Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/374

 The Modern Defences of the Doctrines of the Trinity, and the Incarnation, may be compared with the old Defences of the same Doctrines against the Arians, and other Ancient Hereticks. If Hereticks may be compared with Hereticks, there is no Question but the Socinians are much abler Disputants than the Arians and Eunomians of old: They have collected every Thing that could look like an Argument; they have critically canvassed every Text of Scripture which anciently was not so Grammatically understood as now it is, and have spared no Pains nor Art to wrest every Thing that, with any Shew of Reason, could be drawn to their Side: They have refined upon the Philosophical Notions of God, and of his Attributes; and have taken great Care not to confound their Readers, or themselves, with Want of Method, or a Multiplicity of Words. Such able Adversaries have not failed of as able Opponents. And when Men of Skill manage any Dispute, whatsoever it be, they will teach one another the Art of Reasoning, even though before-hand they should not well have understood it, when their Debates continue to any