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"mind with a ftrong bias, even from childhood, "to fearch the oracles of God, which has been a 66 great means of grace to me in those things where I "am certain I ftand on a fure ground. I truft he "will give me the bleffing promised in Rev. i. 3, to

which, fir, you certainly have a very fuperior "claim, from the firm spirit of piety in which your "book is written; of this I have already read, fuf❝ficiently to judge, and I do, indeed, believe that you are a fincere inquirer after truth." Again, in her letter to me, dated October 28, 1806, she thus expreffes herself: "I will freely acknowledge, that the

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parts of your book which relate to thefe chapters," [viz. Matt. xxiv. Mark xiii. and Luke xxi. respecting the coming of our Lord,]" are, I think, the very ❝ablest in the whole volume; I do certainly expect " a very grand exhibition of our Lord's power, and "I am strongly inclined to think of his personal ap◄ 46 pearance in the course of, poffibly, a very few years. "I also think you right in another particular, which

is, that the Jews will not be converted in a body ❝till their return to their own country, though I "think there will be a firft fruits gathered unto "Chrift previous to that period; and that many 66 among them, as a leaven to leaven the whole lump, "and as a church, whofe prayers will prevail with “God, will be formed in the midst of that body." My dear fir, it is plain from your letter, that Deborah is high in your esteem; endeavour to imitate her, fo far as fhe is an imitator of our only true pattern of perfection; feek to attain that meek and quiet,

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that refigned fpirit which is in her; and the fame love to God's dear ancient people Ifracl, which the is bleffed with.

I will now beg permiffion to inform you that I took the books away from the bookseller's in order to add to them a letter, which I received from Dr. Samuel Horfley, formerly Bifhop of Rochefter, and afterwards of St. Asaph.

At the time I received this letter, I had never had any interview with the learned prelate; I fcarcely knew his perfon, never having feen him but once, at the clofe of a charity-fermon preached by him; I had, however, whilft he was Bishop of Rochefter, the honour of receiving two letters from him, concerning two books published by me, which I was induced to fend him, from reading his critical difquifitions on the 18th chapter of Ifaiah. The kindness expreffed in thefe letters, induced me immediately, on the publication of my Attempt to remove Prejudices concerning the Jewish Nation, to fend one to his Lordship, and in a few weeks afterwards I received the following letter from him:

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"Sir, I beg you to accept of my best thanks for your work, which you entitle, An Attempt to

remove Prejudices concerning the Jewish Nation. "I have received much fatisfaction from the perufal "of it. For although in the detail, there may be "points in which my opinions may not entirely coin❝cide, in the main points and in the principles of interpretation we agree. I agree with you that the "expofitors of the prophecies, particularly of the ❝ prophecies

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prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse, háve"been apt to begin at the wrong end. Attempting

first to expound the mystical dates, and then to find "an interpretation of the prophecy, which may fuit the dates as expounded by them. Whereas the "dates will certainly be the last things understood. 66 I agree with you, that they are miserably mistaken, "who conceive that the destruction of Jerufalem is "that coming of the Son of Man, which is mentioned "in our Lord's prophecy. That coming of the Son "of Man, will be after a tribulation of the Jewish "nation, which is not yet finifhed, and will be a "visible coming in glory. I was very much ftruck "with the agreement of what you fay upon this fub

ject, with what I have myself advanced in fome "Sermons of my own upon the Second Advent, "which have never indeed been published, but have "been preached at different places, and were com"posed about twenty years ago.

"With refpect to the reftoration of the Jewif "nation, whether it is to be previous to their con"verfion, or fubfequent, I think you have maintained 66 your fide of the queftion with great ability, but I "cannot say I am yet convinced. At the fame time "I fhould [deem] it great arrogance to say, that the "error may not be with me.

"I wish to know by what coach you receive your "parcels. I remain, Sir, with great efteem, your very faithful moft obedient Servant,

"YORK-PLACE, May 26, 1804.

"ASAPHENS.

"THOMAS WITHERBY, Efq. Enfield-Wah, Middlefex.

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I need not exprefs how great was my pleasure at the receipt of this letter. I had good hope that thofe obfervations I had made, as to the COMING OF OUR LORD, which were approved by him, would not long remain unheeded on account of the obscurity of the author, to whofe lot it had fallen to publifh them. I had good hope that his Lordfhip would publish thofe fermons of his, on the Second Advent, which he refers to in his letter to me. I must confefs, that when I read this paffage in his letter, my aftonishment was great, and fo ardently did I wish to fee these fermons of his Lordship published, that I had a a very strong defire to write to his Lordship upon the subject; but, on reflection, I thought it would be taking too great a liberty.

Now, my dear fir, let me not offend you by requesting you to compare the condefcenfion obfervable in this letter; it is from one who was universally acknowledged to be one of the most learned of the bishops; it was written to an obscure individual, of no party; one who acknowledges himself to be an unlearned man; nay more, who humbly prefumed to urge certain arguments, which tended to call certain opinions. of this very bishop in queftion. I fay, my dear fir, compare the condefcenfion of this Right Rev. Prelate with the condu&t of a gentleman, who affumes the name of Perseverans, to the fame obfcure individual; but thus it will be, the more any one excels in literature, the greater will be his condefcenfion to those who do not; the more will he fhew the manners of a gentleman and a Chriftian.

I as much difapprove as you can of invective; when, therefore, I read the obfervations of the Englifh Ifraelite, it was with great concern that I perceived the keennefs of his invective against the London Society and your friend; but notwithstanding I felt this fincere concern, I was not fo uncandid as to lofe fight of this queftion, Have not the Jewish nation been moft grievously provoked, irritated, and injured by this people? I can lay my hand upon my heart and fay, I am firmly of opinion that they have. Any evil that may refult from their rash and unadvised proceedings, I cannot but confider as laying at their door, and not at the door of the fynagogue; but furely the person who feels the fmart, and takes upon him to complain of keen invective, fhould not indulge the fame difpofition.

I thank God that the English Ifraelite hath not been provoked as poor Mr. David Levi was, to speak contemptuously of our holy religion, or its divine author, the author and finisher of our faith. Though the London Society are treading in the steps of Dr. Priestley, the Goliah of debate, the English Ifraelite has not trodden in the fteps of Mr. David Levi; I thank God for it. There is, therefore, not the fame, CAUSE for anger as we have feen produced in the former inftance, in the cafe of the Rev. Anfelm Bayly; but alas! alas! does it become a Chriftian to complain of, and to retort keen invective? Matt. v. 39. You doubtless remember these words: "He that is without fin among you, let him first "cast a stone," John viii. 7; and I cannot but think

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