Abbadiesaysinhisfamousbook，thattheGospelofSt。MatthewiscitedbyClemens，bishopofRome，adiscipleoftheapostles；thatBarnabascitesitinhisepistle；thatIgnatiusandPolycarpreceiveit；andthatthesamefathers，thatgivetestimonyforMatthew，giveitlikewiseforMark。Nayyourlordshipwillfind，Ibelieve，thatthepresentbishopofLondon，inhisthirdpastoralletter，speakstothesameeffect。Iwillnottroubleyounormyselfwithanymoreinstancesofthesamekind。Letthis，whichoccurredtomeasIwaswriting，suffice。Itmaywellsuffice；forIpresumethefactadvancedbytheministerandthebishopisamistake。Ifthefathersofthefirstcenturydomentionsomepassagesthatareagreeabletowhatwereadinourevangelists，willitfollowthatthesefathershadthesamegospelsbeforethem？Tosaysoisamanifestabuseofhistory，andquiteinexcusableinwritersthatknew，orshouldhaveknown，thatthesefathersmadeuseofothergospels，whereinsuchpassagesmightbecontained，ortheymightbepreservedinunwrittentradition。Besideswhich，IcouldalmostventuretoaffirmthatthesefathersofthefirstcenturydonotexpresslynamethegospelswehaveofMatthew，Mark，Luke，andJohn。Tothetworeasonsthathavebeengivenwhythosewhomakedivinitytheirprofession，shouldstudyhistory，particularlyecclesiasticalhistory，withanhonestandseriousapplication；inordertosupportChristianityagainsttheattacksofunbelievers，andtoremovethedoubtsandprejudicesthattheunfairproceedingsofmenoftheirownorderhaveraisedinmindscandidbutnotimplicit，willingtobeinformedbutcurioustoexamine；tothese，Isay，wemayaddanotherconsiderationthatseemstomeofnosmallimportance。WritersoftheRomanreligionhaveattemptedtoshow，thatthetextoftheholywritisonmanyaccountsinsufficienttobethesolecriterionoforthodoxy：Iapprehendtoothattheyhaveshownit。SureIamthatexperience，fromthefirstpromulgationofChristianitytothishour，showsabundantlywithhowmucheaseandsuccessthemostopposite，themostextravagant，nay，themostimpiousopinions，andthemostcontradictoryfaiths，maybefoundedonthesametext；andplausiblydefendedbythesameauthority。Writersofthereformedreligionhaveerectedtheirbatteriesagainsttradition；andtheonlydifficultytheyhadtoencounterinthisenterpriselayinlevellingandpointingtheircannonsoastoavoiddemolishing，inonecommonruin，thetraditionstheyretain，andthosetheyreject。Eachsidehasbeenemployedtoweakenthecauseandexplodethesystemofhisadversary：and，whilsttheyhavebeensoemployed，theyhavejointlylaidtheiraxestotherootofChristianity：forthusmenwillbeapttoreasonuponwhattheyhaveadvanced。“Ifthetexthasnotthatauthenticity，clearness，andprecisionwhicharenecessarytoestablishitasadivineandacertainruleoffaithandpractice；andifthetraditionofthechurch，fromthefirstagesofittillthedaysofLutherandCalvin，hasbeencorrupteditself，andhasservedtocorruptthefaithandpracticeofChristians；thereremainsatthistimenostandardatallofChristianity。Byconsequence，eitherthisreligionwasnotoriginallyofdivineinstitution，orelseGodhasnotprovidedeffectuallyforpreservingthegenuinepurityofit，andthegatesofhellhaveactuallyprevailed，incontradictiontohispromise，againstthechurch。“Thebesteffectofthisreasoningthatcanbehopedfor，is，thatmenshouldfallintotheism，andsubscribetothefirstproposition；
　　hemustbeworsethananatheistwhocanaffirmthelast。Thedilemmaisterrible，mylord。Partyzealandprivateinteresthaveformedit：thecommoninterestofChristianityisdeeplyconcernedtosolveit。Now，Ipresume，itcanneverbesolvedwithoutamoreaccurateexamination，notonlyoftheChristianbutoftheJewishsystem，thanlearnedmenhavebeenhithertoimpartialenoughandsagaciousenoughtotake，orhonestenoughtocommunicate。Whilsttheauthenticityandsenseofthetextofthebibleremainasdisputable，andwhilstthetraditionofthechurchremainsasproblematical，tosaynoworse，astheimmenselaborsoftheChristiandivinesinseveralcommunionshavemadethemappeartobe；Christianitymayleanonthecivilandecclesiasticalpower，andbesupportedbytheforcibleinfluenceofeducation：buttheproperforceofreligion，thatforcewhichsubduesthemind，andawestheconsciencebyconviction，willbewanting。
