Whil’st the Considerations about Religion and Reason, (to which the following Essay is annex’d) were not yet come from the Press, the Learned Publisher of them falling one day into Discourse with me about the Design they aim’d at, and some of the Points they treated of, and particularly the Resurrection; our Discourse occasion’d my letting him know, that I had long since had thoughts, and perhaps imparted some of them to my Friends, about such Subjects; and that in particular about the Resurrection I had yet by me a Manuscript, wherein divers years ago I had endeavour’d to shew, that the Philosophical Difficulties, urg’d against the Possibility of the Resurrection, were nothing near so insuperable, as they are by some pretended, and by others granted to be. Vpon this Notice, the Curiosity he express’d to see this Essay, engaged me quickly to bring it him; though my being ready to go from London made me do it without staying to look it over my self; much less to add what since occur’d to me about the things treated of in it. But notwithstanding its Imperfections, and my unwillingness to let it go abroad; especially without some Papers that should have preceded it, the Learned Peruser would not be denied leave to send it, (in my absence) unalter’d to the Press, and join it to the Tract he expected thence; positively affirming, that I ought no longer to stifle a Discourse, that he judg’d very seasonable, and thought likely to do good. In which Conjecture if he do not prove mistaken, I hope some more ingenious than religious Men, seeing what can be easily said by so incompetent a Pen as mine, for one of the most opposed Doctrines of Christianity, will hereby be made less forward to condemn all those for Desertors of Reason, that submit to Revelation. And I shall hope too, (on the other side,) that some more Religious, than, in this matter, well-inform’d Men, will be induc’d to think, that what they call the New Philosophy may furnish us with some new Weapons for the defence of our ancientest Creed; and that Corpuscularian Principles may not only be admitted without Epicurean Errors, but be employ’d against them.
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