throughly apprized of the full intention of the Grand Seignior; but faid, "That to fight for the true religion and falvation of fouls (one of which was "of more worth than the whole world) was by far "the moft meritorious." So that when a decree of the Grand Seignior's was brought him to fign, for abolishing the chriftian religion in Conftantinople, and obliging all the chriftians there to turn muffulmen, he rafhly figned it; and thereby, according to their law, it was become facred and irrevocable. When the Grand Vifier found how this matter ftood, he was forely grieved; and went and reproached the Mufty for what he had done; fhewing him how exprefly this decree contradicted the Coran; which directly allowed toleration to all that would pay annual tribute: The Mufty hereupon confeffed his mistake, and fware that he would undo what he had done. Accordingly the Grand Vifier and Mufty fent to the chriftian patriarch and clergy to demand a legal trial before the Mufty; which, it seems, could not be denied them. At which time they folemnly pleaded the exprefs law of the Coran, and the publick league which had been made with them. When this law of the Coran was pleaded from the text itfelf, and the agreement of the commentators in its interpretation, the Mufty declared, that fo it was: and that this law was to ftand inviolable; and therefore the decree must be reverfed. Nor durft the Grand Seignior oppofe. However, the Tefdar, or treasurer, who, as his office required, pleaded for the Sultan, faid farther, that the chriftians, befides the authority of the Coran, alledg'd an agreement or league alfo ; which he infifted they fhould produce. In this cafe the chriftians pleaded, that fuch a league was certainly made; but the record of it was burnt in a fire, that had fome time fince happened at Conftantinople. Which they proved by producing three very old Janifaries; who folemnly

K 3

lemnly attefted the truth of it, which they well remembered. So the chriftians carried their caufe intirely; and the toleration which they ftill enjoy at Conftantinople, must be owing to their fuccefs in this important tryal, with the Sultan's own fubmiffion to their facred Coran, and ftrict regard to their league. Nor was he able to do more against the chriftians at this time, than to order the demolition of the generality of the chriftians fine churches there, built of ftone; and to oblige them to be content with more humble ones, built of wood. Which decree was not contrary either to the Coran or league. This was executed accordingly. I wish, heartily wish, that the most Christian and Catholick Kings; with our own Defender of the Faith, may fhew as great a regard to the Bible, as the Sultan did to the Coran.

In the year 1710, Octob. 30, I was banished the univerfity of Cambridge; with which feverity, when Mrs. Roberts of Glaifton, afterward reproached Dr. Richardfon, rector of that town, and Mafter of Peter-boufe in Cambridge, one of thofe that banifhed me, he replied, "Of what they did at Cambridge

66

they were not bound to give an account to any "body." Accordingly no one, that I know of, has ever written in contradiction to my accounts, or in vindication of that banishment, to this day.

In this year 1710, but before that banishment, I publifhed Prelectiones Phyfico Mathematica, Cantabrigia, in Scholis publicis habita. Quibus Philofophia Illuftriffimi Newtoni Mathematica explicatius traditur; et facilius demonftratur. Cometographia etiam Halleiana Commentariolo illuftratur. In ufum Juventutis Academica. Typis Academicis, 8vo pretium, 45.

N. B. These lectures were alfo put into English afterward at London, and published there, under my own review, but corrected by Mr. Cunn.

In page 53, 54, of the Latin edition, there was a mistake made in the rule for finding the motion

of

of elastick bodies after their collifion: which was rectified in the English by Mr. Cunn.

N. B. I had been several years, before my banishment, a member of that most valuable fociety, called, The Society for Promoting Chriftian Knowledge; one of thofe greatly encouraged, if not first formed, by my old friend Dr. Bray, already mentioned. Now it happened, that from the year 1708, I had gone into deeper enquiries and defigns; no less than the discovery and restoration of truly Primitive Christianity, as our Saviour and his apoitles left it, without all regard to modern ages: while this fociety thought themfelves only capable of fupporting things as they then ftood in the church of England, by law established: I therefore foon found my frequenting that fociety any longer, would rather occafion contefts and difputes, than promote chriftianity; would hinder rather than further even those really good defigns, as I fhould efteem them, of the fociety. Hereupon I thought it beft to withdraw my attendance. And, on December 18, 1710, I wrote a letter to their fecretary, to be communicated to the fociety; fuch an one as Mr. Nelfon, one of the best of all our members, as I have been told, greatly approved of. It was inferted into the books of that fociety; and thence I prefent it to the reader; having not myfelf found a copy of it among my own papers. It was in thefe words; directed to Mr. fecretary Newman, who had long been my great friend.

SIR,

TH

Union Court, 18 Dec. 1710.

HIS comes to give our fociety, for promoting chriftian knowledge, the reafon of my absenting myself from their meetings now I am come to refide in town; whereas I fo feldom ufed

to fail them, when I was but occafionally there. I confefs, I am not able to enter into this matter, nor to absent myself from the fociety without fome concern and uneafinefs. I have the fame defigns for advancing true genuine chriftian knowledge and practice that the reft of the fociety have. My heart is entirely with them, in their brave and religious, and charitable and chriftian undertakings. I am ftill as willing and as ready as ever to affist and encourage, and advife in any of their affairs. I own myself to receive no fmall benefit, comfort, and edification myself from their fociety; and I cannot, without unwillingness and regret, bear to be excluded or banished from them. Yet do I by no means think it prudent in me, confidering the circumftances I am at prefent under, any longer to frequent their meetings, fince there may fuch inconveniencies thence arife, as may hinder, not only myself, but the reft, from doing that good which otherwise might be expected. Infomuch, that the very fame design of doing good, which prompted the fociety to chufe me at first, and me to accept the fame, and to frequent their affemblies, seems now to require my abfenting myfelf from them: fo long I mean, as the reafons for fuch abfenting fhall stand good; and till those important things, I have to propose to the chriftian world, be fo throughly examined, that I may stand juftified before all good men, and they may fee it neceffary to join my designs with those which they are already engaged in, in order to a thorough reformation of the chriftian church, and the haftening the coming of our Saviour's kingdom of peace and holiness. This, I very believe, will be found neceffary in no very long time. But fince it is not in that ftate at prefent, and fufpicions and jealoufies may eafily rife in the mean time, I do hereby take my leave of the fociety; begging of God to blefs them in all their religious undertakings,

and

and to open the eyes of the chriftian world, to fee, believe and practice exactly according to the revelation by his Son and offering my hearty fervice to the fociety, and every member of it, in any fuch defigns as in my prefent circumstances I may be affifting in, in a more private manner; and hoping that Almighty God will, in this matter, accept of my hearty good will for the deed, and not exclude me from all rewards of thofe pious undertakings, which I have hitherto been ready to promote more openly, and which I shall still be ready to promote by my own private endeavours, good wishes, and prayers for their fuccefs, and advancement in the world.

I am,

Sir, the Society's, and

Your most bumble Servant,

WILL. WHISTON.

Having juft now mentioned fo excellent a perfon as Mr. Nelson, who wrote against Dr. Clarke, and tranfmitted the folemn thanks of the clergy of the Gallican church to bishop Bull, for his vindication of the council of Nice, and moderate Athanafianifm, when her two most learned men, Petavius and Huetius, had, in effect, given it up; I fhall here infert a letter of mine to him, never before printed, upon the same subject.

Much honour'd Sir,

Camb. July 31, 1710.

Heartily thank you for your good wishes and prayers for me; as fuppofing me running into a dangerous herefy; and nothing can be more charitable or more chriftian than what you do upon that fuppofition. But fure, good Sir, the opinions I have entertain❜d,