Religio laici, or, A laymans faith a poem.
         Dryden, John, 1631-1700.
      
       
         
           1682
        
      
       Approx. 59 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 23 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A36673
         Wing D2342
         ESTC R71
         11774719
         ocm 11774719
         48931
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A36673)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 48931)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 489:20)
      
       
         
           
             Religio laici, or, A laymans faith a poem.
             Dryden, John, 1631-1700.
          
           [16], 28 p.
           
             Printed for Jacob Tonson,
             London :
             1682.
          
           
             Attributed to John Dryden. Cf. NUC pre-1956.
             Commendatory poems by Thomas Creech, and an anonymous author. Cf. Macdonald, H. John Dryden. p. 35.
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
         Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
    
     
        2002-08 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2002-09 Aptara
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2002-10 Emma (Leeson) Huber
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2002-10 Emma (Leeson) Huber
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2002-12 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
         
           RELIGIO
           LAICI
           OR
           A
           Laymans
           Faith.
           A
           POEM
           .
           Written
           by
           Mr.
           DRYDEN
           .
        
         
           Ornari
           res
           ipsa
           negat
           ;
           contenta
           doceri
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Iacob
             Tonson
          
           at
           the
           
           Iudge's
           Head
           in
           Chancery-lane
           ,
           near
           Fleet-street
           .
           1682.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           A
           Poem
           with
           so
           bold
           a
           Title
           ,
           and
           a
           Name
           prefix'd
           ,
           from
           which
           the
           handling
           of
           so
           serious
           a
           Subject
           wou'd
           not
           be
           expected
           ,
           may
           reasonably
           oblige
           the
           Author
           ,
           to
           say
           somewhat
           in
           defence
           both
           of
           himself
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           undertaking
           .
           In
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           objected
           to
           me
           that
           being
           a
           Layman
           ,
           I
           ought
           not
           to
           have
           concern'd
           my self
           with
           Speculations
           ,
           which
           belong
           to
           the
           Profession
           of
           Divinity
           ;
           I
           cou'd
           Answer
           ,
           that
           perhaps
           ,
           Laymen
           ,
           with
           equal
           advantages
           of
           Parts
           and
           Knowledge
           ,
           are
           not
           the
           most
           incompetent
           Judges
           of
           Sacred
           things
           ;
           But
           in
           the
           due
           sense
           of
           my
           own
           weakness
           and
           want
           of
           Learning
           ,
           I
           plead
           not
           this
           :
           I
           pretend
           not
           to
           make
           my self
           a
           Judge
           of
           Faith
           ,
           in
           others
           ,
           but
           onely
           to
           make
           a
           Confession
           of
           my
           own
           ;
           I
           lay
           no
           unhallow'd
           hand
           upon
           the
           Ark
           ;
           but
           wait
           on
           it
           ,
           with
           the
           Reverence
           that
           becomes
           me
           at
           a
           distance
           :
           In
           the
           next
           place
           I
           will
           ingenuously
           confess
           ,
           that
           the
           helps
           I
           have
           us'd
           in
           this
           small
           Treatise
           ,
           were
           many
           of
           them
           taken
           from
           the
           Works
           of
           our
           own
           Reverend
           Divines
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ;
           so
           that
           the
           Weapons
           with
           which
           I
           Combat
           Irreligion
           ,
           are
           already
           Consecrated
           ;
           though
           I
           suppose
           they
           may
           be
           taken
           down
           as
           lawfully
           as
           the
           Sword
           of
           Goliah
           was
           by
           David
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           to
           be
           employed
           for
           the
           common
           Cause
           ,
           against
           the
           Enemies
           of
           Piety
           .
           I
           intend
           not
           by
           this
           to
           intitle
           them
           to
           any
           of
           my
           errours
           ;
           which
           ,
           yet
           ,
           I
           hope
           are
           only
           those
           of
           Charity
           to
           Mankind
           ;
           and
           such
           as
           my
           own
           Charity
           has
           caus'd
           me
           to
           commit
           ,
           that
           of
           others
           may
           more
           easily
           excuse
           .
           Being
           naturally
           inclin'd
           to
           Scepticism
           in
           Philosophy
           ,
           I
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           impose
           my
           Opinions
           ,
           in
           a
           Subject
           which
           is
           above
           it
           :
           But
           whatever
           they
           are
           ,
           I
           submit
           them
           with
           all
           reverence
           to
           my
           Mother
           Church
           ,
           accounting
           them
           no
           further
           mine
           ,
           than
           as
           they
           are
           Authoriz'd
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           ,
           uncondemn'd
           by
           her
           .
           And
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           to
           secure
           my self
           on
           this
           side
           ,
           I
           have
           us'd
           the
           necessary
           Precaution
           ,
           of
           showing
           this
           Paper
           before
           it
           was
           Publish'd
           to
           a
           judicious
           and
           learned
           Friend
           ,
           a
           Man
           indefatigably
           zealous
           in
           the
           service
           of
           the
           Church
           and
           State
           :
           and
           whose
           Writings
           ,
           have
           highly
           deserv'd
           of
           both
           .
           He
           was
           pleas'd
           to
           approve
           the
           body
           of
           the
           Discourse
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           he
           is
           more
           my
           Friend
           ,
           than
           to
           do
           it
           out
           of
           Complaisance
           :
           'T
           is
           true
           he
           had
           too
           good
           a
           tast
           to
           
