thence, that Mr. Swain, and the fervant spoken of to be sent, was one and the fame perfon. I am fully perfuaded that, Mr. Swain would look on that perfon to be either a fool, or a madman. From all which it is demonftrable, that the paffages afore cited do not countenance the supposition of a plurality of perfons in the Godhead*. And I am confident that whoever holds fuch plurality, violates the second great commandment, THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. Having already exceeded the propofed limits of this Letter, I must poftpone the confideration of your fecond question to another opportunity; and subfcribe myself,

Sir,

Your moft obedient humble fervant,

D. LEVI.

* According to your mode of reasoning, when Moses speaks in the perfon of God, and says, I did, or will do fo and so, &c. or ye fhall keep my ftatutes, &c. we are to infer from thence a plurality of perfons in the Godhead. This, I doubt not, you would be the first to explode for its abfurdity; but I must tell you plainly, that the abfurdity of this fcheme, is not greater than that of yours: and therefore, if you cannot produce better arguments in fupport of the doctrine of the Trinity than you have done; I cannot help remarking, that you have then done more real injury to it, than its moft bitter enemies could do.

A LETTER

AUTHOR OF LINGUA SACRA, TRE CEREMONIES oF THE JEWS, &..

בגדים בגדו ובגד בוגדים בגדו

ISAIAH Xxiv. 16,

A

LETTER TO ANTI-SOCINUS,

ALIAS

ANSELM BAY LY.

DREAD SIR,

ITH the utmoft fubmiffiveness, I prefume to addrefs a few lines to you, concerning your Remarks on my Letters to Dr. Priestley: but which, I fincerely hope, will not be the cause of aroufing you from a ftate of calmness, ferenity, and pleasing self-meditation, to a state of resentiments, reproofs, documents, refreshing breezes, animation, light and fire*. At any rate, it shall not be my fault, as I fhall ftudiously avoid faying any thing, that may induce you to put that dreadful threat, contained in the following paragraph, into execution. O! that dreadful fentence! I know not how to transcribe it; the bare mention of it, has thrown me into a tremour, so that my hand can scarcely do its office; I wish it was once well over: however, I will fummon up all my strength and try. "I would not (page 53,) have used 'fharpness towards you, for the love I bear you." This is kind; it is balm: it is comfort to my fpirits but alas! the cup is foon dashed from my lips, by what follows. "Had you not

* Remarks on Mr. Levi's fecond Letter, page 49.

"ufed

ufed audacioufnefs and contempt towards my "Lord and Mafter, whom and whofe cause I "regard more than property, honours, and life "itself. I hope you will afk his pardon, or at "least, evermore be filent before him-on thefe "conditions only, I remain your friend, firmer "than ever: but if you offer again to touch his NAME, WORD, and CHARACTER, with profane lips and profane hands, I will tear you to pieces, and your Sacra Lingua*."

"you

Ah! wo is me, alas! for the day that I was born! How fhall I escape this dreadful fentence? For dread Sir, I am afraid, I muft plead guilty: for that." crafty, naked, fly ferpent of oldt," as you are pleased to call him, has again beguiled me, and drawn me in to do, what you had fo ftrictly forbidden me doing, by his fecond Letters to the Jews, in which he has arraigned my want of candour, &c. This, induced thefe profane hands of mine, to pen an answer thereto; and which I much fear, has undone me. But what is worse, as I apprehend, is, that feveral good and zealous Chriftians, have been acceffary, in aiding, affifting, and abetting me thereto, by commenting and remarking on thofe Letters of mine to Dr. Priestley. Whether you will be

*It is to be fuppofed, that paffion had almost choaked and blinded poor Anti-Socinus; fo that inftead of faying properly, Lingua Sacra, he wrote, Sacra Lingua. Or perhaps, like the witches, who say their prayers backwards.

+ Dr. Priestley.

U 2

pleased

pleafed to account them, as acceffaries before, or after the fact, and in either cafe, admit me as an evidence against them, by which means, I and my dear Lingua Sacra, may escape the fo-much dreaded fentence, refts in your august breaft, to whofe clemency I now fubmit. But, dread Sir, if you should not be pleased to exercife that clemency, (which heaven avert) by granting the remiffion of my punishment for this crime, What will then become of me? But why do I talk thus? It is noẸ my own fate I deplore; it is not for myfelf I feel it is for my darling child, who I find is to be involved in the guilt of its parent: it is there I am wounded; there I feel the pangs of a parent, As for me, you may darken my day lights, (page 50,) tear me to pieces with your nails and teeth but fpare, O fpare! my poor offspring, my dear Lingua Sacra: it is for the fate of that darling of my foul, in whom all my joys are treasured up, that my heart bleeds! As you are a parent yourself, I am fure you must be fenfible what a fond parent muft feel for a darling child, on fuch

an occafion. Do but affure me, that the dear innocent thing fhall be fafe, and I will chearfully fubmit to your decifion without a murmur, But, dread Sir, wherein could that dear child of mine have offended you? I hope, it is not meant to carry your resentment fo far, as to punish the innocent babe, becaufe, its father hath been naught.

* An author.

if