_Some of the inferior_ Clergy, _whom I despise for their Ignorance and Malice, have before in their Conversation represented me as an_ impious _and_ blasphemous Infidel; _and I have met with Affronts for it: But I never imagin'd that any, much less your_ Lordship, _would have ventur'd such a Character of me from the_ Press, _for fear of a Resentment, which would not be agreeable. Surely your_ Lordship _has not read my_ Discourses, _but has taken a Report of them upon Trust, from some Ecclesiastical_ Noodle; _or you could never have been so much mistaken about my Design in them_. _I took myself to be a_ Christian _of the same Faith with the Fathers of the Church; and, without Vanity, think, I have publish'd some Tracts, in Defence of Christianity, equal, if not superior to any Thing this Age has produced. I repeatedly also in my_ Discourses on Miracles, _to obviate the Prejudices of an ignorant_ Clergy, _made solemn Protestations of the Sincerity of my Design, not to do Service to Infidelity, but to make Way for the Demonstration of_ Jesus_'s Messiahship from Prophecy: But all these Asseverations of the Integrity of my Heart, it seems, stand for nothing (and I don't wonder at it) with the_ Clergy, _who in their Principles, their Oaths, and Subscriptions are so accustom'd to prevaricate with God and Man. I shall make no more serious Protestations of my Faith, but expect your_ Lordship _should soon publish a Defence of your foul_ Charge _against me, that I may see what Skill you have in the impious and blasphemous Writings of an_ Infidel. _And if your railing_ Accusation _be not soon followed with a Dissertation of more Reason, I shall insist on a publick Reparation of the Injury done to my Reputation by your_ vile _and_ slanderous _Sermon; and appeal to the worshipful_ Societies _for Reformation of Manners, whether it be not just and reasonable, you should do one or the other_. _Now I have laid hold on your_ Lordship, _than whom I could not have wish'd for an_ Adversary, _that will do me more Honour to overcome, I will hold you fast; and you must expect to be teaz'd and insulted from the_ Press, _if you enter not the Lists against me_. _A clear Stage_, my Lord, _and no Favour. If you have the Sword of the Spirit in your Hand, cut as sharply as you can with it. I had conceiv'd a great Opinion of your Learning, and should have been a little apprehensive of the Power of it; if you had not in your_ Sermon _betray'd as great Weakness and Ignorance, as could be in a poor_ Curat; _or you had never asserted that the_ Greek _Commentators adher'd more strictly, to the litteral Sense of the Holy Scriptures; as if you knew not, that St_. Theophilus _of_ Antioch, _and even_ Origen _himself and others, the greatest_ Allegorists, _if a Comparison may be made, were_ Commentators _of the_ Greek _Church_.