The manner in which Mr. D. takes to pieces feveral particular lines, detached from their natural places, may fhew how easy it is to a caviller to give a new fenfe, or a new nonsense to any thing. And indeed his conftructions are not more wrefted from the genuine meaning, than theirs who objected to the hetorodox parts, as they called them.

Our friend the Abbe is not of that fort, who with the utmost candour and freedom has modeftly told me what others thought, and shewn himself one (as he very well expreffes it) rather of a number than a party. The only difference between us in relation to the Monks, is, that he thinks most forts of learning flourished among them, and I am of opinion, that only fome fort of learning was barely kept alive by them: he believes that in the moft natural and obvious fenfe, that line (A fecond deluge learning over-run) will be understood of learning in general; and I fancy 'twill be understood only (as 'tis meant) of polite learning, criticifm, poetry, &c. which is the only learning concerned in the subject of the Effay. It is true, that the monks did preserve what learning there was, about Nicholas the fifth's time; but those who fucceeded fell into the depth of barbarifm, or at least stood at a stay while others arofe from thence, infomuch that even Erafmus and Reuchlin could hardly laugh them out of it. I am highly obliged to the Abbe's zeal in my commendation, and goodness in not concealing what he thinks my error. And his teftifying fome efteem for the book juft at a time when his brethren rais'd a clamour against it, is an inftance of great generofity and candour, which I fhall ever acknowledge.

LETTER II.

To the fame.

June 18, 1711:

you informed me of the mistaken zeal of fome people, who seem to make it no less their bufinefs to perfuade men they are erroneous, than doctors do that they are fick; only that they may magnify their own cure, and triumph over an imaginary distemper. The fimile objected to in my Effay,

(Thus wit, like faith, by each man is apply'd To one fmall feet, and all are damn'd befide.)

plainly concludes at this fecond line, where ftands a full ftop and what follows (Meanly they feek, &:) fpeaks only of wit (which is meant by that bleffing, and that fun) for how can the fun of faith be said to fublime the fouthern wits, and to ripen the genius's of northern climates? I fear, these gentlemen understand grammar as little as they do criticism: and, perhaps, out of good-nature to the monks, are willing to take from them the cenfure of ignorance, and to have it to themselves. The word they refers (as, I am fure, I meant, and as I thought every one must have known) to those Critics there spoken of, who are partial to fome particular fett of writers, to the prejudice of all others. And the very fimile itself, if twice read, may convince them, that the cenfure here of damning, lies not on our church at all, unlefs they call our church one fmall feet and the cautious words (by each man) manifeftly fhow it a general reflection on all fuch (whoever they are) who entertain those narrow and limited notions of the mercy of the Almighty; which the reformed minif

ters

ters and prefbyterians are as guilty of as any people living.

Yet after all, I promise you, Sir, if the alteration of a word or two will gratify any man of found faith tho' weak understanding, I will (though it were from no other principle than that of common goodnature) comply with it. And if you please but to particularize the spot where their objection lies (for it is in a very narrow compass) that stumbling-block, tho' it be but a little pebble, fhall be removed out of their way. If the heat of these good difputants (who, I am afraid, being bred up to wrangle in the schools, cannot get rid of the humour all their lives) fhould proceed fo far as to perfonal reflections upon me, I affure you, notwithstanding, I will do or fay nothing, however provok'd (for fome people can no more provoke than oblige) that is unbecoming the true character of a Catholic. I will fet before me the example of that great man, and great faint, Erafmus; who in the midft of calumny proceeded with all the calmnefs of innocence *, and the unrevenging fpirit of primitive chriftianity. However, I would advise them to suffer the mention of him to pass unregarded, left I should be forced to do that for his reputation which I would never do for my own; I mean, to vindicate fo great a light of our church from the malice of past times, and the ignorance of the prefent, in a language which may extend farther than that in which the trifle about criticifm is written. I wish thefe gentlemen would be contented with finding fault with me only, who will fubmit to them right or wrong, as far as I only am concerned; I have a greater regard to the quiet of mankind than to difturb it for things of fo little confequence as my credit and my fenfe. A little hu

* I doubt this is not ftrictly true. See his Anfwers to Lee, archbishop of York.

mility can do a poet no hurt, and a little charity would do a prieft none: for, as St. Austin finely fays, Ubi charitas, ibi humilitas; ubi humilitas, ibi pax.

Your, &c.

T

LETTER III,

To the fame.

July 19, 1711.

HE concern which you more than seem to be affected with for my reputation, by the several accounts you have fo obligingly given of what reports and cenfures the holy Vandals have thought fit to pass upon me, makes me defirous of telling fo good a friend my whole thoughts of this matter; and of fetting before you, in a clear light, the true state of it..

I have ever believed the beft piece of fervice one could do to our religion, was openly to exprefs our deteftation and scorn of all thofe mean artifices and pia fraudes, which it ftands fo little in need of, and which have laid it under fo great a scandal among its enemies.

!

Nothing has been so much a scarecrow to them, as that too peremptory and uncharitable affertion of an utter impoffibility of falvation to all but ourselves: invincible ignorance excepted, which indeed fome people define under fo great limitations, and with fuch exclufions, that it feems as if that word were rather invented as a falvo, or expedient, not to be thought too bold with the thunder-bolts of God (which are hurled about fo freely on almost all mankind by the hands of ecclefiaftics) than as a real exception to almoft univerfal damnation. For befides the fmall number of the truly faithful in our Church,

we

we muft again fubdivide; the Janfenift is damn'd by the Jefuit, the Jefuit by the Janfenift, the Scotift by the Thomift, and fo forth.

There may be Errors, I grant, but I can't think them of fuch confequence as to deftroy utterly the charity of mankind; the very greatest bond in which we are ingaged by God to one another: therefore, I own to you, I was glad of any opportunity to express my diflike of fo fhocking a fentiment as thofe of the religion I profess are commonly charged with; and I hoped, a flight infinuation, introduced fo eafily by a cafual fimilitude only, could never have given offence; but on the contrary must needs have done good; in a nation and time, wherein we are the fmaller party, and confequently most mifrepresented, and most in need of vindication.

For the fame reafon, I took occafion to mention the fuperftition of fome ages after the subversion of the Roman Empire, which is too manifeft a truth to be denied, and does in no fort reflect upon the present professors of our faith, who are free from it. Our filence in these points may, with fome reason, make our adverfaries think we allow and perfift in those bigotries; which yet in reality all good and fenfible men despise, tho' they are perfuaded not to speak against them, I can't tell why, fince now 'tis no way the intereft even of the worst cf our priesthood (as it might have been then) to have them fmothered in filence: For, as the oppofite fects are now prevailing, 'tis too late to hinder our church from being flander'd; 'tis our business now to vindicate ourselves from being thought abettors of what they charge us with. This can't fo well be brought about with serious faces; we must laugh with them at what deserves it, or be content to be laughed at, with fuch as deserve it.

As to particulars: you cannot but have obferved, that at first the whole objection against the fimile of