           like
           it
           all
           ;
           and
           amongst
           some
           other
           faults
           recommended
           to
           my
           second
           view
           ,
           what
           I
           have
           written
           ,
           perhaps
           too
           boldly
           on
           St.
           Athanasius
           :
           which
           he
           advised
           me
           wholy
           to
           omit
           .
           I
           am
           sensible
           enough
           that
           I
           had
           done
           more
           prudently
           to
           have
           follow'd
           his
           opinion
           :
           But
           then
           I
           could
           not
           have
           satisfied
           my self
           ,
           that
           I
           had
           done
           honestly
           not
           to
           have
           written
           what
           was
           my
           own
           .
           It
           has
           always
           been
           my
           thought
           ,
           that
           Heathens
           ,
           who
           never
           did
           ,
           nor
           without
           Miracle
           cou'd
           hear
           of
           the
           name
           of
           Christ
           were
           yet
           in
           a
           possibility
           of
           Salvation
           .
           Neither
           will
           it
           enter
           easily
           into
           my
           belief
           ,
           that
           before
           the
           coming
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           the
           whole
           World
           ,
           excepting
           only
           the
           Iewish
           Nation
           ,
           shou'd
           lye
           under
           the
           inevitable
           necessity
           of
           everlasting
           Punishment
           ,
           for
           want
           of
           that
           Revelation
           ,
           which
           was
           confin'd
           to
           so
           small
           a
           spot
           of
           ground
           as
           that
           of
           
             Palaestine
             ▪
          
           Among
           the
           Sons
           of
           Noah
           we
           read
           of
           one
           onely
           who
           was
           accurs'd
           ;
           and
           if
           a
           blessing
           in
           the
           ripeness
           of
           time
           was
           reserv'd
           for
           Iaphet
           ,
           (
           of
           whose
           Progeny
           we
           are
           ,
           )
           it
           seems
           unaccountable
           to
           me
           ,
           why
           so
           many
           Generations
           of
           the
           same
           Offspring
           ,
           as
           preceeded
           our
           Saviour
           in
           the
           Flesh
           ,
           shou'd
           be
           all
           involv'd
           in
           one
           common
           condemnation
           ,
           and
           yet
           that
           their
           Posterity
           shou'd
           be
           Intitled
           to
           the
           hopes
           of
           Salvation
           :
           As
           if
           a
           Bill
           of
           Exclusion
           had
           passed
           only
           on
           the
           Fathers
           ,
           which
           debar'd
           not
           the
           Sons
           from
           their
           Succession
           .
           Or
           that
           so
           many
           Ages
           had
           been
           
             deliver'd
             over
          
           to
           Hell
           ,
           and
           so
           many
           reserv'd
           for
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Devil
           had
           the
           first
           choice
           ▪
           and
           God
           the
           next
           .
           Truly
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           the
           revealed
           Religion
           which
           was
           taught
           by
           Noah
           to
           all
           his
           Sons
           ,
           might
           continue
           for
           some
           Ages
           in
           the
           whole
           Posterity
           .
           That
           afterwards
           it
           was
           included
           wholly
           in
           the
           Family
           of
           Sem
           is
           manifest
           :
           but
           when
           the
           Progenies
           of
           Cham
           and
           Iaphet
           swarm'd
           into
           Colonies
           ,
           and
           those
           Colonies
           were
           subdivided
           into
           many
           others
           ;
           in
           process
           of
           time
           their
           Descendants
           lost
           by
           little
           and
           little
           the
           Primitive
           and
           Purer
           Rites
           of
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           retaining
           onely
           the
           notion
           of
           one
           Deity
           ;
           to
           which
           succeeding
           Generations
           added
           others
           :
           (
           for
           Men
           took
           their
           Degrees
           in
           those
           Ages
           from
           Conquerours
           to
           Gods.
           )
           Revelation
           being
           thus
           Eclipsed
           to
           almost
           all
           Mankind
           ,
           the
           light
           of
           Nature
           as
           the
           next
           in
           Dignity
           was
           substituted
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           it
           which
           St.
           Paul
           concludes
           to
           be
           the
           Rule
           of
           the
           Heathens
           ;
           and
           by
           which
           they
           are
           hereafter
           to
           be
           judg'd
           .
           If
           my
           supposition
           be
           true
           ,
           then
           the
           consequence
           which
           I
           have
           assum'd
           in
           my
           Poem
           may
           be
           also
           true
           ;
           namely
           ,
           that
           Deism
           ,
           or
           the
           Principles
           of
           Natural
           Worship
           ,
           are
           onely
           the
           faint
           remnants
           or
           dying
           flames
           of
           reveal'd
           Religion
           in
           the
           Posterity
           of
           Noah
           :
           And
           that
           our
           Modern
           Philosophers
           ,
           nay
           and
           some
           of
           our
           Philosophisiing
           Divines
           have
           too
           much
           exalted
           the
           faculties
           of
           our
           Souls
           ,
           when
           they
           have
           maintain'd
           that
           by
           their
           force
           ,
           mankind
           has
           been
           able
           to
           find
           out
           that
           there
           is
           one
           Supream
           Agent
           or
           Intellectual
           Being
           which
           we
           call
           God
           :
           that
           Praise
           and
           Prayer
           are
           his
           due
           Worship
           ;
           
