HAD I the spirit of an _adversary_, or were inclined to find entertainment for the _satirical reader_, it would not be easy for me to overlook the opportunity which Dr. _♦Trapp_’s Reply has put into my hands; but as I don’t want to lessen any appearance of ability which the Doctor has shewn on this occasion; so whatever _personally_ concerns him, either as a _writer_, a _scholar_, a _disputant_, a _divine_, or a _Christian_, shall have no reflection from me; and tho’ by this means, some sort of readers may be less pleased, yet, the more Christian reader will be glad to find, that thus I must leave _two thirds_ of his reply untouched; and as I neither have, nor (by the grace of God) ever will have any _personal contention_ with any man whatever, so all the _triumph_ which the Doctor has gained over me by that flow of wrath and contempt which he has let loose upon me, I shall leave him quietly to enjoy. ♦ “Trap” replaced with “Trapp” It would be no pleasure to me, nor benefit to the world, to discover that _malignity_ of _spirit_, that _undistinguishing head_, that _diabolical calumny_, that _shameful ignorance_, that _indecent sufficiency_, that _unbecoming presumption_, that _nauseous_ dulness, that _ignorance_ of _logic_, that _insensibility_ of argument, that want of _grammar_, which he has so heartily laid to my charge; and if he has any readers that thank him for this, I shall make no attempt to lessen their number. As I desire nothing for myself, or the reader, but good _eyes_, and a good _heart_, seriously attentive to things useful, and always open to the light and influence of the Holy Spirit of God, so I shall endeavour to say nothing but what is suitable to such a state of mind, both in myself and the reader. * The thing of importance which I shall speak to, shall be with regard to what I have said to the clergy. The miserable state of religion, and the great corruption of manners, so incontestably apparent in this island, gave me a just occasion to desire all the clergy, from the highest to the lowest in the order, to consider their conduct, and see how free they were from the common corruption, and how justly every one could clear himself from having any share in this general depravity of manners. I was not insensible that this was a dangerous attempt, that would expose me to the resentment of not a few of my brethren: but as I wrote for no other end but to do as much good as I could to those who were capable of it, so I had no care but how to speak disagreeable truths, in as inoffensive a manner as I could; how I have succeeded in this, is left to the world to judge. And as it is but too apparent, that the root of all the evil, which but too much spreads itself through the whole body of the clergy, is owing to a worldly, trading spirit, too visible from the top to the bottom of the order, so I pointed at it in the softest manner that I could, in the following words, grounded on a plain apostolical doctrine and practice.