From John Jay to Samuel Miller, 18 February 1822
To Samuel Miller
Bedford—West Chester County—N York—18 Feby 1822—
Dear Sir
On the 9th. Inst. I recieved your obliging Letter of the 30th. Ult, with the Book mentioned in it; and for which be pleased to accept my Thanks—1 I think it is an interesting work—well written—and in many Respects well calculated to retard the Progress of the Errors which it combats. I ought not however to conceal my opinion, that the Correctness of certain positions in it, is at least questionable.
In forming and settling my Belief relative to the Doctrines of Christianity, I adopted no Articles from Creeds, but such only as on careful Examination I found to be confirmed by the Bible.
It appeared to me that the Trinity was a Fact fully revealed and substantiated; but that the quo modo2 was incomprehensible, and consequently inexplicable by human Ingenuity. According to sundry Creeds, the Divine Being whom we denominate the Second Person in the Trinity, had before all worlds, been so generated or begotten by the first Person in the Trinity, as to be his coeval, coequal, and coeternal Son— For Proof of this I searched the Scriptures diligently—but without Success. I therefore consider this Position as being at least ^of^ questionable Orthodoxy—3 With sincere Esteem and Regard, and the best wishes for your Welfare I am Dear Sir Your obt. Servt
John Jay
The Revd. Doctr. Saml. Miller4
ALS, PHi: Gratz (EJ: 01174). Addressed: “20. Feby / The Revd. Doctr Saml. Miller / Princeton / New Jersey.” Note: “Bedford NY 12½”. Endorsed: “sent me by Revd Dr Miller / Oct: 1828…” Dft, NNC (EJ: 08783).
1. Samuel Miller to JJ, 30 Jan., ALS, NNC (EJ: 09111). In his letter Miller quoted page 226 of his Letters on Unitarianism addressed to the members of the First Presbyterian Church, in the City of Baltimore (Trenton, 1821). Miller may have sent the work after learning of JJ’s election as president of the American Bible Society in 1821.
2. “Quomodo”—Latin, “in what way.”
4. Written below this text in Miller’s hand is the following note: “The above is an autograph of the Hon: John Jay, late Chief Justice of the United States, & Governour of the State of New York Saml: Miller”.