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           those
           deducements
           ,
           which
           I
           am
           confident
           are
           the
           remote
           effects
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           unatainable
           by
           our
           Discourse
           ,
           I
           mean
           as
           simply
           considerd
           ,
           and
           without
           the
           benefit
           of
           Divine
           Illumination
           .
           So
           that
           we
           have
           not
           lifted
           up
           our selves
           to
           God
           ,
           by
           the
           weak
           Pinions
           of
           our
           Reason
           ,
           but
           he
           has
           been
           pleasd
           to
           descend
           to
           us
           :
           and
           what
           Socrates
           said
           of
           him
           ▪
           what
           Plato
           writ
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Heathen
           Philosophers
           of
           several
           Nations
           ,
           is
           all
           no
           more
           than
           the
           Twilight
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           after
           the
           Sun
           of
           it
           was
           set
           in
           the
           Race
           of
           Noah
           .
           That
           there
           is
           some
           thing
           above
           us
           ,
           some
           Principle
           of
           motion
           ,
           our
           Reason
           can
           apprehend
           ,
           though
           it
           cannot
           discover
           what
           it
           is
           ,
           by
           its
           own
           Vertue
           .
           And
           indeed
           't
           is
           very
           improbable
           ▪
           that
           we
           who
           by
           the
           strength
           of
           our
           faculties
           cannot
           enter
           into
           the
           knowledg
           of
           any
           Beeing
           ,
           not
           so
           much
           as
           of
           our
           own
           ,
           should
           be
           able
           to
           find
           out
           by
           them
           ,
           that
           Supream
           Nature
           ,
           which
           we
           cannot
           otherwise
           define
           ,
           than
           by
           saying
           it
           is
           Infinite
           ;
           as
           if
           Infinite
           were
           definable
           ,
           or
           Infinity
           a
           Subject
           for
           our
           narrow
           understanding
           .
           They
           who
           wou'd
           prove
           Religion
           by
           Reason
           ,
           do
           but
           weaken
           the
           cause
           which
           they
           endeavour
           to
           support
           :
           't
           is
           to
           take
           away
           the
           Pillars
           from
           our
           Faith
           ,
           and
           to
           prop
           it
           onely
           with
           a
           twig
           :
           't
           is
           to
           design
           a
           Tower
           like
           that
           of
           Babel
           ,
           which
           if
           it
           were
           possible
           (
           as
           it
           is
           not
           )
           to
           reach
           Heaven
           ,
           would
           come
           to
           nothing
           by
           the
           confusion
           of
           the
           Workmen
           .
           For
           every
           man
           is
           Building
           a
           several
           way
           ;
           impotently
           conceipted
           of
           his
           own
           Model
           ,
           and
           his
           own
           Materials
           :
           Reason
           is
           always
           striving
           ,
           and
           always
           at
           a
           loss
           ,
           and
           of
           necessity
           it
           must
           so
           come
           to
           pass
           ,
           while
           't
           is
           exercis'd
           about
           that
           which
           is
           not
           its
           proper
           object
           .
           Let
           us
           be
           content
           at
           last
           ,
           to
           know
           God
           ,
           by
           his
           own
           Methods
           ;
           at
           least
           so
           much
           of
           him
           ,
           as
           he
           is
           pleas'd
           to
           reveal
           to
           us
           ,
           in
           the
           sacred
           Scriptures
           ;
           to
           apprehend
           them
           to
           be
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           is
           all
           our
           Reason
           has
           to
           do
           ;
           for
           all
           beyond
           it
           is
           the
           work
           of
           Faith
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           Seal
           of
           Heaven
           impress'd
           upon
           our
           humane
           understanding
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           for
           what
           concerns
           the
           Holy
           Bishop
           Athanasius
           ,
           the
           Preface
           of
           whose
           Creed
           seems
           inconsistent
           with
           my
           opinion
           ;
           which
           is
           ,
           That
           Heathens
           may
           possibly
           be
           sav'd
           ;
           in
           the
           first
           place
           I
           desire
           it
           may
           be
           consider'd
           that
           it
           is
           the
           Preface
           onely
           ,
           not
           the
           Creed
           it self
           ,
           which
           ,
           (
           till
           I
           am
           better
           inform'd
           )
           is
           of
           too
           hard
           a
           digestion
           for
           my
           Charity
           .
           'T
           is
           not
           that
           I
           am
           ignorant
           how
           many
           several
           Texts
           of
           Scripture
           seemingly
           support
           that
           Cause
           ;
           but
           neither
           am
           I
           ignorant
           how
           all
           those
           Texts
           may
           receive
           a
           kinder
           ,
           and
           more
           mollified
           Interpretation
           .
           Every
           man
           who
           is
           read
           in
           Church
           History
           ,
           knows
           that
           Belief
           was
           drawn
           up
           after
           a
           long
           contestation
           with
           Arrius
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Divinity
           of
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           ,
           and
           his
           being
           one
           Substance
           with
           the
           Father
           ;
           and
           that
           thus
           compild
           ,
           it
           was
           sent
           abroad
           among
           the
           Christian
           Churches
           ,
           as
           a
           kind
           of
           Test
           ,
           which
           
