with an intermitting fever, which brought me so low, that my relations and friends almost despaired of my life. In all that time I was not in a condition to read or write, or so much as think of any thing that requires intenseness of mind; which is the reason why you have no sooner heard from me. I desired my son at Oxford to acquaint you with this a good while ago. I have now, though still in a weak condition, made a shift to recollect some thoughts concerning the matter proposed to me, which I have delivered in the papers now sent you. Which, when you have perused, and shall think them worthy of it, you may send to his lordship, (if it be not too late,) with my obedience and most humble service. His lordship seems desirous to go in a safe way, between the two extremes of Sabellianism and Tritheism. I have endeavoured to shew his lordship that middle way, the way which the primitive catholic church, guided by the holy Scripture, walked in. A way it was plain and easy enough, till in aftertimes it came to be overrun and perplexed with scholastic subtleties and hard terms, as with so many briers and thorns; and now of late to be ridiculed by some among us, men of little wit indeed, but less judgment, and yet of far less honesty; who may at the same rate (if they will give their minds to it) expose and explode all that is sacred, even whatsoever relates to the incomprehensible Deity.

What defects there may be in the writing I hope will be excused, seeing I was forced therein to make use of a raw youth, the bearer hereof. Whether you transmit the papers sent to his lordship or no, I desire you will take an opportunity of acquainting his

lordship with the condition I have been in, that he may not think me so rude as to neglect a person of his right honourable character.

I have a true desire to see you and discourse with you, especially about our sad and miserable church of Landaff: and if God permit, I will endeavour ere long to creep to Odington, if the busy time of harvest approaching shall not render my coming unseasonable. Writing is as yet troublesome to me; therefore, to my hearty prayers unto Almighty God for you and yours, I shall only add this sincere profession, that I am,

Dear sir,

Your very affectionate brother,

friend, and servant,

GEORGE BULL.

This discourse was received by his lordship with much satisfaction, as appeareth by the following letter, found among bishop Bull's papers after his death, and addressed by that person of quality to Mr. Parsons, rector of Odington.

MY GOOD FRIEND,

Lond. Aug. 17, 1697.

dell's letter

MY being out of town is the reason you had no Lord Arunsooner my acknowledgment of the receipt of yours, to Mr. Parwith the enclosed papers, which have given me a sons. great deal of satisfaction.

Had I been a stranger to Mr. Parsons's worth, and the ill usage he has met with in the world, it would have been more my wonder that so great and good a man as Dr. Bull should have lain thus long neglected. Pray let my thanks have the advantage

The fourth

discourse

of being presented him by your hands. I am obliged to you for your kindness in inquiring after my son, who is now at Wolfenbuttel; and I hope will at last prove a comfort to him, who is eternally

Yours,

ARUNDELL.

P.S. I think the hinge whereon the great point of the Trinity turns, is the true stating of the distinction between nature and person, which I am so dull as to think is not clearly done by the bishop of Worcester.

The next discourse, concerning which the reader concerning may be apt to require some information, is the fourth, the animad- which containeth some Animadversions on a Treaupon Mr. tise of Mr. Gilbert Clerke, entitled, Ante-Nicenis

versions

Gilbert

Clerke.

mus, so far as the said author pretends to answer Dr. George Bull's Defence of the Nicene Faith. Now I must acquaint him, that the manuscript of these animadversions was found among Dr. Grabe's papers; and I was inclined at first to think that Dr. Grabe was the author of them, because he had undertaken to answer the treatise upon which the animadversions were made. But when I had carefully perused them, it appeared very evident that they belonged to Dr. Bull; for they are composed in his style and manner of writing, they every where refer to the Defence of the Nicene Faith, as his own, and the latter part of them is closed in his own hand writing: and what puts this matter out of dispute is, that Dr. Grabe is twice quoted in these animadversions, once under the character of the most learned Dr. Grabe, and another time as the author's most learned and kind friend; now no disguise could

have prevailed upon that modest humble man to have treated himself with so much respect. All this, I think, is confirmed by a letter of Dr. Bull to Dr. Grabe, which was found among the papers of the latter, and is here offered to the reader, that he may make his own judgment upon it.

WORTHY SIR,

Avening, Jan. 25, 170.

letter to

I AM not able to express the grateful sense I Dr. Bull's have of your great kindness and condescension, in Dr. Grabe. taking upon you the trouble of revising, correcting, perfecting, and adorning, with your learned notes, the new edition of my works, and particularly in your ready and voluntary undertaking an answer to the Ante-Nicenismus. If my poor labours hereafter prove useful to the church of God, a great share of the thanks due from men, and of the gracious reward of our good and merciful God, will be justly yours. I wish I were able to make you some sensible effectual requital. But my poor circumstances are such that I can return you nothing but my prayers to God, that he would reward you abundantly in this life, and that which is to come. The short notes and animadversions upon the AnteNicenismus, which I mentioned in my letter to Dr. Bray, you will certainly receive (if I live) this day sevennight; for I will send them by the post next Saturday. I wish they be such as your judgment may approve of. They are perfectly at your disposal, to do with them as you please. And if there be any thing in them, which may be of use to you

[The MS. is now in the Bodleian library amongst Dr. Grabe's papers, and has been collated for the present edition.]

in your answer to the Ante-Nicenismus, I shall be very glad. Dear sir, farewell, and that God would bless and prosper you, and your labours, for the good of his church, is and shall be the daily and hearty prayer of

Your most obliged and affectionate

friend and faithful servant,

GEORGE BULL.

Mr. Clerke's answer to Dr. Bull,

in behalf

tarians.

The book which gave occasion to these animadversions was printed in 1695, with the title of Anteof the Uni- Nicenismus, or the Testimonies of the Fathers, who wrote before the Council of Nice, whence may be collected the sense of the catholic church touching the Trinity. And at the same time came out a Latin answer also to Dr. Bull's Defensio Fidei, &c. both written by Mr. Gilbert Clerke, who published his name, as not being ashamed or afraid to own what he had written, because he took it to be the very cause of God, and of his unity against all sorts of Polytheists. These two treatises were accompanied by a third, without the author's name, called The true and ancient Faith, concerning the Divinity of Christ, asserted, against Dr. George Bull's Judgment of the Catholic Church, &c.

These three tracts came out together, that so

Tractatus tres; quorum qui prior Ante-Nicenismus dicitur; is exhibet testimonia Patrum Ante-Nicenorum, in quibus elucet sensus ecclesiæ primævo-catholicæ quoad articulum de Trinitate. In secundo Brevis Responsio ordinatur ad D. G. Bulli Defensionem Synodi Nicene, authore Gilberto Clerke, Anglo. Argumentum postremi: Vera et Antiqua Fides de Divinitate Christi explicata et asserta, contra D. Bulli Judicium Ecclesiæ Catholicæ, &c. per Anonymum, anno Domini, 1695.