gO LIBERTY OP REASONING 



It is well known — but is brought too little into ufe, 

 on the moft important occafions — how forcibly the 

 habits and prejudices of thofe with whom we are 

 brought up, tyrannife over common intellects : and 

 how mould not they — they which enable us to be- 

 lieve in opposition to the teftimony of our own fenfes 

 — how mould not they have the power to blindfold our 

 reafon, and to conceal from us matters, for inftance, 

 contained in a book, for the very letters whereof we 

 have been imprefTed with the deepeft reverence, be- 

 fore we were capable of comprehending the fenfe and 

 fpirit of it, nay only of gueffing at them, matters 

 which to any unprejudiced and liberal-minded perfon, 

 would prefent themfelves fpontaneoufly on the firft pe- 

 rufal ? Accordingly, I fhall not be furprifed, if what 

 I am going to fay, fhould prove fixange to many of 

 my readers ; though it is not on that account (at leaft 

 according to my moft intimate conviction) one whit 

 the lefs true, — and that is : that, between the fpirit 

 and the aim of Jefus — as they are difclofed to us in 

 the general fcope of the four gofpels, in which all that 

 we know of his perfon and hiftory is contained, — and 

 between fome things which he is faid to have fpoken 

 and done, there reigns fo ftriking a dhTonance, fo 

 ftrong a contradiction, that it is next to impoffible, at 

 leaft it is againft all the rules of ordinary criticifm, to 

 believe that he actually faid and did thefe latter things. 

 Fully to difclofe my thoughts on this phenomenon, 

 would here lead me too far from my fcope ; that is 

 therefore referved for another opportunity : I only add 

 thus much to my prefent purpofe, not doubting that, at 

 leaft feveral of thofe who have read the gofpels with 

 4 fome- 