           whosoever
           took
           ,
           was
           look'd
           on
           as
           an
           Orthodox
           Believer
           .
           'T
           is
           manifest
           from
           hence
           ,
           that
           the
           Heathen
           part
           of
           the
           Empire
           was
           not
           concerned
           in
           it
           :
           for
           its
           business
           was
           not
           to
           distinguish
           betwixt
           Pagans
           and
           Christians
           ,
           but
           betwixt
           Heriticks
           and
           true
           Believers
           .
           This
           ,
           well
           consider'd
           ,
           takes
           off
           the
           heavy
           weight
           of
           Censure
           ,
           which
           I
           wou'd
           willingly
           avoid
           from
           so
           venerable
           a
           Man
           ;
           for
           if
           this
           Proportion
           ,
           
             whosoever
             will
             be
             sav'd
          
           ,
           be
           restrained
           onely
           ,
           to
           those
           to
           whom
           it
           was
           intended
           ,
           and
           for
           whom
           it
           was
           compos'd
           ,
           I
           mean
           the
           Christians
           ;
           then
           the
           Anathema
           ,
           reaches
           not
           the
           Heathens
           ,
           who
           had
           never
           heard
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           were
           nothing
           interessed
           in
           that
           dispute
           .
           After
           all
           ,
           I
           am
           far
           from
           blaming
           even
           that
           Prefatory
           addition
           to
           the
           Creed
           ,
           and
           as
           far
           from
           cavilling
           at
           the
           continuation
           of
           it
           in
           the
           Liturgy
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           where
           on
           the
           days
           appointed
           ,
           't
           is
           publickly
           read
           :
           For
           I
           suppose
           there
           is
           the
           same
           reason
           for
           it
           now
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           as
           there
           was
           then
           against
           the
           Arrians
           ;
           the
           one
           being
           a
           Heresy
           ,
           which
           seems
           to
           have
           been
           refin'd
           out
           of
           the
           other
           ;
           and
           with
           how
           much
           more
           plausibility
           of
           Reason
           it
           combats
           our
           Religion
           ,
           with
           so
           much
           more
           caution
           to
           be
           avoided
           :
           and
           therefore
           the
           prudence
           of
           our
           Church
           is
           to
           be
           commended
           which
           has
           interpos'd
           her
           Authority
           for
           the
           recommendation
           of
           this
           Creed
           .
           Yet
           to
           such
           as
           are
           grounded
           in
           the
           true
           belief
           ,
           those
           explanatory
           Creeds
           ,
           the
           Nicene
           and
           this
           of
           Athanasius
           might
           perhaps
           be
           spar'd
           :
           for
           what
           is
           supernatural
           ,
           will
           always
           be
           a
           mystery
           in
           spight
           of
           Exposition
           :
           and
           for
           my
           own
           part
           the
           plain
           Apostles
           Creed
           ,
           is
           most
           sutable
           to
           my
           weak
           understanding
           ;
           as
           the
           simplest
           diet
           is
           the
           most
           easy
           of
           Digestion
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           dwelt
           longer
           on
           this
           Subject
           than
           I
           intended
           ;
           and
           longer
           than
           ,
           perhaps
           ,
           I
           ought
           ;
           for
           having
           laid
           down
           ,
           as
           my
           Foundation
           ,
           that
           the
           Scripture
           is
           a
           Rule
           ;
           that
           in
           all
           things
           needfull
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           it
           is
           clear
           ,
           sufficient
           ,
           and
           ordain'd
           by
           God
           Almighty
           for
           that
           purpose
           ,
           I
           have
           left
           my self
           no
           right
           to
           interpret
           obscure
           places
           ,
           such
           as
           concern
           the
           possibility
           of
           eternal
           happiness
           to
           Heathens
           :
           because
           whatsoever
           is
           obscure
           is
           concluded
           not
           necessary
           to
           be
           known
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           by
           asserting
           the
           Scripture
           to
           be
           the
           Canon
           of
           our
           Faith
           ,
           I
           have
           unavoidably
           created
           to
           my self
           two
           sorts
           of
           Enemies
           :
           The
           Papists
           indeed
           ,
           more
           directly
           ,
           because
           they
           have
           kept
           the
           Scripture
           from
           us
           ,
           what
           they
           cou'd
           ;
           and
           have
           reserv'd
           to
           themselves
           a
           right
           of
           Interpreting
           what
           they
           have
           deliver'd
           under
           the
           pretence
           of
           Infalibility
           :
           and
           the
           Fanaticks
           more
           collaterally
           ,
           because
           they
           have
           assum'd
           what
           amounts
           to
           an
           Infalibility
           ,
           in
           the
           private
           Spirit
           :
           and
           have
           detorted
           those
           Texts
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           which
           are
           not
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ,
           to
           the
           damnable
           uses
           of
           Sedition
           ,
           disturbance
           and
           destruction
           of
           the
           Civil
           Government
           .
           To
           begin
           with
           the
           Papists
           ,
           and
           to
           speak
           freely
           ,
           I
           think
           them
           the
           less
           dangerous
           (
           at
           
