'Tis pity, great pity, that fine Talents (pardon the Expression) should be prostituted in the Defence of such an unholy and incongruous System of Religion. Superior Degrees of Learning and Knowledge are, in themselves, most excellent Things, and eminently serviceable, when rightly applied to the Honour and Defence of Truth: But, like a two edged Sword, they cut both ways, and are also too frequently employed in the Propagation of Error. While I am thus rendering _human Learning_, its just Tribute of Praise, _Truth_ requires, that I should be free to detect those little Arts, so often practised to deceive the Unwary, and misguide Mankind. As I am fully persuaded, the Generality of those Writers; who stick by this _Covenant_, and endeavour to vindicate the Honour, Justice, and Goodness of God therein, do it _only_ for Decency sake, _and to put_ (as I observed) _a more plausible Outside on their Doctrines;_ I think it incumbent on me to _detect_ this _equivocal_ Way of Writing, and shew, that while the Doctor is endeavouring to persuade you he _does not_ believe these Doctrines in their most _harsh_ and _severe_ Sense, there is Reason to suspect he does notwithstanding, _secretly_ and _strongly_, believe them in that _very Sense:_ nay, he seems to resolve _them_ very artfully into the _Sovereignty_ and _Majesty of God_. Any Man, who reads the Book, may perceive, how greatly the Doctor is _put to it_ for _Arguments_, to answer _Objections;_ and he himself knows it to be impossible to make any tolerable or reasonable Defence, of such unreasonable and unaccountable Doctrines: and therefore, lest his _own People_ should, from some Expressions, which, at first sight, might look as though he was arguing merely upon a Principle of _moral Fitness_, suspect his Sincerity, he has (Second Edition, _Page_ 274) given strong Intimations of his Faith, as follows: "The Doctrine of _Reprobation_, in the most _severe_ and _absolute_ Sense of it, stands in such a direct Contradiction to all our Notions of Kindness and Love to others, in which the _blessed God_ is set forth as our Example, that our Reason cannot tell how to receive it; yet if it were never so true, and never so plainly revealed in Scripture, it would only be a Doctrine which would require our humble Assent, and silent Submission to it; with awful Reverence of the Majesty and Sovereignty of the great God, &_c_."