DISSERTATION L 225 Trinity, Father, Son, and Spirit, ásI have done elsewhere, I en- treat them to consider the design of this discourse, which is not to explain this article at large, but merely to lead an Arian by soft and easy steps, into a belief of the divinity of Christ: And therefore it was necessary thatl should not break in upon his un- derstanding all at once, and attempt to assault and batter downall his old sentiments ; but that I shouldexplainthe doctrine in as near a correspondency to his former sentiments as truth would permit, and represent the deity of Christ, and the unionofthe two natures in one person in such a manner as might give the least disgust and offence to one of Arian principles't, provided always, that 1 assert nothing but what is agreeable toscripture, though i do not at once publish the whole of that doctrine in all its varieties. It would be a good beginning to proceedthus far; time and study of the , scripture, with divine instructions, may lead him on to farther knowledge, and amorecomplete agreement with our best wri ters, so far as they agreewith the word of God. Our blessed Saviour bore with the prejudices of his own disciples for a season ; he had many other things to say to them, even at the end of his life, but they could hot bear themyet ; John xvi. 12. And the blessed apostles bore with the prejudices of the Jews many years, and did not all at once beat down their whole scheme of Mosaiac principles. When St. Paul taught the Corinthians, he fed them with milk andnot with meat, for they'Were not able to bear it ; 1 Cor. iii. 2. And whenhe found the Hebrews backward to hear, he reserved till afterwards, the many things which he had 'to say, and which were liard to be ut- tered-; Heb. v. 11, 12. The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, in meeknessinstruct- eng those.that oppose themselves; 2 Tim. ii. 24. as well knowing, that it is by short and gentle steps, and by slow degrees, that human nature is capable of dropping its former prejudices, part- ing with any of its old opinions, and receiving further light.-- I am well persuaded, that disputes regulated by christian love, and under the conduct of sacred charity, are in their own nature most proper to rectify the unwilling mistakes of men; and if ever the Spirit of God condescend to bless any controversial writings for the convictionof those that are in error it is the soft and gentle method of argument that stands fairest to receive such divine influences. e: That :great defender of the Divinity of Christ, Dr. Waterland, will bear me out in this manner of writing, for he freely declares, r' He dues not find fault with the fathers for adapting their style sometimes to pagans, bin. commends them rather for doing it in some cases, as doing what was proper.° See his Par.' ther Vindication.of Christ's Divinity, &c, page 17. And St. Paul practises the same thing, and becomes all things to all men, even to Jews and heathens, that by all means he may save some t Cara ix. 22. VUI. vi. p
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