           least
           in
           appearance
           to
           our
           present
           State
           ;
           for
           not
           onely
           the
           Penal
           Laws
           are
           in
           Force
           against
           them
           ,
           and
           their
           number
           is
           contemptible
           ;
           but
           also
           their
           Peerage
           and
           Commons
           are
           excluded
           from
           Parliaments
           ,
           and
           consequently
           those
           Laws
           in
           no
           probability
           of
           being
           Repeal'd
           .
           A
           General
           and
           Uninterrupted
           Plot
           of
           their
           Clergy
           ,
           ever
           since
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           I
           suppose
           all
           Protestants
           believe
           .
           For
           't
           is
           not
           reasonable
           to
           think
           but
           that
           so
           many
           of
           their
           Orders
           ,
           as
           were
           outed
           from
           their
           fat
           possessions
           ,
           wou'd
           endeavour
           a
           reentrance
           against
           those
           whom
           they
           account
           Hereticks
           .
           As
           for
           the
           late
           design
           ,
           Mr.
           Colemans
           Letters
           ,
           for
           ought
           I
           know
           are
           the
           best
           Evidence
           ;
           and
           what
           they
           discover
           ,
           without
           wyre-drawing
           their
           Sence
           ,
           or
           malicious
           Glosses
           ,
           all
           Men
           of
           reason
           conclude
           credible
           .
           If
           there
           be
           any
           thing
           more
           than
           this
           requir'd
           of
           me
           ,
           I
           must
           believe
           it
           as
           well
           as
           I
           am
           able
           ,
           in
           spight
           of
           the
           Witnesses
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           a
           decent
           conformity
           to
           the
           Votes
           of
           Parliament
           :
           For
           I
           suppose
           the
           Fanaticks
           will
           not
           allow
           the
           private
           Spirit
           in
           this
           Case
           :
           Here
           the
           Infallibility
           is
           at
           least
           in
           one
           part
           of
           the
           Government
           ;
           and
           our
           understandings
           as
           well
           as
           our
           wills
           are
           represented
           .
           But
           to
           return
           to
           the
           Roman
           Catholicks
           ,
           how
           can
           we
           be
           secure
           from
           the
           practice
           of
           Jesuited
           Papists
           in
           that
           Religion
           ?
           For
           not
           two
           or
           three
           of
           that
           Order
           ,
           as
           some
           of
           them
           would
           impose
           upon
           us
           ,
           but
           almost
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           them
           are
           of
           opinion
           ,
           that
           their
           Infallible
           Master
           has
           a
           right
           over
           Kings
           ,
           not
           onely
           in
           Spirituals
           but
           Temporals
           .
           Not
           to
           name
           
             Mariana
             ,
             Bellarmine
             ,
             Emanuel
             Sa
             ,
             Molina
             ,
             Santarel
             Simancha
             ,
          
           and
           at
           the
           least
           twenty
           others
           of
           Foreign
           Countries
           ;
           we
           can
           produce
           of
           our
           own
           Nation
           ,
           Campian
           ,
           and
           Doleman
           or
           Parsons
           ,
           besides
           many
           are
           nam'd
           whom
           I
           have
           not
           read
           ,
           who
           all
           of
           them
           attest
           this
           Doctrine
           ,
           that
           the
           Pope
           can
           Depose
           and
           give
           away
           the
           Right
           of
           any
           Sovereign
           Prince
           ,
           
             si
             vel
             paulum
             deflexerit
          
           ,
           if
           he
           shall
           never
           so
           little
           Warpe
           :
           but
           if
           he
           once
           comes
           to
           be
           Excommunicated
           ,
           then
           the
           Bond
           of
           obedience
           is
           taken
           off
           from
           Subjects
           ;
           and
           they
           may
           and
           ought
           to
           drive
           him
           like
           another
           
             Nebuchadnezzar
             ,
             ex
             hominum
             Christianorum
             Dominatu
             ,
          
           from
           exercising
           Dominion
           over
           Christians
           :
           and
           to
           this
           they
           are
           bound
           by
           virtue
           of
           Divine
           Precept
           ,
           and
           by
           all
           the
           tyes
           of
           Conscience
           under
           no
           less
           Penalty
           than
           Damnation
           .
           If
           they
           answer
           me
           (
           as
           a
           Learned
           Priest
           has
           lately
           Written
           ,
           )
           that
           this
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Jesuits
           is
           not
           
             de
             fide
          
           ,
           and
           that
           consequently
           they
           are
           not
           oblig'd
           by
           it
           ▪
           they
           must
           pardon
           me
           ,
           if
           I
           think
           they
           have
           said
           nothing
           to
           the
           purpose
           ;
           for
           't
           is
           a
           Maxim
           in
           their
           Church
           ,
           where
           Points
           of
           Faith
           are
           not
           decided
           ,
           and
           that
           Doctors
           are
           of
           contrary
           opinions
           ,
           they
           may
           follow
           which
           part
           they
           please
           ;
           but
           more
           safely
           the
           most
           receiv'd
           and
           most
           Authoriz'd
           .
           And
           their
           Champion
           Bellarmine
           has
           told
           the
           World
           ,
           in
           his
           Apology
           ,
           that
           the
           King
           of
           England
           is
           a
           Vassal
           to
           the
           Pope
           ,
           
             ratione
             directi
             Dominii
          
           ,
           and
           that
           
           he
           holds
           in
           Vi●●a●age
           of
           his
           Roman
           Landlord
           ▪
           Which
           is
           no
           new
           claim
           put
           in
           for
           England
           .
           Our
           Chronicles
           are
           his
           Authentique
           Witnesses
           ,
           that
           ,
           King
           Iohn
           was
           depos'd
           by
           the
           same
           Plea
           ,
           and
           
