PRINTED FOR R. HUNTER, SUCCESSOR TO MR. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, AND W. HARWOOD, NO. 21, GREAT RUSSEL STREET, BLOOMSBURY. 1817. PREFACE. THESE Letters have originated in a wish formed by the Author to address to the members of " the church statedly worshipping at Tonbridge Chapel, in the New Road, Somer's Town," of which he has been some time a member, a few lines upon the subject of the principles professed by them, in common with many other dissenting congregations, under the name of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have grown to a length which he did not at first contemplate, having in his progress both taken a wider view of his subject, and examined it more in detail, in order to ascertain, if possible, the soundness of his own convictions, and to afford himself every opportunity of correcting any erroneous conclusions PREFACE. that he may unwarily have adopted. They are submitted with humility, but with a fearless love of truth, to the judgment of his friends and associates in the religious world, and the public. If they should be the means of deciding but one doubting mind, or of leading but one anxious inquirer to more rational views of the Divine nature, and a more consoling estimate of his own present and future condition, the Author will feel himself abundantly repaid for the sacrifice he has made of time and labour, in pursuing his subject to such a length. CONTENTS. Occasion of these Letters. Of the sufficiency of the human under- standing for religious inquiry. Of Mystery, with examples of the use of the term by the sacred writers. Example of an improper use of it. Of the mystery of iniquity, and it's connection with Unity of the Godhead proved from reason and Scripture. Of a belief in that article of religion. Of the division of the Godhead, and the doctrine of the Trinity: not in the Scriptures: where found, and how stated. Consideration of the term person. That there are three persons in the Godhead, disproved ..........15 — 28 Examination of the arguments adduced from Scripture for a Trinity ef Persons in the Godhead-Matth. xxviii, 19; 1 John, v,7 ; |