fome Things in them he could correct as a Critick; but that for other Parts they were ab ultima antiquitate. Nor did Dr. Hare (who had procured for Dr. Grabe and me, the Collation of two Vienna MSS. of the Conftitutions by that very good Man Mr. Anderson, then our Ambaffadors Chaplain at Vienna, and afterwards Rector of Lutterworth; and one who seemed ftill to fuppofe them genuine :) Nor did Dr. Hare, I fay appear to me ever to deny their being fo; altho' neither were Dr. Bentley, nor Dr. Hare firm Believers enough, nor ferious enough in Christianity, to hazzard any thing in this World, for their Reception. And as to the latter, the Harmony of the four Evangelifts, Dr. Bentley had of old revived, from his own Perufal of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (not pretending the fame of John,) that Valentinian Notion, that our Saviour preached only one Year; and this in the Days of Archbishop Sharp; whom I have heard fpeak of it with concern. This No tion, I fay, came first from Dr. Bentley, to Dr. Hare, and from him to his Pupil Mr. Nicolas Mann, now Mafter of the Charter-Houfe; who being unacquainted whence it came, till I informed him of it; but a Perfon of very good Learning, and Sagacity, managed the Hypothefis fo well, that I once told the Bishop of Durbam, he had demonftrated an Impoffibility, as well as an Impoffibility could be demonstrated.' Andwhich yet I throughly confuted from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, as well as John, afterward. See that Confutation at the End of my VI. Differtations page 347-355, of which hereafter. Dr. Hare also, about the End of Queen Anne's Reign, wrote a moft remarkable Paper, that fold greatly, intituled I 2 "The

"The Difficnlties and Difcouragements which at"tend the Study of the Scriptures, in the Way of Pri"vate Judgement. In Order to fhew, that fince fuch "a Study of the Scriptures is Mens indifpenfible Du

ty, it concerns all Chriftian Societies to remove (as "much as poffible) thofe Difcouragements". This was done in fuch a feeming ludicrous Way, that the Convocation fell upon him, as if he were really against the Study of the Scriptures. And he finding this Paper rather an Hindrance to the Preferment he foon after was feeking for, aimed to conceal his being the Author, which yet every Body was fatisfied he really was. I mention that Pamphlet in this Account of my own Life particularly, because he there introduces me, as well as Dr. Clark, and gives both our Characters. Mine is in the Words following, at large.

"There are, fays this Author, two Clergymen of "the Town, who have Studied themselves into HeBoth of "refy, or at least into a Sufpicion of it. "them Men of Fair Unblemished Characters. One has all his Life been cultivating Piety and Virtue, "and good Learning; rigidly conftant himself in "the publick and private Duties of Religion; and "always promoting in others Virtue, and fuch

Learning as he thought would conduce most to "the Honour of God, by manifefting the Greatness He has given " and Wisdom of his Works.

"the World fufficient Proofs that he has not mif

pent his Time, by very useful Works of Phila"fophy, and Mathematicks, he has apply'd one to "the Explication of the other; and endeavour'd

by

"by both to difplay the Glory of the great Crea

tor: And to his Study of Nature, he early "joined the Study of the Scriptures; and his At"tempts, whatever the Succefs be, were at leaft "well meant; and, confidering the Difficulty of "the Subjects he was engaged in, it must be allow"ed, that in the main they are well aimed; and if he "has not fucceeded, no more have others who "have meddled with the fame Subjects; nor is he "more to be blamed than they. To be blamed did "I fay? I fhould have faid, not lefs to be com"mended: For fure 'tis a commendable Defign to

explain Scripture Difficulties, and to remove the Objections of profane Men, by fhewing there ❝is nothing in the facred Writings but what is true " and rational.

"But what does a Life thus spent avail? To "what purpose so many watchful Nights and wea

66

ry Days? So much Piety and Devotion? So " much Mortification and Selfdenial? Such a Zeak. "to do Good, and to be useful to the World? So .. many noble Specimens of a great Genius, and a "fine Imagination? 'Tis the poor Man's Misfor"tune (for poor he is, and like to be; not having "the least Preferment) To have a warm Head, "and to be very zealous in what he thinks the "Caufe of God. He thinks Prudence the world

ly Wisdom condemned by Chrift and his Apof"tles: And that 'tis grofs Prevarication and Hy"pocrify to conceal the Difcoveries he conceives he has made. This Heat of Temper betrays • him into indiscreet Expreffions, and hafty Affer-

"tions; defigning to hurt no Body, he fancies no "Body defigns to hurt him; and is fimple enough "to expect the fame favourable Allowances will be "made to him, that he fees made to those who "write against him. As to his Learning; 'tis his "Misfortune that he is not fkilled enough in the "learned Languages to be a Critick in them; and yet feems not to be fenfible of his Deficiency in "this Refpect: And what Advantage is taken of "this that he has not lefs Heat, and more Criticism? "His Learning is treated in that Manner, that you would think he did not know the firft Ele"ments of Greek; tho' even in that he is much

fuperior to moft of those who make fo free with "him: And you every Day hear his Performances "run down as Whimfies and Chimeras, by Men "who never read them; and if they did, could "not understand them: Nor does his Warmth of

Temper come off better; 'tis all Obftinacy, Pride, "and Heretical Pravity; a want of Modesty, and due Defference to juft Authority: They that speak most favourably, look upon him as craz❜d, "and little better than a Madman. This is the

poor Man's Character; and, low as he is, they "cannot be content to leave him quiet in his Po"verty. Whereas, had he not been early poffefs'd with a paffionate Love for the Scriptures, and

Philofophy; had he not thought it his Duty, "above all Things, to promote the Glory of God, "and been perfuaded that could be no Way fo well "done as by the Study of his Word and Works; " 'tis more than probable he had at this Time been

Ortho

"Orthodox: And then, instead of his present * Treatment, his Faults would have been over"look'd; the Learning he excells in would have ❝ been extoll'd; and no defect would have been ❝ found in other Parts of it: He would have been "cried up as an Ornament of the Age, and no "Preferment would have been denied or envied ❝ him. 92

Dr. Clarke's Character follows at large alfo, but need not be here repeated; as already by me inferted into my Memoirs of bis Life, firft Edition, pag. 167, 168,

As for Dr. Hare's Scepticism in Religion, I was fo throughly apprized of it, that I once obferved to Bishop Sherlock, when the Doctor had preached, and printed, and I had read a Sermon of his for the Reformation of Manners, what an exceeding good Sermon it was, if he were in earnest; the Bishop replied, do you doubt of that? I faid, that was my principal Doubt of all: Nor will those that take Notice of the Behaviour of many of our Clergy, especially of those that are seeking Preferment at Court, how different it is in the Pulpit, from what it is out of it; be without ftrong Sufpicions as to their being in earnest, when they are in the former Place.

Nor is it very eafy to be believed, that at this Time of Day, those who have any Knowledge of Primitive Christianity, and yet continue publickly to read the Curfes upon the Chriftians, contained in the Athanafian Creed, are really in earnest Believers of the Christian Religion; let them preach

I 4

or