             Philip
             Augustus
          
           admitted
           Tenant
           .
           And
           which
           makes
           the
           more
           for
           Bellarmine
           ,
           the
           French
           King
           was
           again
           ejected
           when
           our
           King
           submitted
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           Crown
           receiv'd
           under
           the
           sordid
           Condition
           of
           a
           Vassalage
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           not
           sufficient
           for
           the
           more
           moderate
           and
           well-meaning
           Papists
           ,
           (
           of
           which
           I
           doubt
           not
           there
           are
           many
           )
           to
           produce
           the
           Evidences
           of
           their
           Loyalty
           to
           the
           late
           King
           ,
           and
           to
           declare
           their
           Innocency
           in
           this
           Plot
           ;
           I
           will
           grant
           their
           behaviour
           in
           the
           first
           ,
           to
           have
           been
           as
           Loyal
           and
           as
           brave
           as
           they
           desire
           ▪
           and
           will
           be
           willing
           to
           hold
           them
           excus'd
           as
           to
           the
           second
           ,
           (
           I
           mean
           when
           it
           comes
           to
           my
           turn
           ,
           and
           after
           my
           betters
           ;
           for
           't
           is
           a
           madness
           to
           be
           sober
           alone
           ,
           while
           the
           Nation
           continues
           Drunk
           :
           )
           but
           that
           saying
           of
           their
           Father
           Cres
           :
           is
           still
           running
           in
           my
           head
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           be
           dispens'd
           with
           in
           their
           Obedience
           to
           an
           Heretick
           Prince
           ,
           while
           the
           necessity
           of
           the
           times
           shall
           oblige
           them
           to
           it
           :
           (
           for
           that
           (
           as
           another
           of
           them
           tells
           us
           ,
           )
           is
           onely
           the
           effect
           of
           Christian
           Prudence
           )
           but
           when
           once
           they
           shall
           get
           power
           to
           shake
           him
           off
           ,
           an
           Heretick
           is
           no
           lawful
           King
           ,
           and
           consequently
           to
           rise
           against
           him
           is
           no
           Rebellion
           .
           I
           should
           be
           glad
           there
           fore
           ,
           that
           they
           wou'd
           follow
           the
           advice
           which
           was
           charitably
           given
           them
           by
           a
           Reverend
           Prelate
           of
           our
           Church
           ;
           namely
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           joyn
           in
           a
           publick
           Act
           of
           disowning
           and
           detesting
           those
           Jesuitick
           Principles
           ;
           and
           subscribe
           to
           all
           Doctrines
           which
           deny
           the
           Popes
           Authority
           of
           Deposing
           Kings
           ,
           and
           releasing
           Subjects
           from
           their
           Oath
           of
           Allegiance
           :
           to
           which
           I
           shou'd
           think
           they
           might
           easily
           be
           induc'd
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           true
           that
           this
           present
           Pope
           has
           condemn'd
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           King-killing
           (
           a
           Thesis
           of
           the
           Jesuites
           )
           amongst
           others
           
             ex
             Cathedra
          
           (
           as
           they
           call
           it
           )
           or
           in
           open
           consistory
           .
        
         
           Leaving
           them
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           in
           so
           fair
           a
           way
           (
           if
           they
           please
           themselves
           )
           of
           satisfying
           all
           reasonable
           Men
           ,
           of
           their
           sincerity
           and
           good
           meaning
           to
           the
           Government
           ,
           I
           shall
           make
           bold
           to
           consider
           that
           other
           extream
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           I
           mean
           the
           Fanaticks
           ,
           or
           Schismaticks
           ,
           of
           the
           English
           Church
           .
           Since
           the
           Bible
           has
           been
           Translated
           into
           our
           Tongue
           ,
           they
           have
           us'd
           it
           so
           ,
           as
           if
           their
           business
           was
           not
           to
           be
           sa'vd
           but
           to
           be
           damnd
           by
           its
           Contents
           .
           If
           we
           consider
           onely
           them
           ,
           better
           had
           it
           been
           for
           the
           English
           Nation
           ,
           that
           it
           had
           still
           remain'd
           in
           the
           original
           Greek
           and
           Hebrew
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           in
           the
           honest
           Latine
           of
           St.
           Ierome
           ,
           than
           that
           several
           Texts
           in
           it
           ,
           should
           have
           been
           prevaricated
           to
           the
           destruction
           of
           that
           Government
           ,
           which
           put
           it
           into
           so
           ungrateful
           hands
           .
        
         
           How
           many
           Heresies
           the
           first
           Translation
           of
           Tyndal
           produced
           in
           few
           years
           ,
           let
           my
           Lord
           
           Herbert's
           History
           of
           Henry
           the
           Eighth
           inform
           you
           ▪
           Insomuch
           that
           for
           the
           gross
           errours
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           great
           mischiefs
           it
           
           occasion'd
           ,
           a
           Sentence
           pass'd
           on
           the
           first
           Edition
           of
           the
           Bible
           ,
           too
           shamefull
           almost
           to
           be
           repeated
           .
           After
           the
           short
           Reign
           of
           Edward
           the
           Sixth
           (
           who
           had
           continued
           to
           carry
           on
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           on
           other
           principles
           than
           it
           was
           begun
           )
           every
           one
           knows
           that
           not
           onely
           the
           chief
           promoters
           of
           that
           work
           ,
           but
           many
           others
           ,
           whose
           Consciences
           wou'd
           not
           dispence
           with
           Popery
           ,
           were
           forc'd
           ,
           for
           fear
           of
           persecution
           ,
           to
           change
           Climates
           :
           from
           whence
           returning
           at
           the
           beginning
           of
           Queen
           
