22 A View of tbe DEzisTIcAL Writers. Let. 2.

a direct anſwer to his writings, is the reverend Mr. Halyburton, profeſſor of divinity in the univerlity of St. Andrew, in a book which was publiſhed after the author's death, at Edinbungh, in 1714, Ato, intituled Narural Religion inſuhicient, and Revealed neceſſary to men's Haßhbineſs-e in which particularly the * Wwritings of the learned Lord Harbert, the great patron of deiſm; to wit, his books de Veritate, de Religione Gentilium, ¹⸗ and his Religio Laici, in ſo far as they aſſert nature's light c able to conducét us to future bleſſedneſs, are conſidered, and ²⸗ fully anſwered.“ In this elaborate performance he ſets him- ſelf largely and diſtinctly to ſhew that the light of nature is greatly defctive, even with reſpect to the diſcoveries of a Deity, and the worſhip that is to be rendered to him; with reſpect to the inquiry concerning man's true happineſs; with reſpect to the rule of duty, and the motives for inforcing obedience. That it is unable certainly to diſcover the means of obtaining pardon of ſin; or to eradicate inclinations to ſin, and ſubdue its power. And, laſtly, he argues its inſufficiency from a general view of the experience of the world. He afterwards proceeds diſtinctly to confider the five articles to which the Lord Herbert reduces nis catholic religion. He anſwers the proofs his Lordſhip has brought to ſhew that thoſe articles did univerſally obtain; and, on the contrary, offers ſeveral proofs to ſhew that they did not ſo obtain. And he endcavours diſtinctly to anſwer the principal arguments and pleas urged by Lord Herbert; and, after him, by NIr. Blount, for the fufficiency of natural religion. Whoſo- ever carefully examines what this learned and pious author has offered on theſe ſeveral heads, will find many excellent things; though the narrowneſs of his notions in ſome points hath pre- judiced ſome perſons againſt his work, and hindered them trom regarding and conſidering it ſo much as it deſerves.

I ſhall here conclude my account of Lord Herbert, in which I have been the more particular, becauſe as he was one of the ürſt, ſo he was confeſſedly one of the greateſt writers that havé appeared among us in the deillical cauſe.

P.9 TIA AP.

ſidered. 8 K, FTER I had finiſhed the two foregoing letters, I ſaw a X large anonymous letter, which was fent to you, and by you communicated to me, relating to LoRp HERBERT OE CHER- BURT.

A remarkable Incident, relaling to Lord Herbert, con-