Raynham June 9: 1766 Sir,

I Lately Saw at Mr. Crockers your Book by Dr. Taylor Entitled A Paraphase & Notes on the Epistle to the Romans &c.1 I have a desire to Read Said book. The Said Doctor Published another Book on original Sin. Said Books I have not Read. Therefore I Desire you to Lend your said book to me. I am willing to Lend any of my books to you. I have Read Limborch's Compleat body of Divinity, in a vollum, and Supposing that you have not Seen Said volum. I will Transcribe the Title page and a Few other Lines.

A Compleat System, or Body of Divinity, Both Speculative and Practical founded on Scripture and Reason: written originally in Latin. by Philip Limborch Professor of Divinity. with Improvements from Bishop Wilkins Arch Bishop Tillotson, Dr. Scott, and Several other Divines of the Church of England.2

In 2 volums By William Jones, a Presbyter of the same church

The Second Edition corrected.

To which is Prefixed Mr. Leclerc's Funeral Oration on Mr. Limborch.

Biblioth. choisie. Tom. 24.p.2. Page 367.

At the end of the Oration I have added some verses of Grotius taken368from a copy he wrote upon the Death of Arminius: they Describe the mischiefs and the ill consequences of the Divisions among Christians, and the Duties of Divines upon that occasion, in so Just and Lively a manner, that I have Read nothing Comparable to them, In such Sort of Compositions. They are not a dull Imitation of the Ancients who have never written any thing like them, but are a noble Enthusiasm, as I may say, of a heart full of Love to virtue, Charity and peace, and of a Soul thorowly convinced of the vanity of all Human Knowlege.

These from the Sorrows of this life Relea'sd, of Perfect Ease and Perfect Joy Posses'd, The Science you so long pursu'd be low, you large by now obtain, and truely know, From that Irradiance of Celestial day, you look, and see unhappy mortals stray, In Ignorance Involv'd and miss the way; How vain the thing which knowlege here we name, An empty vapour and an Idle Dream: yet puff d with this we others Provedly spurn, And are again Insulted in our turn. &c—

This from your real Friend

EDMAIN WILLIAMS

RC ; addressed: "To Esqr. Robert Pain at Taunton"; endorsed.

1.

John Taylor, A Paraphrase, with notes on the Epistle to the Romans (London, 1745, 1747, 1754). RTP had purchased this volume for 6s.4d. at "Jno. Gerrish vendue," 28 May 1762, according to his cashbook. It was still in his library in 1805 when he reworked the catalogue to that collection.

2.

This second edition of Philipp van Limborch's Compleat System or Body of Divinity was published in London in 1713. It was edited by William Jones and included "improvements" by John Tillotson, archbishop of Canterbury; John Wilkins, bishop of Chester; and Dr. John Scott, as well as the funeral oration by Jean LeClerc.

Boston July 30 1766 Sir,

Chas. W. Apthorp & Co.1 has a Bill Sale from Ratcliff Hellon of a Ship now in the Stocks in Swansey wch. I2 pray you woud Take Possession off to Defend agt. the Demands of any Person whatever, & Get the369Said Vessell Valued, that I may give his acct. Credit for the Valuation. Your Hble. St.

W. MOLINEAXAtto. to C. W. Apthorp Esqr.

RC ; addresed: "For Robt. Treat Pain Esqr. in Taunton"; endorsed.

1.

Charles Ward Apthorp (1729–1797), a Boston native, in 1755 went to New York, where he became a lawyer, was active in business and served on the governor's council (1763–1783). As a loyalist, his estates in Massachusetts and Maine were confiscated after the Revolution, although he was allowed to retain his New York lands (Leonard Foster Apthorp, Brief Records of the Lives of Certain Members of the Apthorp Family [1931]. Manuscript at Mass. Hist. Soc.).

2.

William Molineux (1716–1774), a Boston merchant who was a member of the radical group who furthered the cause of liberty. Opposed to the arrival of the British troops in 1768, he later served on the committee appointed by the Boston town meeting on March 2, 1772, to request the withdrawal of the troops from Boston (John Richard Alden, "A Letter from William Molineux," New England Quarterly 17[1944]107–108). He was not a regular member of the bar.