　　Ihadreason，therefore，toproducedivinity，asoneinstanceofthoseprofessionsthatrequireaparticularapplicationtothestudyofsomeparticularpartsofhistory；andsinceIhavesaidsomuchonthesubjectinmyzealforChristianity，Iwilladdthisfurther。Theresurrectionofletterswasafatalperiod：theChristiansystemhasbeenattacked，andwoundedtoo，veryseverelysincethattime。Thedefencehasbeenbettermadeindeedbymoderndivines，thanithadbeenbyancientfathersandapologists。Themodernshaveinventednewmethodsofdefence，andhaveabandonedsomepoststhatwerenottenable：butstillthereareothers，indefendingwhichtheylieundergreatdisadvantages。Sucharevariousfacts，piouslybelievedinformertimes，butonwhichthetruthofChristianityhasbeenrestedveryimprudentlyinmoreenlightenedages；becausethefalsityofsome，andthegrossimprobabilityofothersaresoevident，that，insteadofansweringthepurposeforwhichtheywereinvented，theyhaverenderedthewholetenorofecclesiasticalhistoryandtraditionprecarious，eversinceastrictbutjustapplicationoftherulesofcriticismhasbeenmadetothem。Itouchthesethingslightly；
　　butifyourlordshipreflectsuponthem，youwillfindreasonperhapstothinkasIdo，thatitishightimetheclergyinallChristiancommunionsshouldjointheirforces，andestablishthosehistoricalfacts，whicharethefoundationsofthewholesystem，onclearandunquestionablehistoricalauthority，suchastheyrequireinallcasesofmomentfromothers；rejectcandidlywhatcannotbethusestablished；andpursuetheirinquiriesinthesamespiritoftruththroughalltheagesofthechurch；withoutanyregardtohistorians，fathers，orcouncils，morethantheyarestrictlyentitledtoonthefaceofwhattheyhavetransmittedtous，ontheirownconsistency，andontheconcurrenceofotherauthority。Ourpastorswouldbethus，Ipresume，muchbetteremployedthantheygenerallyare。Thoseoftheclergywhomakereligionmerelyatrade，whoregardnothingmorethanthesubsistenceitaffordsthem，orinhigherlifethewealthandpowertheyenjoybythemeansofit，maysaytothemselves，thatitwilllasttheirtime，orthatpolicyandreasonofstatewillpreservetheformofachurchwhenthespiritofreligionisextinct。ButthosewhomImentionedabove，thosewhoactforsurvivalnottemporalends，andaredesirousthatmenshouldbelieveandpractisethedoctrinesofChristianity，aswellasgotochurchandpaytithes，willfeelandowntheweightofsuchconsiderationsasthese；andagree，thathoweverthepeoplehavebeen，andmaybestillamused，yetChristianityhasbeenindecayeversincetheresurrectionofletters；andthatitcannotbesupportedasitwassupportedbeforetheera，norbyanyotherwaythanthatwhichIpropose，andwhichadueapplicationtothestudyofhistory，chronology，andcriticism，wouldenableourdivinestopursue，nodoubt，withsuccess。
　　Imightinstance，inotherprofessions，theobligationsmenlieunderofapplyingthemselvestocertainpartsofhistory，andIcanhardlyforbeardoingitinthatofthelaw。initsnaturethenoblestandmostbeneficialtomankind，initsabuseanddebasementthemostsordidandthemostpernicious。
　　Alawyernowisnothingmore，Ispeakofninety-nineinahundredatleast，tousesomeofTully’swords，“nisilegulciusquidamcautus，etacutuspraecoactionum，cantorformularum，aucepssyllabarum。“Buttherehavebeenlawyersthatwereorators，philosophers，historians：therehavebeenBaconsandClarendons，mylord。Therewillbenonesuchanymore，till，insomebetterage，trueambitionortheloveoffameprevailsoveravarice；
　　andtillmenfundleisureandencouragementtopreparethemselvesfortheexerciseofthisprofession，byclimbinguptothe“vantageground，“
　　somyLordBaconcallsit，ofscience；insteadofgrovellingalltheirlivesbelow，inameanbutgainfulapplicationtoallthelittleartsofchicane。
　　Tillthishappen，theprofessionofthelawwillscarcedeservetoberankedamongthelearnedprofessions：andwheneverithappens，oneofthevantagegrounds，towhichmenmustclimb，ismetaphysical，andtheotherhistoricalknowledge。Theymustpryintothesecretrecessesofthehumanheart，andbecomewellacquaintedwiththewholemoralworld，thattheymaydiscovertheabstractreasonofalllaws：andtheymusttracethelawsofparticularstates，especiallyoftheirown，fromthefirstroughsketchestothemoreperfectdraughts；fromthefirstcausesoroccasionsthatproducedthem，throughalltheeffects，goodandbad，thattheyproduced。ButIamrunninginsensiblyintoasubject，whichwoulddetainmetoolongfromonethatrelatesmoreimmediatelytoyourlordship，andwithwhichIintendtoconcludethislongletter。
