TH

HE printers of a late publication, entitled the Boston Magazine, for October, 1783, fully fenfible of its many defects, think it their duty to confefs their plan was the effect of hafte. But they flattered themfelves with fupport, which has, in great measure, fail'd. Their motives however, were laudable and honeft. And they can fay with truth, they feel themselves happy in the idea, that while they intended their own emolument, they believed, their de fign, if carried into execution, would be productive of many advantages both to individuals, and the public. Sanguine, However, as their expectations first were, they now find themfelves unequal to the task; and were they ftill deftitute of affistance, should submit to the neceffity of relinquishing the purfuit. But they feel themselves peculiarly happy to inform the public, that they now have the fullest affurance of such affistance, as will, in all probability, render the future

numbers

(iv)

Numbers more acceptable. The firft publication, they beg of their fubfcribers and others, may not be ranked among the numbers of the Boston Magazine: And fhall take the liberty of calling the Magazine for November, the first number. They cannot but hope, that their late publication being too hafty a production, will not so operate as to hurt the original defign, or difcourage any future communications from gentlemen of taste and leisure. Should the Magazine be executed according to the original plan, the printers cannot but flatter themselves that every encouragement will be granted it, as fuch inftitutions not only afford amufement to individuals, but are countenanced by every principle of a free Republic.

THE

Difquifition on rationai Chrifti- derate rafhnefs expunged from the

anity.

new-teftament every divine declaration, which agrees not exactly with their own notions of truth and re&itude; and this they have attempted by no other means, than by abfurd explanations, or by bold affertions that they are not there, in dire& contradiction to the fenfe of language, and the whole tenor of those writings; as fome philofophers have ventured in oppofition to all men's fenfes, and even to their own, to deny the exiftence of matter, for no other reason, but because they find in it properties for which they are unable to account. . Thus they have reduced christianity to a mere fystem of Ethics,and retain no part of it but the moral, which in fat is no characteristic part of it at all, as this, though in a manner less perfect, makes a part of every religion which ever appeared in the world, This ingenious method of converting chriftianity into deifm, cannot fail of acquiring many refpe&table profelytes; for every virtuous and pious man, who would be a Chriftian if he could, that is, who reverences the name of Chriftianity, but cannot affent to its

tenets

From a late Publication.

T

O feveral learned and ingenious writers, fome doctrines of the chriftian religion have appeared fo contradictory to all the principles of reafon and equity, that they cannot affent to them, nor believe that they can be derived from the fountain of all truth and juftice. In order therefore to fatisfy themselves and others who may labour under the fame difficulties, they have undertaken the arduous talk of reconciling revelation and reafon; and great would have been their merits, had they begun at the right end, that is, had they endeavoured to exalt the human underfinding to the comprehenfion of the fublime doctrines of the gospel, rather than to reduce thofe doctrines to the low ftandard of human reafon ; but, unfortunately for themselves and maby others, they have made choice of the latter method, and, as the shorteft way to effect it, have with inconfi.