i 272 PREFACE. citifies. For though h might be possible, in some measure, to avoid the mixtureof human schemes, when the only purpose of the writer is to lay downthe doctrine of the scripture for the use of private christians, yet when an ingenious and learnedauthor shall raise a variety ofobjections.tp obscure, refute, and confound that which I call the scriptural doctrineitself, perhaps it is impossible to give a tolerable answer to those objections without entering into some particular scheme of explication, and shewing in what manner the sacred Three may be one God, and thereby declaring in what manner 'those objections may be solved, and the difficulties removed. Though I was not a stranger to the various human explications, when I wrote that treatise, yet I confess with freedom, I was not at thattime engaged in any one particular scheme. I thought the general doctrine of scripture was plain and evident, butas to the modus of it I was much in doubt : And upon that account I must acknowledge this benefit which I have received -limn the author of the " Sober appeal to a Turk or an Indian," which was written in answer to my. book*, viz. Thatby the arguments which he use's, lie basalmost precluded in my opinion some of those schemes of explication, and inclined my thoughts towards one particular mode of accounting for this difficult doctrine, which I have in a great measure exhibited in the following discourses. Such as know little of these disputes, and have never ventured to read any thingbut the writers of-their own side, generally imagine that all things in their own particular scheme are clear as the light and they are too ready to impute all the doubts or difficulties that are raised en these subjects to the want of a due regard to truth. They believe their own particular mode of explaining this great article with as firm a faith, and make it as sacred and divine as the article itself ; andthey suppose that their whole scheme is sup_' ported by all those scriptures which are made use of toprove the deity of the Son or Spirit. So unhappily has the Christian world been taught to mingle human schemes withdivine truths. And I cannot but takenotice here, if`a man has never no sincere adesign to vindicate the same great doctrines which are professed and maintained by his brethren, yet if he happen to step aside from the common track of human phrases, and especially if he give an ex- position of some important scriptures different from their sentiments and the established interpretation, he runs the risque of having heresy caston himself and his writings, evenwhile lie labours by reasoning, and clear ideas, to defend those very propositions which they themselves believe. I know it is a very difficult and hazardous undertaking, for a man to attemptto give a rational account of these mysterious parts of our religion; though he endeavour humbly to follow thetrack of scripture light ; and there is much danger in it upon this account as well as others, viz. That what scheme of explication soever he follows, there are some hard names of mo- dern or ancient error which lie ready to be discharged upon him. if he explain the Trinityaccordingto the ancient Athanasians, with Bishop Pear- son, Bishop Boll, and Mr. Howe, he is censured perhaps as a downright Tritheíst. If he follow the scholastic scheme, which has been professedby Most ofthe reformed churches, and which has been commonly called modern orthodoxy, he incurs the charge of Sabellianism. If hedare propose the doctrine ofthe pre -existent soul of Christ, and follow Bishop Fowler, Mr. Fleming, and others, he is accused of favouring the Arian and Nestorian errors, even though all this time he strongly maintaips the proper deity of Christ, and a sufficient personality in the sacred Three to support their distinct characters and other's. It is hardly posible that the nicest care should exempt a man from these inconveniences : But I hope none of these things shall ever * Why I have not in these present dissertations proceeded farther in a reply to that writer, t have given an aceount at the close ofthe seventh dissertation.
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