SOBER AND SERIOUS REASONS for SCEPTICISM, AS IT CONCERNS REVEALED RELIGION. IN A LETTER TO A FRIEND. "Of good and evil much, "And much of mortal man my thought revolv'd." AKENSIDE. B ADVERTISEMENT, Printed with the firft Edition. Ir is well known, there is a defcription of men who have fufficient liberality to permit one to think freely on all fubjects: but by them it is not permitted on all fubjects to express, or, however, to publish, one's thoughts: and, I am afraid, fome of my friends, for whom I have a great regard, belong to that class. It is their opinion, that most things fhould be brought before the public, in order to their being properly estimated: I think fo of all things, of importance, in which the public is concerned. DEAR SIR, You will allow me, I am fure, the privilege of a friend, to communicate to you a matter which greatly concerns me; and I flatter myself that you will feel interested on the occafion. I will, therefore, without further preface, acquaint you that a very important alteration has taken place in my fentiments, and lay before you the confiderations whereby this has been brought about. During a course of years, my mind has been more or less affected by doubts refpecting Revelation; yet they feemed to be overborne by the arguments which I was able to produce in favour of it; fo that I |