"Simple persons," says Tertullian, "(not to call them ignorant and idiots) who always

"onian chastised for this school-boy trick by a dissenting " minister." That dissenting ministers may not, however, be too much elated by the reputation of so transcendant an exploit, performed by one of their number, the author adds the following extraordinary remark : "Yet, I would be ex" ceedingly moderate in my exultation; for I fear there are " almost physical impossibilities to forbid the hope that, as a " body, we shall ever be distinguished for classical learning." What there is in the physical constitution of dissenting ministers, which renders their brains inaccessible to classical ideas, the ingenious author has not condescended to explain. In the mean time, I would take leave to inform him for his comfort, that in the circle with which I have the happiness to be conversant, classical literature was never in higher repute, either among the dissenting clergy or laity. And that it would not be difficult to mention the names of Protestant dissenting ministers, who yield in extent, copiousness, and accuracy of classical erudition, to none but the Parrs, the Porsons, and the Burneys of the establishment. The name of Mr. Cogan, amongst many others, is well known to scholars, and was highly estimated by that eminently competent judge of talent and learning, the late celebrated Gilbert Wakefield. And while that gentleman, and others in different parts of the kingdom, continue to exert their superior talents and energies in the education of our youth, there is no danger that classical literature will be lost or undervalued among the Dissenters, or that any pretended physical impossibilities will prevent a succession of elegant and accomplished scholars to do honour to a cause, most intimately connected with our dearest civil rights, and religious liberties.

" make

" make the majority of believers; because the " rule of faith itself carries us away from the

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many gods of the heathen to the one true

God, not understanding that one God is in"deed to be believed, but with an economy

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(or arrangement) of the godhead; startle at the economy. They take it for granted,

that the number and disposition of the Trinity " is a division of the Unity. They pretend that

two, and even three are preached by us, and imagine that they themselves are worshippers " of one God. We, they say, hold the mo"narchy. Latins have caught up the word "monarchia. Greeks will not understand "œconomia."

I now conclude, in the words of my correspondent: SUCH THEN IS THE COMPLETE VICTORY OF DR. PRIESTLEY,

LETTER IV.

Charge of inadvertency and gross misrepresenta

1

tion repelled.-Progress of error concerning

the person of Christ stated. - Misrepresentation of Dr. Priestley's sentiments corrected.

SIR,

*" UNDERSTAND first, and then "rebuke," is the advice of a very wise writer*, to which my worthy correspondent would have done well to have attended. It is not necessary that every man should be a consummate scholar, or a profound theologian: but it may reasonably be expected of one who publicly volunteers the office of a critic, and a censor, that he should at least know something of the subject of his remarks.

In the Discourse upon which this gentleman animadvertst, is the following passage:

"In another most valuable work, he (Dr. "Priestley) represented at large, with great com"pass of thought, acuteness of discrimination, " and extent of learning, the rise and progress of " those enormous errors, which have prevailed "from age to age, concerning the person of "Christ, who from the condition of " a man ap" proved of God by signs and miracles and gifts "of the holy spirit*, which is the character under

**

Upon this allusion to Acts ii. 22, my correspondent, p. 116, is pleased to make the following singular remark"How is this misunderstood passage hackneyed by Unitari

ans!" The apostle's words are these: "Jesus of Nazareth, a MAN approved of God among you, by miracles, and " wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of

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you, as ye yourselves also know." How this plain passage can possibly be misunderstood, I am at a loss to conceive. The obvious meaning to common apprehensions is, that Jesus of Nazareth was a MAN whose divine mission was publicly and incontrovertibly attested to the Jews, by the miracles • which God enabled him to perform. If, indeed, this text contains any other more recondite and important sense, it would surely have been greater charity to instruct our ignorance, than to taunt our dullness. Perhaps my ingenious correspondent may have some method of interpretation, by which to shew that the apostle's true meaning is, that the man whose mission was publicly attested by God, was himself the very God who attested his own mission, and who enabled himself to work miracles. At any rate, it would be kind and condescending

!

" under which he is represented by himself and "his apostles, has been advanced by the officious " zeal of his mistaken followers, first, to the " state of an angelic or superangelic being; a

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delegated maker and governor of the world " and its inhabitants; and in the end, to a complete equality with God himself."

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This compendious view of the progress of antichristian error concerning the person of Christ, as described in the History of Early Opinions, is denounced by my correspondent in the beginning of his eighth Letter, as a "singular inaccuracy of statement," originating, as he charitably conceives, in "perfect inadver

tency on my part*." And waxing bolder as he