graph. I cannot equal it; and therefore will not attempt it.

That you may long continue happy in the Poffeffion of an easy Fortune, a clear Head, and a generous Heart, is the fincere Wish of,

SIR,

Your most affectionate Friend,

And bumble Servant,

JER. SEED.

The

The Fourth LETTER.

To the Rev. T. H. relating to a PafSage in one of the Author's Sermons.

I

DEAR SIR,

AM obliged to any Person, who will point out to me what he apprehends to be a Fault in any of my Writings. As to the Paffage which you mention, Vol. II. p. 95. my only Fault is, which is a great One, that I have not expreffed myfelf as I fhould have done. Meaning was, that "the Number "of the Damned will bear no more "Proportion to that of the Bleffed throughout the whole Univerfe, "than, &c." not confining myself to the Inhabitants of the Earth:

My

Accord

Accordingly, in this very fermon, Page 125, Line 19th, I expreffly call the Damned a few incurable Members of the whole ftupendous Body of the Universe; not meaning that they were abfolutely few, but comparatively with the whole Body of intelligent Beings. If the worthy Gentleman, whofe Name you do not mention, had thought my Words capable of this Construction, I dare venture to say, he would not have made any Objection against them.

But fuppofing my Words will not bear this Senfe; give me Leave to obferve, that they are not a pofitive Affertion, as you feem to think; they are only a charitable Prefumption. If I had had fufficient Authority from Scripture, I would not have faid, it may be prefumed; but, it is

cer

certain. The Reafons for such a Prefumption (for they are not strong enough to found any Doctrine upon) are as follow. First, If I am not mistaken, one half of Mankind are cut off before they come to the full Use of their Reason, or have their Senfes fufficiently exercifed to difcern between moral Good and Evil. Thefe, if baptized, are undoubtedly in a State of Salvation; if unbaptized, they may be saved by the uncovenanted Mercies of God; at least, they will not be made miferable in a future State. If you add to these all those who live and die in a State of invincible Ignorance, or a State that makes very near Approaches to it, (furprizing Instances of which you may meet with even in our own Country) the Num

Secondly,

Number rifes greatly above one half of Mankind. Thirdly, Among Adults, (who have, or may have clear Ideas of their Duty) for one that lives and dies a hardened Criminal, there are Numbers who do not allow themselves in the habitual Practice of any deliberate, known Sin. Instances of Baseness, Villainy, and malicious Wickednefs are ftill furprizing; which they would not be, unless they were rare and uncommon. But enough of this, that I may not enter on a beaten Topick.

It has been proved at large, that there is far more moral Good, than Evil even in this Earth; and confequently, one would think, far more good Men, in a qualified Senfe of the Word, than bad: confequently, there will be more happy than miferable