Author had at firft no farther Thoughts of troubling the World with his Speculations. But upon reflecting that the Arguments of the Religious Kind, against that Act, to which alone his Work is confined, were not Those which determined the Legislature to repeal it, there appeared so much the lefs Objection to the doing of it; and the Hopes that his Endeavours to ftate the Question, Religiously and Morally confidered, in its true Light, might still poffibly be of fome Ufe, towards rectifying the unfcriptural and uncharitable Notions of many, whofe Objections did really proceed from Conscience; towards

vindicating the Character of those, whofe Conduct with Refpect to the paffing of that Law, has been traduced, as inconfiftent with their Profeffion and Engagements and above all, which GOD grant it may, towards awakening some, in whose Power it may be to contribute greatly, by their Example at leaft, to the very neceffary Work of public Reformation; these Hopes, I fay, and these Motives only, have induced the Author to publish, thus late, and out of their proper Season, the Confiderations contained in the following Pages.

SOME

REFLECTIONS, &c.

Dear Sir,

Oct. 30, 1753.

Letter from a Layman on a Queftion of Religion, and from a Perfon long buried in Retirement on a Point of National Concern, may poffibly be fome Surprize to

you.

BUT as there are Situations in Politics, where Neutrality in a Lover of his Coun

try

try would be criminal; fo in Matters of Religion, Questions may arife, where, in a Friend to Truth, Silence would be unjustifiable.

THE Point now in Agitation concerning the Admiffion of the Jews, appears to me in that Light And I must own to you that I am not without a Wish of being inftrumental in removing those false Colourings and Disguises, under which the Truth is involuntarily obscured, or voluntarily mis represented.

You will judge by this, that whatever I have to say upon the Subject, though addreffed to You in particular, is defigned for other Readers too; and I will not deny, that I mean it for the Confideration of the Public, if it has the Fortune to pafs first under yours with Approbation.

WITH regard to the Parts of this Queftion, which are purely Political, or purely Commercial, I have no Intention to enter into them: I have not fufficient Materials for doing it. As to the Religious Part, I,

and