; they defired those objections might be made publick; and, if no fufficient answer could be given to them, they would defift from their intended publication ;—if there could -they hoped these gentlemen would then lay afide their oppofition, and give proper encouragement to the work. This, like Mr. C's poftfcript to his fermon, cited above, ftung; and produced-A modeft Apology for thofe of the fuperior Clergy, who have not yet fubfcribed to the Proposals for publishing the Works of the late Mr. H. with Remarks on a late Advertisement. The Revd. Mr. Langford is reported to be the author of the Modeft Apology. But, from that oilynefs of words, those artful turns and evafions, that ftifled refentment, which is fuffered to breathe out just so far, as to give the expreffions a proper glow,and that fimilitude of ftyle and reasoning, between p. 14, 15, of the Modeft Apology, and p. 121, 163, and 164, of the Dissertations, I am almost tempted to think, that these two pieces were forged upon the fame anvil, --was it not for one thing, of which C 2 which I must not believe Dr. Sharp could be guilty. And, indeed, one would be furprized, that any clergyman fhould defcend fo far beneath his character, as to deal in falfhood to blacken his adverfary. What I point at is, p. 40. of the Modeft Apology, where the author, whoever he be, fathers an abfurd tranflation, of one Mr. Lookup, of Gen. i. 1. The Gods in the fummit, upon Mr. H. This, to omit other inftances, fhews how perfectly well acquainted his oppofers are with his writings; and confequently, how very well qualified they must be to write against them. In answer to the Modeft Apology, came out A Defence of Mr. H's Plan, &c. How far a fufficient anfwer, the publick must determine. There is alfo a book, lately published, containing twelve Differtations against modern Infidels, and the Hutchinfonians, &c. by one S. Berington a Popish prieft. He deals much in ipfe dixits, and the authority of his church: But I need fay no more of this performance, performance, because it has received an anfwer from Mr. Bate, to which I refer the reader. And this brings me in order of time to Dr. Sharp's two Differtations on Elohim and Berith. The Doctor in his Preface, p. 15, 16. endeavours to prepoffefs his readers,-" that "if some of the principal words, which are infifted upon by Mr. C. and others, as rightly derived and explained by Mr. "H. fuch, for inftance, as Elabim, Berith, Hbaim, Cherubim, Shemim, and Shemosh, "were but once clofely examined, and "thoroughly confidered; and it could be "fhewn to reasonable fatisfaction, that Mr. "H's construction of them, (however re"prefented as indifputable) ftood, at beft, " on a precarious foundation; it would fo "far weaken and difcredit his whole fuper"ftructure refting on these corner ftones, " and fo materially affect his whole plan, "as to render any further examination of it fuperfluous." This This is a very artful infinuation, and a proper preparative for his Differtations. For it is but requiring ftronger arguments for a conclufion than the matter will bear, or the nature of the fubject will admit of ;and the bufinefs is done. And, I find it is enough with the party, that Mr. H's etymologies are difputed, and that by Dr. Sharp. So true is what an ingenious friend of the Doctor's has obferved, that "bold and con"fident affertions, when delivered in fmooth "and entertaining language, will go much "further, and anfwer the purpose better, " than folid and substantial arguments." But, I hope, we are not defending an idolatrous Jericho, whofe walls will fall down at the fhouts of its befiegers; but are fighting the battle of Jehovah of Hofts, the Aleim of Ifrael; and letting the world know, as far as in us lies, that there are ALEIM, and what they have done for us; which the Doctor, unwittingly I hope, is denying. The fix words mentioned above, and those other which Mr. H. has explained, depend upon, and give a reciprocal support to each other, as the ftones of an arch particularly Shemin and Cherubim, , εν - ; which declare, v amual, the glory of, (Chrift our mediator) in the work of redemption. The Shemim, by what they do for our being and well-being in the natural oeconomy, fhew what the Aleim do, and will yet further do for us in the Spiritual : And the Cherubim described in figures, what Aleim and Berit did in words, viz. the glorious plan of our redemption, and the perfon who was to execute it; and was, at the fame time, to each believing Jew, the pledge and affurance thereof. Mr. Bate, in his laft piece against Berington, has fo well fupported Mr. H's etymology and scripture-meaning of Shemim and Shemosh, that the philofophical principles built thereon, will, I am perfuaded, to every intelligent and candid reader, appear to ftand on no precarious foundation. And were Mr. H's works but once clofely examined, and thoroughly confidered; it would also appear to reasonable fatisfaction, that his conftructions, (however mifreprefented by his adverfaries) are fuch, as will give content to |