           Elizabeth's
           Reign
           ,
           many
           of
           them
           who
           had
           been
           in
           France
           ,
           and
           at
           Geneva
           ,
           brought
           back
           the
           rigid
           opinions
           and
           imperious
           discipline
           of
           Calvin
           ,
           to
           graffe
           upon
           our
           Reformation
           .
           Which
           ,
           though
           they
           cunningly
           conceal'd
           at
           first
           ,
           (
           as
           well
           knowing
           how
           nauseously
           that
           Drug
           wou'd
           go
           down
           in
           a
           lawfull
           Monarchy
           ,
           which
           was
           prescrib'd
           for
           a
           rebellious
           Common-wealth
           )
           yet
           they
           always
           kept
           it
           in
           reserve
           ;
           and
           were
           never
           wanting
           to
           themselves
           either
           in
           Court
           or
           Parliament
           ,
           when
           either
           they
           had
           any
           prospect
           of
           a
           numerous
           Party
           of
           Fanatique
           Members
           in
           the
           one
           ,
           or
           the
           encouragement
           of
           any
           Favourite
           in
           the
           other
           ,
           whose
           Covetousness
           was
           gaping
           at
           the
           Patrimony
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           They
           who
           will
           consult
           the
           Works
           of
           our
           venerable
           Hooker
           ,
           or
           the
           account
           of
           his
           Life
           ,
           or
           more
           particularly
           the
           Letter
           written
           to
           him
           on
           this
           Subject
           ,
           by
           
             George
             Cranmer
          
           ,
           may
           see
           by
           what
           gradations
           they
           proceeded
           ;
           from
           the
           dislike
           of
           Cap
           and
           Surplice
           ,
           the
           very
           next
           step
           was
           Admonitions
           to
           the
           Parliament
           against
           the
           whole
           Government
           Ecclesiastical
           :
           then
           came
           out
           Volumes
           in
           English
           and
           Latin
           in
           defence
           of
           their
           Tenets
           :
           and
           immediately
           ,
           practices
           were
           set
           on
           foot
           to
           erect
           their
           Discipline
           without
           Authority
           .
           Those
           not
           succeeding
           ,
           Satyre
           and
           Rayling
           was
           the
           next
           :
           And
           
             Martin
             Mar-Prelate
          
           (
           the
           Marvel
           of
           those
           times
           )
           was
           the
           first
           Presbyterian
           Scribler
           ,
           who
           sanctify'd
           Libels
           and
           Scurrility
           to
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Good
           Old
           Cause
           .
           Which
           was
           done
           (
           says
           my
           Authour
           )
           upon
           this
           account
           ;
           that
           (
           their
           serious
           Treatises
           having
           been
           fully
           answered
           and
           refuted
           )
           they
           might
           compass
           by
           rayling
           what
           they
           had
           lost
           by
           reasoning
           ;
           and
           when
           their
           Cause
           was
           sunk
           in
           Court
           and
           Parliament
           ,
           they
           might
           at
           least
           hedge
           in
           a
           stake
           amongst
           the
           Rabble
           :
           for
           to
           their
           ignorance
           all
           things
           are
           Wit
           which
           are
           abusive
           ;
           but
           if
           Church
           and
           State
           were
           made
           the
           Theme
           ,
           then
           the
           Doctoral
           Degree
           of
           Wit
           was
           to
           be
           taken
           at
           Billingsgate
           :
           even
           the
           most
           Saintlike
           of
           the
           Party
           ,
           though
           they
           durst
           not
           excuse
           this
           contempt
           and
           villifying
           of
           the
           Government
           ,
           yet
           were
           pleas'd
           ,
           and
           grin'd
           at
           it
           with
           a
           pious
           smile
           ;
           and
           call'd
           it
           a
           judgment
           of
           God
           against
           the
           Hierarchy
           .
           Thus
           Sectaries
           ,
           we
           may
           see
           ,
           were
           born
           with
           teeth
           ,
           foul-mouth'd
           and
           scurrilous
           from
           their
           Infancy
           :
           and
           if
           Spiritual
           Pride
           ,
           Venome
           ,
           Violence
           ,
           Contempt
           of
           Superiours
           and
           Slander
           had
           been
           the
           marks
           of
           Orthodox
           Belief
           ;
           the
           Presbytery
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           our
           Schismaticks
           ,
           which
           are
           their
           Spawn
           ,
           were
           always
           the
           most
           visible
           Church
           in
           the
           Christian
           World.
           
