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P. 233. note 1. 4, for there mentioned r. Rom. viii. 34.

P. 315. 1. 16. for-inculcates 7. inculcate

то тне

YOUNGER STUDENTS

OF THE

TWO UNIVERSITIES. ·

SECTION I.

Defign of the work. Dr. Priestley's lau

dable motives in

addreffing the youth of

the universities.

The real author of the

letter to him under the name of an undergraduate.

HERE cannot be a more commend

Tafen be damete commend

able employment than to endeavour, in any degree, to form or excite the minds of youth to piety and virtue, and to affift them in their enquiries after truth; those among them especially, who, like you, are destined

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to act important parts upon the theatre of theworld, and who must, by your fituations, do much good or much harm in it.

This I profess to be my aim and ambition in these thoughts which I have publickly addreffed to you, refpecting the matters in difcuffion between Dr. Horne and Dr. Prieftley, in which you bear a confiderable part; and in my farther notification of certain things, in fome others of Dr. Horne's writings, which may mislead you moft effentially, and which you may be otherwise apt to take upon truft without examination, from a deference to his authority, and known worthy character.

And from an earneft defire in particular to affift you in understanding the revelation, which we believe the Divine Being to have given of himself, and of his will, and moral government over the human race, to which we belong; I have been farther prompted to lay before you fome famples of the only just method of interpreting the facred volume, which contains that revelation, with a large exemplification of the contrary method; and have clofed the whole with a catalogue of

the

the false readings of Scripture, which have been introduced at different times, and continued, through an undue prejudice in favour of the doctrine of the trinity and the divinity of Jesus Christ; accompanied with a list of the miftranflations of our english bible, which have arisen from the fame caufe, and ftill remain.

Wo unto you when all men shall Speak well of you, fays our Saviour Chrift, Luke vi. 26. to his apoftles, who were to carry on the inftruction and reformation of the world, after he had left it; to warn them, that a general applaufe, in their department, was not to be obtained without mean compliances, and foothing men in their idolatry and finful practices.

This wo affuredly belongs not to Dr. Priestley, whatever be his merits or demerits. in other refpects. His franknefs in publishing the progress of his inquiries into the fcriptures, and early chriftian antiquity, and the doctrines and opinions he has drawn from those fources, oftentimes contrary to what had been established and held facred

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for

ages, has excited the zeal and difpicafure of thofe against him, who from various

and different motives would have every thing relating to religion remain quiet and untouched; and of others, who unhappily fuppofe the falvation of mankind to depend upon holding certain articles of belief, which he maintains to be void of all foundation: fo that many fet no bounds to their evil speaking, and ignorant cenfures of him.

Such however has been the lot in all

ages, among their cotemporaries, of the truest friends and benefactors of mankind, who have set themselves to oppofe and correct popular errors, especially in the things of religion. Socrates, one of the most virtuous of men, and a preacher of truth in his day, according to the lights given him, was accufed of poisoning the minds of youth. If the difpaffionate wife and good approve, accufations of others may be more easily borne. Whether any just cause of complaint or offence, has been now given, you will judge from what I fhall offer.

the

Dr. now

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