PREFACE.

IT would doubtlefs have afforded no inconfiderable fatisfaction to feveral readers of the following very valuable tract to have been introduced to the perfonal hiftory of the writer; but the moft probable fources of biographical information have been examined without success. What has been difcovered respecting the tract itself is at the reader's fervice.

"The defigned end to the focinian controversy,

or a rational and plain discourse to prove, that no "other perfon but the father of Chrift is God most "high;" was published by Mr. John Smith in 1695. The author difcovers a very confiderable acquaintance with the chriftian fcriptures, and a mind influenced by a low of truth. Thefe circumftances lead us to wish to know more of a man to whom the christian world is much indebted, and proportionably

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proportionably to lament, that we are not fupported by authentic documents in a more ample narrative.

It appears, however, that the publication of this tract provoked the notice of the civil power, which had fo recently effected the revolution of 1688, and afterwards, in other instances, conducted itself with fo little refpect to the rights of conscience.* We are told that," befides feveral libels against the state, many heretical and focinian books have been feized "and ftopt, particularly one entitled, A brief and "clear confutation of the trinity, which was publicly "burnt, by order of both houses of parliament, and "the author profecuted; and one other lately taken "with its author, called A defigned end to the focinian

controverfy, or a rational and plain discourse to prove, "that no other person but the father of Christ is God "most high. +" This ineffectual mode of fuppreffing the volume before us is afcribed by Dr. Hickes to

the

See Statute 9 & 10 Wm. III. c. 32.

+ See

Some Difcourfes upon Dr. Burnet and "Dr. Tillotson; occafioned by the late funeral fermon of the former upon the latter." 4to. pp. 88, 1695, with a preface and appendix.Ap. No. viii.

the active vigilance of archbishop Tillotfon. But whether he was justified in imputing to the amiable and candid Tillotfon the unchriftian perfecution of the reputed heretics of those days may reasonably be queftioned. Dr. Birch says, that bishop Burnet gave "a ftrong and clear anfwer" to Dr. Hickes in "reflections" upon these discourses in 1696; † but with what effect, with refpect to the imputation caft upon him and his excellent friend the archbishop, I am not competent to fay, not having them before me. Dr. Hickes certainly exhibited fo very acrimonious a spirit against the character and reputation of the deceased archbishop, as greatly to weaken any infinuation or unproved charge made by him against Kis grace's catholicifm: and in order effectually to exculpate him from having had any concern in the feizure of Mr. Smith's Defigned end to the focinian controverfy, which was not published till 1695, and confequently

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* See the preface to "Some Difcourfes, &c." which are faid by Dr. Birch to have been written by Dr. Hickes.-See his " Life of Tillotson." 8vo. 1752, P. 7.

See Birch's "Life of Tillotson." p. 345.

confequently from having any fhare in caufing the author to be apprehended, it is fufficient to obferve. that the archbishop died November 22, 1694. But from the circumftance of this profecution, let who may have been the promoter of it, the difcourfer (Dr. Hickes) very justly remarks, that "certainly there "must be something formidable in their books, and. "fome reasonings in them, which these men of "latitude" (as he is pleased to call them) "cannot "well anfwer, that they ufe fo much diligence to "fupprefs them."*

The unitarian controverfy engaged very general attention towards the clofe of the laft century, infomuch that, when the authority and reasons in vindication of the proper unity of God were found too ftrong for the hoft of orthodox theologians who oppofed them, they procured the affiftance of their allies, the tories of that day, to pass an act of parliament to remove all doubts, and to establish the doctrine of the trinity under no lefs a fanction than the omnipotence of the legislature. Various learned, judicious, and masterly tracts were published upon the fubject

See Some Difcourfes, &c." pref. p. 6 & 7.

fubject about this time.* Mr. Locke was a writer in this controversy in, vindication of "the God and "father of our lord Jefus Chrift being the only God "and father of Chriftians."+ Many others also, though of lefs celebrity, maintained the cause of the divine unity, with learning, ability, and candor, which their opponents could answer with nothing fo forcible and refiftlefs as a penal ftatute adapted to the purpose.

It is a ftrong prefumptive argument in favor of archbishop Tillotfon to know, (as Dr. Jortin hath expressed himself,) " that he made fome conceffions "concerning focinians which never were, and never "will be forgiven him, and that he broke an ancient " and fundamental rule of theological controverfy, " allow

See A collection of tracts, proving the God " and father of our lord Jefus Chrift, the only true "God;" in three fmall volumes in quarto, 1691, 1693, and 1695.

See The exceptions of Mr. Edwards, in his "causes of atheism against the reasonableness of chrifti"anity &c." examined :-in a third collection of tracts, &c. 1695, and bifhop Law's preface (p. vii.) to his edition of Locke's "Works." 1777.