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I confess, Sir, I am very sick of this undertaking; for it is so far from being pleasant, that it is grievous to me, to write one line meerly to expose any man: but I thought it necessary to take down the confidence of this Author, who makes a great shew of ancient and modern Learning, by transcribing out of some late Writers, whose credit and reputation at the same time he endeavours to un∣dermine. I am glad to find, that he reads so good Books, which I doubt not, but would make him wiser in time, if he would consi∣der, as well as read: It is no fault indeed to use those arguments, which have been used by other men, and it is possible sometimes to hit upon the very same expressions, or some very like; but when a man shall run through a book, and take the whole Series of Argu∣ments, without owning his Masters; when he shall take out whole Sentences and Paragraphs out of so many Authors, of so vastly dif∣ferent styles, it plainly discovers an empty Head, a barren Fancy, and a vain-glorious Mind▪
It were easie to transcribe a great part of Glassius and Vossius, con∣cerning the nature and use of Metaphors and Allegories, and the rules of expounding them, which Mr. Ferguson has onely transla∣ted, and from whence he has borrowed his Greek and Latine Cita∣tions, out of ancient and modern Authors, but I consider this would too much swell a Letter, and you may do it your self if you have the curiosity: And therefore I shall onely farther observe, that whereas this Author falls upon Dr. Parker at every turn, and chal∣lenges, and provokes and scorns him; there is no Person whom he does so much Ape, as the Doctor: He borrows divers of his ex∣pressions from him, gawdy Metaphors, phantastick Allegories▪ thwack∣ing Contradictions, rampant and empty Schemes of Speech, and the like; and many times transcribes whole Sentences and Paragraphs from him, of which I have given some instances above, and shall adde but two or three more here.