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But besides the apparent Drift of the Discourserbefore us, to invalidate the Testimonies of theAncients for the Genuineness and Authority of theRevelations, the Author all along endeavours topersuade the World, that no Dependance is to behad upon the Fathers, as the Conservators of pri-mitive Tradition in any Point whatever. I neednot fay how ruinous such an Opinion must proveto the Canon of the New Fefiamcnt in general,the Certainty of which rests principally upon thejoint Suffrages of Antiquity. For which ReasonI have endeavoured to do Justice to the Fathersagainst every Calumny of the Discourser, that af-fected their Reputation as Witnesses to the Opini-ons and Practices of their respedlive Times. Andin so doing I have found no great Difficulty. TheCharges against them are so false and wilfully ma-licious, that a true Representation of the Casecommonly sets all right. However the Pains thatthe Enemies of Religion are at, right or wrongto defame these venerable Men ffiew how per-suaded they are, that the Interests of Christianity cannot be more seisibly affected, than by wound-ing the Credit of the Primitive Writers. Andthis should teach all the Friends of Revelation totreat the Fathers with Decency, and to espouse noHypotheses that cannot be maintains, without gi-ving them up as useless in Controverfies that con-cern Religion. The Unbelievers rejoice and gree-dily catch at every such Concession. To improvethe Hint we iee they spare no Frauds and. (lick atno Falsehoods. Either therefore let the Gentlemenwho have given this Handle to Infidelity, shew

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