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The true reason of my not doing it, then, is this: He burnt a good many of them himself at Paris, and, by a writing found among what were left, signified, that these were the only ones, fit to be printed; so that without acting contrary to the Bishop's opinion of his own performances, of which he was certainly the best judge, no more could, and therefore no more ought to be published: and it being from thence resolved that no more should, the only effectual way of preventing it, was, to commit the rest to the flames. Which was accordingly done, in my presence, by WILLIAM MORICE, Esq., his dutiful and worthy son-inlaw and executor. To whom I take this opportunity of acknowledging myself much obliged for several considerable acts of friendship; but particularly for the benefit of publishing these pious remains of my dear friend and patron, whom I greatly admired, loved and reverenced; and to whose memory I therefore dedicate them, with a heart full of gratitude and respect.

THOMAS MOORE.

1. The great advantage which the christian religion

has on this account over all other religions

The credibility of Numa's conferences with a goddess,
and of Mahomet's receiving part of the Alcoran from
the angel Gabriel, depends solely on their own testi-
mony:

Neither of them wrought miracles to confirm their
doctrines

-

The miracles said to be wrought in the East and West
Indies are reported by persons so much later than the
facts themselves, that we can have no rational assur-
ance of them

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ib.

the disciples an occasion of answering that ques-

tion themselves, which they had proposed to our blessed

Saviour

The matter of it remarkable,

1. For the gradation of its particulars, the last of which
was an instance of condescension the Jews had
before been but little acquainted with

2. For the appositeness of it, in relation to the persons
that made the inquiry: for,

First, since they were not to be convinced by oral tes-

timony, they are taught to judge of the Messiah by the

works they saw in him

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ib.

. ib.

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