vine Nature in the economy of our redemption involves in it fuch inextrica-ble difficulties, and is attended with fuch Confequences, makes it irreconcileable to Human Reafon. The ingenious Mr. Jones, in his Anfwer to the Effay on Spirit, fays, We know what we mean when we apply the word Perfon to the Godhead, and fcorn any low equivocations about it.' Many of his Readers, and I amongst the rest, heartily wish we had been pleafed to let us know too what meaning he has of the. word Perfon thus applied, and had given us a fair definition of it.

6

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We may now fee how the Greek words Ουσία Effence, and Υπότασις Subftance came unhappily to be transplanted' from Philofophy into Chriftian Theology, what infinite confufions they have occa-' fioned in the Chriftian Church, and how and when the Latin words Substance came to be fubftituted for the former, and

Perfon for the latter. So that any body who reads the Greek and Latin Fathers, and Systems of Divinity, 'must remember that the words Oufia fometimes fignifies Effence and fonietimes Subftance; and Hypoftafis fometimes fignifies Substance and fometimes Perfon, juft according to the Scheme or Syftem of Divinity which the Author has adopted.

BUT before I end this Effay on the word Subftance, I beg leave just to take notice of another ftrange abuse of it in the new invented term Tranfubftantiation, which, a few Centuries ago, was found out to denote a moft wonderful change faid to be performed when there was nothing at all done. That Bread may be changed into Flesh we every day experience in our food and nourishment, but then we do not fay that the Subftance of the Bread is changed, but the Mode. The fame Subftance which was in the form of Bread yesterday, is

to

to day in the form of Flesh and Blood. Whoever faid that in any Vitrification or in any other chemical transformation the Substance of the Body was changed. That remains, though the form may be greatly altered. But the Gentlemen of the Church of Rome tell us, with the greateft confidence, that the Substance of the Bread, in what they call the Sacrament of the Altar, is changed into the Subftance of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Jefus Chrift. And this Change they call by the new term Tranfubftantiation. But how they came to be fo intimately acquainted with Substance as to know, and to know infallibly as they pretend, the difference between the SubAtance of Bread and Wine and of human Flesh and Blood is out of the reach of my Philofophy-and Faith too; and I believe out of theirs. Could they perform a Metamorphofis or Transformation in this affair, we might be the better able to judge of it: but to perD 6

form

form a Tranfubftantiation is to perform Nothing at all, till they can afcertain to us. the specific differences of the Substances. of the feveral Subjects which they fay are thus tranfubftantiated.

Of CREED S..

CREED is a Latin word and fignifies a Collection of Articles to be believed :: and agreeably to this it is expreffed in Greek by the word Symbolon

!

As the Opinions which we embrace and believe have great influence upon our actions, it is of the laft importance to a Man's felf, and the Society he belongs to, that his Opinions be founded in Truth. Hence he is induced to perform the Duties which refult from the feveral rela tions. he ftands in to the vast variety of

Beings.

Beings about him. He is eafy to him felf and to the reft of the world with which he is connected.

BEFORE the time of our Bleffed Saviour, the Heathens believed fo many abfurd Doctrines concerning their Gods, that all the Nations of the Earth were corrupted to the laft degree in their fentiments and practices.. From their be lief in fome of thefe Gods, they learned Drunkenness and filthy Excefs; from others, War, Havock and Defolation; from others, the most shocking Impu rities and Senfualities; and from others, Fraud, Theft, and Robbery. The Jews likewife were greatly corrupted in their notions of Religion, The Sadducees openly declared against Spiritual Beings and a future ftate. The Pharifees were ftrict indeed in obferving external appearances and outward Ceremonies; but prefuming on these as fufficient they neglected to purify their hearts; and practifed