Such are the Conceptions, that, to the Honour of _Jesus_, I am willing to form of this _Wedding_; and wish that the Letter of the Story did suggest no worse Thoughts of it to us. I should be pleas'd, if no _Infidel_ really could, what I, but for the sake of the Mystery most unwillingly should, write any ludicrous Descants on it. But if this Story had been related of _Apollonius Tyranæus_, as it is of our _Jesus_, I would have ridicul'd and satiriz'd it to the utmost of my Power, and have render'd him and his Disciples of all Nations, as contemptible as I could, for the Belief of it; and I don't doubt, but our Christian _Priests_ would have given me ample Praises and Commendations for so doing. It is said of _Apollonius_, that for the Entertainment of his Friends, he commanded variety of nice Dishes of Meat, together with Bowls of choicest Wines, all on a sudden to descend upon his Table and range themselves in good Order. Whether there was any Truth in this Miracle of _Apollonius_, is not the Question; but Mr. _Chandler_[235] could see a Fault in it, (tho' none in _Jesus_'s Wine at this Wedding) as if it was done for the Pleasure of luxurious Appetites, tho' we read of no Intemperance at it, which can't be said of the _Wedding-Feast_ before us. Our _Divines_ I suppose, no more than myself, believe any thing of the said Miracle in _Apollonius_; but, if it was really wrought, I fancy, I could have lampoon'd him for it, and would have made it a diabolical Work, like that, as Fables go, of the Feastings of _Wizards_ and _Witches_; and our _Divines_ (passing by _Jesus_'s _Wine_ here) would readily, as they are Believers of the Storys of Witchcraft, have struck in with me. But setting aside that miraculous Story of _Apollonius_, which has but _one_ Voucher; the Case before us is _Jesus_'s _turning Water into Wine_ for the use of Men, who had before _well drank_. How shall I force Nature and Faith to ridicule this Story? How shall I lay aside that profound Veneration for the Holy _Jesus_, which Conversation with the Fathers, more than the Prejudice of Education has begotten in me, and ludicrously here treat him and his Miracle too, as is incumbent upon me, to make way for the Mystery? In short, I can't do it, in my own Name; but having met with a satirical Invective of a supposed Jewish _Rabbi_ to this purpose, I here publish it, that our _Clergy_, as well as myself, may think of an Answer to it, and so prevent that Mischief it may do by being handed about among _Jews_ and _Infidels_, in Manuscript. It is as follows;