man, “and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I,” a mere man, “am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks one like the Son of man: his head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters: and he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him," though he be a mere man, "I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I," a mere man, am the first and the last; I am he that liveth and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of death and of hell." Rev. i. 4-7, 9-18. I do not wonder that Dr. Priestley doubts the authenticity of the apocalypse.

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Proceed we to chapter v.:-"One of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David," who, however, is but a mere man, and did not exist till many hundred years after David's death, "hath prevailed to open the book, and loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven eyes and seven horns, which are the seven Spirits