If there is so much Danger in per- verting obfcure Paffages of Scrip- ture, a higher Punishment refer- ibid. The Exhortation of the Text directed Some Marks or Tefts propofed, by which a Man may try his own Sin- 1. If his Refolutions of Obedience 2. If an even Tenor of Goodness is vifible in his Conduct. 315-319 3. If he is not content with any de- termined Proportion of Goodness, 4. If he is as ready to exercise the fecret Virtues of a Christian as 5. If he acts not on Bye-Aims and private Intereft, but upon a true Zeal for the Honour of God, the Intereft of Virtue, and the Good 6. The Doubts that good Men en- tertain concerning their own Con- dition, are, if they had but the ADVERTISEMENT. S INCE the Printing of thefe Volumes, I find the Name of Atter bury fo injuriously and fcurrilously treated in an History just now publish'd, that, to obviate all ill Impreffions of him, which the Reader may poffibly receive from thence, I judge it not amifs to give him a true Notion of the Hiftorian's Character, taken out of the Preface to Dr. Hickes's three Treatifes publish'd in 1709. where it is thus faid of him: He was famous for his great Freedom in cenfuring the Clergy; infomuch, that when he pretended fometimes to commend a few of the beft, and brighteft of them, who were efteem'd the Ornaments of the Church, he was obferv'd to do it with fo many Buts, and Exceptions, that like the Adjuncts, which destroy their Subject, they null'd the Praifes he pretended to give, and turn'd them almost into perfect Difgrace. And the fame Author, after giving us a Speci men men of the Hiftorian's Ill-will in general towards the Clergy, by reciting a Paf fage out of the first Volume of this very Hiftory, then fhewn him in Manufcript, (which I think too grofs to repeat) concludes his Account of him with this ftinging Reflection: Were I fo vain, as to defire to live in History, it should be in this, upon Condition the Writer of it would not speak well of me, but ill: For the Defamations of fuch Hiftorians are certain Signs of Merit; the dishonourable Characters of fuch vile Pens, are true Marks of Honour; and their Praises and Panegyricks, like the Pillory, are Infamy, Scandal and Disgrace. So will jealous and inquifitive Pofterity think of the Characters in this Anecdot; they will interpret them all, whether good or bad, by the Rule of contrary; they will believe nothing upon the bare Report of the Author, but be apt to think ill of those, of whom he speaks well, and well of all of whom he speaks ill. I fhall add no Reflections of my own on this Occafion, for I think tre needs none, but leave the World to judge, bow far Dr. Hickes's Words are verified in Burnet's Hiftory, and the Reputation it bears. |