CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

LXXXVI.

MADAM,

I Have Read Rs. Book, which you were plea∣sed to send me, and it is written Learnedly, Eloquently, Wittily, and Christianly, for all which the Author is to be Applauded and Ad∣mired, concerning the Truth, Method, and Inge∣nuity of the VVork, and had he been a Divine by Order and Profession, the Subject of his Book, which is, concerning the Scripture, had been most Applaudable, but being a Lay-man and not a Consecrated Church-man, the Scrip∣ture was not a fit Theme for his Pen to work up∣on, at least not in my Opinion, for although I Keep strictly to the Church of England, yet I think it not fit for a Lay-man to busie his Pen concerning the Scripture; for it belongs only

to Church-men, to Study, Interpret, Expound, Teach and Preach the Scripture, and its an Usur∣pation for Lay-men to meddle in Church-mens Profession, unless it be granted that a Lay-man have more VVit, Reason, Learning and Inspi∣ration than all the Church-men have. But truly, Madam, the Book is an Excellent Book in that Kind, Only give me leave to tell you, that to Defend Scripture is partly to express Faults in Scripture; and to Dispute upon the Obscu∣rities in Scripture is to Puzzle the Truth in Scripture. But leaving Scripture to the Church-men, and the Author to Fame, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.