[ 69 ] which might corroborate his Suppolition), that fome Chriftians might probably have been fhipwrecked there in former Times, and that they inculcated thefe Principles. But, if that had been theCafe, wouldnot the Terms ufed have betrayed the Matter; which (as he afterwards informs us) were widely different :? Is it not more probable, that the Notions, fo, refembling the revealed, were handed down, by oral Tradition, from their An- ceftors, who (as Veneges obferves from their own rela- tion) came from the North, ; and molt likely from the Tartars, or Scythian, to whom they were originally tranfmitted from the earlieft Ages ? From the Whole, we may naturally conclude, that, as the Doctrine of the Trinity could not have been the Refult of human Reafoning, whether the reafoning Fa- culty be depraved or not fo, much lefs could it have been the lffue of a general Agreement in Reafon, through all thefe different Nations of the World. The mere common Senfe ofMankind mutt have led them a contrary way. But, admitting that the Doctrine was clearly revealed (as we have attempted to Phew) to the firft Patriarchs ; that they declared it to'their Polterity; that fome of their Potteritÿ depraved it ; and that fuç- ceeding Generations difleminated the Corruptions of that and other Doctrines over the habitable World : we then perceive Probability concurring with Truth, or Truth without a Miracle, in accounting for the Source and Origin of all the falle Religions, that have ever exifted- among}} Mankind s`. Upon this Ground, like- * What Bp. Stilling/feet raid of the antient Heathen Hiftory, may at lead with equal Truth -be applied to the antient Heathen Reli- gion; as That there was a certain ORIGINAL and GENERAL Tradi-<t:.'.. " tionprefrrved in the World concerning it; that this Tradition was " gradually corrupted among the Heathens ; that, notwithitanding " this Corruption, there were fuficient Remainders of it to evi- dence its true Original; and that the full Account of this Tra- " dition is ALONE preferved in thofe Books we call the Seatr- 06 TYRES." Orig. Suer. 1. t. c. t. §. Iq.. F 3 wife,
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