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in the 8th Chapter, in which the Apofle's rea foning is very weak on the Socinian hypothefis. Indeed there is hardly any folid argument in the whole Epiftle, (though generally confidered as the moft clear, argumentative and convincing of all St. Paul's Epiftles) on the fuppofition that Jefus Chrift, the grand fubject of it, is no more than a man, weak and peccable like others. On this principle, what fhall we make of his doctrine refpecting the Priesthood of Chrift, as difplayed at large in the 9th and 10th Chapters ? Ilere, methinks, he efpecially anfwers the character Dr. Priefley gives him, and stands forth as an inconclufive reafoner. If the Doctor be right, he reasons as follows:-

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Chap. ix. 11, Chrift being come an High Prieft of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to fay, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own 6 blood, (viz. the blood of a mere man!) he entered in once into the holy place, having (by that means) obtained eternal redemption for us.--For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heiffer, fprinkling the unclean, fanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more fhall the blood of Chrift, (the blood of one mere man!) who through the eiernal Spirit, offered himfelf without fpot to God, purge your confciences from dead works to ferve the living God.'

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Chap. x. 4, It is not poffible that the blood. of bulls and goats fhould take away fin.Wherefore when he (a mere man, who had no prior- existence!) cometh into the world, he faith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not, but a body haft thou prepared me!—Then said I (before I existed!) lò! Î come (to enter that

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body and) do thy will, O God!--By the which will we are fanctified, by the offering of the body of Jefus Chrift (the body of one mere man) once for all,'-body, I fay, but I do not mean by this, that he had any foul, any more than a fuperior or divine nature.--No, like other mere men, he was all body, wholly made of matter without fpirit! But he (or, aulos, this perfon) after he

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had offered one facrifice for fin for ever fat ' down on the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies (whether evil 6 men, or evil angels) be made his footstool, (viz. the footstool of a mere man !)-For by one offering he (a mere man) hath perfected for ever them that are fanctified! Verse 19, Having therefore, brethren, boldnefs, (or liberty) to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jefus (the blood of a mere man!) by a new and living way which he (a mere man!) hath confecrated for us;--and having (the fame mere man) an High Priest over the houfe of God;Let us draw near with a true heart, in full affurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil confcience.For if we fin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more facrifice for fin (but that which we reject)— He that defpifed Mofes' Law, died without mercy • under two or three witnesses ;-of how much forer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot (one mere Iman, whom I term) the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was fanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace.'

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I think no one will wonder that they who reject the whole doctrine of the Divinity, and Atonement of Chrift, together with the influence the Holy Spirit of God, fhould confider the

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Author of this Epiftle as writing without infpire tion, and as reafoning very inconclufively. But, what will they fay to that paffage in the 11th Chapter, where the Apoftle informs us, that Mofes efteemed the reproach of Chrift, (that is, the reproach of a mere man who had no exiftence till about 2000 years after that time, that he efteemed this reproach, I fay) greater riches than the treasures of "Egypt ?

Chapter 12.

The Apoftle exhorts us 10 look to this (mere man) Jefus,' and terms him, (though a mere man the Author and Finisher of 6 our faith,'-and tells us, 'he is fet down on the $ right hand of the Throne of God.'-and, Ver. 25, bids us fee that we refuse him not, for, adds he, if they escaped not who refufed him that fpake on earth, (the mere man, Mofes) much 6 more fhall not we escape, if we turn away

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him, who (though he fpeaketh from heaven, ' is however but another mere man!) whofe voice then, (viz. 2000 years before he had any being!) 'fhook the earth: but, now he hath promifed, faying, yet once more I fhake not only the earth, but heaven alfo !'- -(This mere man) Chap. xiii. 8. Jefus Chrift, is the fame yesterday, to day, and for ever,' (for, though a mere man, he is immutable) and, verfe 12, That he might fanctify the people with his own blood, he suffered without the gate: Let us go forth, therefore, • unto him, without the camp, bearing his reproach, and by him (mere man as he is!) let us offer the facrifice of praise to God continually that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. Now, the God of peace, who brought again from the dea dour Lord Jefus (who, though but a mere • man, is however) the great Shepherd of the Sheep, *(omnifcient to know, and omniprefent to overfee ' and protect them all!) through the blood of the • everlasting

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everlasting covenant; make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleafing in his fight, through Jefus Chrift, (the fame mere man) to whom (mere man) as he is) be glory for ever, and ever! Amen!' I hope, Rev. Sir, if Dr. Priefiley deem this to be good fenfe, and found doctrine, he will have no objection to join with the Apoftle in this doxology, and add his hearty Amen to St. Paul's; afcribing glory to this mere man for ever, and ever!

I am,

Rev. Sir,

Your's, &c

LETTER

REV. SIR,

LETTER VIIL

HOWEVER difficult a task Dr. Priefley my find it, to reconcile the Epiftles of St. Paul, with common fenfe, on the fuppofition of that Apostle's holding the doctrine of Chrif's mere humanity, I am perfuaded he will find it equally difficult, to reconcile therewith, the Epiftles of the other Apofties, fuppofing them alfo to have been of the fame opinion. In proof of this, I hall lay before you a few paffages, extracted from their Writings alfo, referring you to the original Epiftles, for further fatisfaction.

St.

James, it is true, fpeaks bat little of Chrift, but nevertheless, what he does fpeak, fhews, either that he was not an Unitarian in the Doctor's fenfe of the word, or that he had little regard to common sense, in writing his Epiftle. He not only ftiles himself a fervant of God, but alfo of the Lord Jefus Chrift, that is, as the Doctor will. have it, of a mere man! And, the next time he mentions his name, which is in the beginning of of the 2d Chapter, he affures us he is the Lord of glory; that is, on the Doctor's hypothesis, a mere man is THE LORD OF GLORY! Be patient, brethren, (fays he, Chap. v. 7.) unto the coming of the Lord, (that is the coming of a mere man) stablish your hearts, the coming of the Lord (the fame mere man) draweth nigh. And grudge not one against another,-left ye be condemned;--Behold, the Judge, (a mere man !) ftandeth at the door,

St. Paul,

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