　　2。Ipassfromtheconsiderationofthoseprofessionstowhichparticularpartsorkindsofhistoryseemtobelong：andIcometospeakofthestudyofhistory，asanecessarymeanstopreparemenforthedischargeofthatdutywhichtheyowetotheircountry，andwhichiscommontoallthemembersofeverysocietythatisconstitutedaccordingtotherulesofrightreason，andwithadueregardtothecommongood。Ihavemet，inSt。Real’sworks，orsomeotherFrenchbook，witharidiculecastonprivatemenwhomakehistoryapoliticalstudy，orwhoapplythemselvesinanymannertoaffairsofstate。
　　Butthereflectionistoogeneral。Ingovernmentssoarbitrarybytheirconstitution，thatthewilloftheprinceisnotonlythesupreme，butthesolelaw，itissofarfrombeingaduty，thatitmaybedangerous，andmustbeimpertinentinmen，whoarenotcalledbytheprincetotheadministrationofpublicaffairs，toconcernthemselvesaboutit，ortofitthemselvesforit。Thesolevocationthereisthefavorofthecourt；andwhateverdesignationGodmakesbythetalentshebestows，thoughitmayserve，whichitseldomeverdoes，todirectthechoiceoftheprince，yetIpresumethatitcannotbecomeareasontoparticularmen，orcreateadutyonthem，todevotethemselvestothepublicservice。LookontheTurkishgovernment。Seeafellowtaken，fromrowinginacommonpassage-boat，bythecapriceoftheprince：seehiminvestednextdaywithallthepowerthesoldanstookunderthecaliphs，orthemayorsofthepalaceunderthesuccessorsofClovis：seeawholeempiregovernedbytheignorance，inexperience，andarbitrarywillofthistyrant，andafewothersubordinatetyrants，asignorantandunexperiencedashimself。
　　InFranceindeed，thoughanabsolutegovernment，thingsgoalittlebetter。
　　Artsandsciencesareencouraged，andhereandthereanexamplemaybefoundofamanwhohasrisenbysomeextraordinarytalents，amidstinnumerableexamplesofmenwhohavearrivedatthegreatesthonorsandhighestpostsbynoothermeritthanthatofassiduousfawning，attendance，orofskillinsomedespicablepuerileamusement：intrainingwasps，forinstance，totakeregularflightslikehawks，andstoopatflies。ThenobilityofFrance，likethechildrenoftributeamongtheancientSaracensandmodernTurks，aresetapartforwars。Theyarebredtomakelove，tohunt，andtofight：
　　and，ifanyofthemshouldacquireknowledgesuperiortothis，theywouldacquirethatwhichmightbeprejudicialtothemselves，butcouldnotbecomebeneficialtotheircountry。Theaffairsofstatearetrustedtootherhands。
　　Somehaverisentothembydrudginglonginbusiness：somehavebeenmadeministersalmostinthecradle：andthewholepowerofthegovernmenthasbeenabandonedtoothersinthedotageoflife。Thereisamonarchy，anabsolutemonarchytoo，ImeanthatofChina，whereintheadministrationofthegovernmentiscarriedon，underthedirectionoftheprince，eversincethedominionoftheTartarshasbeenestablished，byseveralclassesofMandarins，andaccordingtothedeliberationandadviceofseveralordersofcouncils：theadmissiontowhichclassesandordersdependsontheabilitiesofthecandidates，astheirriseonthemdependsonthebehaviortheyhold，andtheimprovementstheymakeafterwards。Undersuchagovernment，itisneitherimpertinentnorridiculous，inanyofthesubjectswhoareinvitedbytheircircumstances，orpushedtoitbytheirtalents，tomakethehistoryoftheirownandofothercountriesapoliticalstudy，andtofitthemselvesbythisandallotherwaysfortheserviceofthepublic。Itisnotdangerousneither；oranhonor，thatoutweighsthedanger，attendsit；sinceprivatemenhavearightbytheancientconstitutionofthisgovernment，aswellascouncilsofstate，torepresenttotheprincetheabusesofhisadministration。Butstillmenhavenottherethesameoccasiontoconcernthemselvesintheaffairsofthestate，asthenatureofafreegovernmentgivestothemembersofit。Inourowncountry，forinourowntheformsofafreegovernmentatleastarehithertopreserved，menarenotonlydesignedforthepublicservicebythecircumstancesoftheirsituation，andtheirtalents，allwhichmayhappeninothers：buttheyaredesignedtoitbytheirbirthinmanycases，andinallcasestheymaydedicatethemselvestothisservice，andtake，indifferentdegreessomeshareinit；whethertheyarecalledtoitbytheprinceorno。Inabsolutegovernments，allpublicserviceistotheprince，andhenominatesallthosethatservethepublic。Infreegovernments，thereisadistinctandaprincipalserviceduetothestate。Eventheking，ofsuchalimitedmonarchyasours，isbutthefirstservantofthepeople。