L E T T E R IV.

perpetuate scandai, and to immortalize their ani-moíìty. The Heathen taxed the Jews even vvithidolatry; the Jews joined with the Heathen torender Christianity odious: but the church whobeat them at their own weapons during thesecontefis, has had this further triurnph over them,as well as over the several sedìs that hâve arisenwithin her own pale: the works of those whohâve writ againft her hâve been destroyed; andwhatever Ihe advanced , to juílify herself and todefame her adversaries, is preserved in her annals,and the writings of her doctors.

The charge of corrupting hiílory, in the causeof religion, has been always committed to themost famous champions , and greatest saints ofeach church ; and, if I was not more afraid oftiring, than of scandalizing your lordíliip, I couldquote to you eximples of modem churchmen whohâve endeavoured to juílify foui language by theNew testament, and cruelty by the Old: nay,wliat is execrable bey on d imagination, and whatstrikes horror into every mind that entertains duesentiments of the suprême Being, God himself hasbeen cited for rallying and iníulting Adam asterhis sali. In other cases, this charge belongs to thepédants of every nation , and the tools of everyparty. What accusations of idolatry and supersti-tion hâve not been brought, and aggravatedagainst the Mahométans? Those wretched Clnif-tians who returned from those wars. ío irn-properly called the holy wars, rumored thesestories about the West; and you ma y hnd, in

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