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Doc. 260.] 525
MESSITER’S TESTIMONY.
amiable in his morals, most learned and humble in his discourse,
and superlatively affable, humane, and courteous in his behaviour ;
and this joined with a solidity of understanding and penetra
tion far above the level of an ordinary genius. Thus much
I know of him, and therefore sacredly affirm, though not
without a humble deference to your opinion of his writings.
If this character be allowed him, as I am confident it will in
time, it will remove the most general objections offered by
the most violent and daring Deists to revealed religion, viz.,
that the authors [who profess to have received revelations]
are obscure illiterate enthusiasts. The two last charges, his
writings (if not what is above said) will soon refute, and the
first will be removed by the account given of himself in
the letter to his friend, which you have at the end of the
Summaria Expositio. Though I must beg pardon for having
taken up thus much of your time, I must yet take the liberty
to remark, that the translation of the above-mentioned Treatise
is designed as a present for any English reader you might
think proper to present it to, but as it is very indifferently
executed, I am confident it will do the author no honour,
and therefore wish he had omitted it. I shall be glad to be
honoured with a line on receipt of the books, and on any
future convenient occasion shall be happy to receive your
opinion of them.
"I am, Sir, with the greatest respect,
"Your most humble and most obedient servant,
"H. MESSITER. ” 2
"Sir,
THE PROFESSOR’S REPLY.
"I am favoured with yours of the 23rd October,
signifying that you had sent me as a present, from the Hon.
Mr. Swedenborg, some of his late Tracts. The box with the
books came to my hand some days before I received your
letter, and you may judge of my surprise when I could not
conjecture how or by whom they were sent. I beg you will
be so good as to return my thanks to the honourable gentle
man for his present. I dare not presume in a hasty manner
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