1803. ] 
difficulties. Should my health permit, I 
faihtully promifeyou, that I will give all 
your arguments their full weight, and fhall 
conlider them with a very friendly atten- 
tion. Iam fatisfied we have the fame ob- 
ject in view, truth, the only object worth a 
ferious purfuit. AJ] unwarrantable im- 
pediments toa free enquiry and a farther 
reformation, whercloever they come from, — 
I do moit fincerely deteft: it makes no 
difference with me, whether a Pope lives 
at Rome, at Geneva, or at Lambeth. I 
acknowledge no papa, and will, in this 
refpedt, cali no man father; for, whether 
it be a Calyin, a Cranmer, or a holy inqui- 
fitor, that condemns a man to the flames 
for herefy, I equally abominate the con- 
demnation. . Being a Proteftant in profef- 
fion, I would be always confiftent, and act 
only upon Proteltant principles. 
Theartily thank you for the confidence 
you have repofed in me, in throwing alide 
your aflumed, and giving me your real, 
name. Very forry Iam, that the fpirit of 
the times is fuch, that it is frequently ne- 
ceffary for thole who {peak the truth to 
put on a difguile; for, when truth is 
become offenfive and intolerable, it is the 
fymptom of a mortal difeafe, whether it 
be in politics, in morals, or in theology. 
I think myfelf unhappy in one circum- 
cumftance—I have formerly had a diffe- 
rence* with a gentleman whom I find to be 
your friend: there was fome acrimony be- 
tween us, in which, I think, he was much 
more to blame than myfelf. But, if he 
has as fincerely forgiven me, as I have in- 
deed forgiven him, there is now no enmity 
between us. ‘The perfon I mean is the 
Rev. Mr. Caleb Flemmng+. 
I have two friends, well-known in the 
literary world, of a contrary opinion to 
you with refpeét to the pre-exiftence. 
Would it be agreeable to you, that I 
fhould thew them what you have written 
‘tome? I certainly fhall not do it with- 
out your permiffion ; fhall I conceal or ac- 
qvaint them with your name? 
And now, dear Sir, give me leave to af- 
fure you (which I do with the ftricteft 
truth) that if, after all, I thould, in any 
particular inftance, differ from you, I thall, 
notwithftanding, ever retain the higheft 
regard for you. But, etre zous, 1 am 
very fure,that we agree exaéZly,upon moft 
points, and I verily believe, that we do 
* In a tra@t, intitled ** Obfervations on 
Mr. Fleming’s Survey,” &c. 1759. 
+ From Mr. Cardale’s Letter to whom, 
dated December 28, 1767, the above extracts 
are aor ed. 
Original Letters. 
841 
not difagree upon any. What would 
many of my brethren fay, if they knew 
that I had not only begun, but that I 
earneftly defired the continuance of, a 
friendly correfpondence with that animal, 
of all others to them the moft terrible, a 
Pref{byterian-minifter ! 
Pudet hee opprobria nobis 
Et dici potuiffle, et non potuiffe refeili, 
- Adieu, dear Sir, 
Believe me what I am, 
Your fincere and affectionate Friend, 
Puit. RiPTONIENS Is. 
Be pleafed to direct to the Rev. Mr. 
Peckard, Huntingden. 
Original Letter from Nicholas Abbot of 
Rewley (in the neighbourhood of Ox- 
ford) to Lord Cromwell, offering bim 
rool. for the prefervation of his Abbey. 
From a Cotton. MS. 
‘¢ Rygit honorable and my finglar good 
Mr. (my dutye remembred) I humblye 
comend to you glad to here of youre helth 
welthe, & profperyte, the which T pray 
Thu long to cOtynewe to yor herts defyre, 
&c. Dhanckyng yor M"hipp for yor greatt 
kyndnes fhewid to me att all tymes, where 
as itt pleafyd yow that fo fone I hold 
come to yo" {peache w* fo lytell expenfe in 
lyeng att London. And alfo for yo" good 
and gentle words, kynde, and lovyng 
offre and proffre, nott havyng for the fame 
pleafure or comoditye of me as yett truft- 
yng by fome {pecyall gyffc of grace to ac- 
quwyte itt x.fold. And where as J had 
a letter fende me that o° monafterye fhold 
be gyve’ to Mr. Archard, yor fervant, 
and that ite was alfo in the commyffion, I 
fubmytt myfelfe full and holl to yo, 
Mrfhipp, as all my refuge, helpe, and 
focor 1s yn yows glad of my voluntarye 
mynde to be bounde in obligation of one 
hundred pounds to be payed to yo, 
M'fhipp, fo that o° houfe may be favyd, 
although itt be converted in too thufe of a 
college, to have both lernyng and lernyd 
men go forward theryn. Iwas loth to 
attempt yo" M'thipp econy ferther: feyng I 
had fuch gentle aniwers, onleffe the greatt 
rumour of the towne and univ’fitye cé- 
pulfed me bycaule of the fforfaid gyffte 
to the faid Mr. Archard, befechyng yo, 
Mi"fhipp’s. kynde lette’ againit the fur- 
veyor’s comyng, to dyfcharge me, that 
itt may be as a fheld or buckier to defend 
me, that yow may gett yow a memoryail 
to be prayed for, tor ev’. and thus Al- 
mighty Jh’s fend yo" M'thipp longe lyfe 
and moche honor. 
6* NicHouas, by the Grace of God, 
‘© Abbot of Roy Allien.” 
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