The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

The Philosopher.--Sir Isaac Newton
set out in life a clamorous infidel; but
on a nice examination of the principles
of Christianity, he found reason to
change his opinion. When the celebrated Dr. Halley was talking infidelity before him, Sir Isaac addressed him in
these or the like words:--"Dr. Halley,
I am always glad to hear you when you
speak about astronomy or other parts of
mathematics, because that is a subject
you have studied and well understand
but you should not talk of Christianity,
for you have not studied it. I have,
and am certain that you know nothing
of the matter."--This was a just reproof, and one that would be very suitable to be given to half the infidels of the
present day,--for they often speak of
what they have never studied, and what
in fact they are entirely ignorant of.
Dr. Johnson, therefore, well observed.
that no honest man could be a Deist, for
no man could be so, after a fair examination of the proofs of Christianity. On
the name of Hume being mentioned to
him, "No Sir," said he, "Hume owned
to a clergyman in the bishopric of
Durham, that he had never read the
New Testament with attention."