by any such popular Arts, from making a thorough Examination for themselves; on the other hand, I am altogether as willing to set right, in whatever I may have erred, or been mistaken._ _'Tis well known, the 17th Article of our own_ National Church, _greatly favours the_ Doctrines _of_ Election _and_ Reprobation; _and it is also generally believed, that the_ Better Part _of our Clergy entirely disapprove these Doctrines, and would very readily assist in expunging them out of their_ Creed; _which would render their Consciences much easier, than now they are, or can be, under a Subscription in a Sense so_ very qualified _and_ remote _from the_ natural Intent _and_ Meaning _of the_ Article. _Experience makes it evident, that Education is able to retain Men of the_ Brightest Understanding, _in the Belief of the_ Greatest Absurdities. _But, that Men of Learning, Ingenuity and Experience, who have lived perhaps to the Age of fifty, in the Disbelief of the_ Doctrines _of_ Election, &_c. should after that sincerely embrace them, is to me Matter of great Astonishment; yet this I am inform'd is really the Case, with regard to one of the most ingenious_ Divines, _our Metropolis has to boast of. One Reason may perhaps be alledged, for such an unexpected Alteration of Sentiment_, viz. _That tho' we disbelieve these Doctrines, because they are_ absurd, _yet we hold at the same time, others_, equally repugnant _to Reason, and to Common Sense; and certainly we may as reasonably_ embrace _the one as_ retain _the other. Besides, with what reasonable Expectation of Success could such a Man as this sit down to argue with_ another _of_ absurd Principles, _when_ he himself _might be so easily abash'd and put to Silence, by an Appeal to_ other Principles, _of_ his own, _equally absurd and inexplicable. The best way then, instead of embracing a_ fresh, _absurd, Principle of Faith, is, to renounce the_ old. _I would not willingly Offend_ Any, _by a special Application to_ particular Societies _and_ Doctrines: _let but every Man make an honest Application to himself, and the Articles of Faith he professes, and the Work of Reformation will, I am persuaded, gain something thereby. And that, not only these Doctrines, but every other absurd Principle of Faith, which either Ignorance, or Design, may have introduced into the Christian church, to the_ Dishonour _of_ God, _the_ Burthen _and_ Reproach _of Human Nature, may be_ utterly exploded, _is the incessant Wish, and earnest Desire, of_ The Author. Free _and_ Impartial THOUGHTS, &_c_.