Senate-Houfe, as we can of fome Mathematical Demonstrations.

I need not apply this to Christianity. I do not put the Iffue of my Caufe folely upon Proofs from Matter of Fact: Several others are to be taken into the Account, particularly the intrinfick Excellency of the Scriptures. For I cannot conceive how a

Set of obfcure Men could more fully unfold, and more ftrongly enforce, every Branch of Religion without the Affiftance of God, than all the Law. givers and Philofophers from the Beginning of the World to that Time: carrying it to fuch an Height, that whatever attempts to go beyond it, is vifionary and Romantick; and whatever falls short of it is jejune and defective.

If I have dropt any Expreffion that bears hard upon you, or feems to shew the least Difregard for you, I will retract it, and beg your Pardon; fincerely defiring the Continuance of that Friendship, which I take to be an Happiness, as well as an Honour, to me. If there be any Thing that you may think a mere Compliment; it is, I affure you, not half fo much as what I have faid of you in your Absence. Here I could expatiate. But when the Heart is full of Esteem, affectionate Sentiments, and undiffembled Love, there is no confining the Pen within certain Bounds. I therefore forbear Only do me the Justice to believe, that I never wrote any Thing with more Sincerity than what follows: That you may live long and happily, G 2

that

that you may defend the most valuable Thing in the World, Chriftianity (and I believe you will) with your Pen, and adorn it with your Life, is the affectionate Wish of,

Worthy SIR,

Your's fincerely,

Richmond, June 10th,

1731.

JER. SEED.

The

WORTHY SIR,

W

ERE I to copy after the
Model of your

laft Letter,

the Contest between us would confist of these three Things: Firft, Who could fay the handsomest Things of one another: Secondly, Who could fay the bittereft Things against one another; and, Laftly, Who could produce the ftrongeft Arguments to support his own Notions.

I must chiefly keep to the last of these declining the first, because it is too copious; and the fecond, because too barren. I might indeed be very fevere, but then it would be upon myself. The Arrow might be drawn to the Head, and levelled with a dexterous Aim;

but could not reach a Merit which towers to fo uncommon an Height as your's. It is with fome Reluctance I tell you, that it was unmanly and ungenerous to point your Hoftilities against me, when you knew it was not in my Power to make Reprizals upon you. Do but become like me, pofitive and confident; combating your own Shadow, beating the Air; in fhort, labouring under a deplorable Want of common Senfe: Give me but one Inch of Ground to fet my Foot upon, and you will find that I can shake even the Weight of your Character. But while I confider You as a Gentleman of uncommon Senfe and Merit,

"With Wit well-natur'd, and with "Books well bred;

Į