        
         
         
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           the
           Government
           was
           too
           strong
           at
           that
           time
           for
           a
           Rebellion
           ;
           but
           to
           shew
           what
           proficiency
           they
           had
           made
           in
           
           Calvin's
           School
           ,
           even
           Then
           their
           mouths
           water'd
           at
           it
           :
           for
           two
           of
           their
           gifted
           Brotherhood
           (
           Hacket
           and
           Coppinger
           )
           as
           the
           Story
           tells
           us
           ,
           got
           up
           into
           a
           Pease-Cart
           ,
           and
           harangued
           the
           People
           ,
           to
           dispose
           them
           to
           an
           insurrection
           ,
           and
           to
           establish
           their
           Discipline
           by
           force
           :
           so
           that
           however
           it
           comes
           about
           ,
           that
           now
           they
           celebrate
           Queen
           
           Elizabeth's
           Birth-night
           ,
           as
           that
           of
           their
           Saint
           and
           Patroness
           ;
           yet
           then
           they
           were
           for
           doing
           the
           work
           of
           the
           Lord
           by
           Arms
           against
           her
           ;
           and
           in
           all
           probability
           ,
           they
           wanted
           but
           a
           Fanatique
           Lord
           Mayor
           and
           two
           Sheriffs
           of
           their
           Party
           to
           have
           compass'd
           it
           .
        
         
           Our
           venerable
           Hooker
           ,
           after
           many
           Admonitions
           which
           he
           had
           given
           them
           ,
           toward
           the
           end
           of
           his
           Preface
           ,
           breaks
           out
           into
           this
           Prophetick
           speech
           .
           
             There
             is
             in
             every
             one
             of
             these
             Considerations
             most
             just
             cause
             to
             fear
             ,
             lest
             our
             hastiness
             to
             embrace
             a
             thing
             of
             so
             perilous
             Consequence
             
               (
               meaning
               the
               Presbyterian
               Discipline
            
             )
             should
             cause
             Posterity
             to
             feel
             those
             Evils
             ,
             which
             as
             yet
             are
             more
             easy
             for
             us
             to
             prevent
             ,
             than
             they
             would
             be
             for
             them
             to
             remedy
             .
          
        
         
           How
           fatally
           this
           Cassandra
           has
           foretold
           we
           know
           too
           well
           by
           sad
           experience
           :
           the
           Seeds
           were
           sown
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Queen
           Elizabeth
           ,
           the
           bloudy
           Harvest
           ripened
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           King
           Charles
           the
           Martyr
           :
           and
           because
           all
           the
           Sheaves
           could
           not
           be
           carried
           off
           without
           shedding
           some
           of
           the
           loose
           Grains
           ,
           another
           Crop
           is
           too
           like
           to
           follow
           ;
           nay
           I
           fear
           't
           is
           unavoidable
           if
           the
           Conventiclers
           be
           permitted
           still
           to
           scatter
           .
        
         
           A
           man
           may
           be
           suffer'd
           to
           quote
           an
           Adversary
           to
           our
           Religion
           ,
           when
           he
           speaks
           Truth
           :
           and
           't
           is
           the
           observation
           of
           Meimbourg
           in
           his
           History
           of
           Calvinism
           ,
           that
           where-ever
           that
           Discipline
           was
           planted
           and
           embrac'd
           ,
           Rebellion
           ,
           Civil
           War
           and
           Misery
           attended
           it
           .
           And
           how
           indeed
           should
           it
           happen
           otherwise
           ?
           Reformation
           of
           Church
           and
           State
           has
           always
           been
           the
           ground
           of
           our
           Divisions
           in
           England
           .
           While
           we
           were
           Papists
           ,
           our
           Holy
           Father
           rid
           us
           ▪
           by
           pretending
           authority
           out
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           depose
           Princes
           ,
           when
           we
           shook
           off
           his
           Authority
           ,
           the
           Sectaries
           furnish'd
           themselves
           with
           the
           same
           Weapons
           ;
           and
           out
           of
           the
           same
           Magazine
           ,
           the
           Bible
           .
           So
           that
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           which
           are
           in
           themselves
           the
           greatest
           security
           of
           Governours
           ,
           as
           commanding
           express
           obedience
           to
           them
           ,
           are
           now
           turn'd
           to
           their
           destruction
           ;
           and
           never
           since
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           has
           there
           wanted
           a
           Text
           of
           their
           interpreting
           to
           authorize
           a
           Rebel
           .
           And
           't
           is
           to
           be
           noted
           by
           the
           way
           ,
           that
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           King-killing
           and
           Deposing
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           taken
           up
           onely
           by
           the
           worst
           Party
           of
           the
           Papists
           ,
           the
           most
           frontless
           Flatterers
           of
           the
           Pope's
           Authority
           ,
           have
           been
           espous'd
           ,
           defended
           and
           are
           still
           maintain'd
           by
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           Nonconformists
           and
           Republicans
           .
           'T
           is
           but
           dubbing
           themselves
           the
           People
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           't
           is
           the
           interest
           of
           their
           Preachers
           to
           tell
           them
           they
           are
           ,
           and
           their
           own
           interest
           to
           believe
           ;
           and
           after
           that
           ;
           they
           cannot
           
           dip
           into
           the
           Bible
           ,
           but
           one
           Text
           or
           another
           will
           turn
           up
           for
           their
           purpose
           :
           If
           they
           are
           under
           Persecution
           (
           as
           they
           call
           it
           ,
           )
           then
           that
           is
           a
           mark
           of
           their
           Election
           ;
           if
           they
           flourish
           ,
           then
           God
           works
           Miracles
           for
           their
           Deliverance
           ,
           and
           the
           Saints
           are
           to
           possess
           the
           Earth
           .
        
         
           They
           may
           think
           themselves
           to
           be
           too
           roughly
           handled
           in
           this
           Paper
           ;
           but
           I
           who
           know
           best
           how
           far
           I
           could
           have
           gone
           on
           this
           Subject
           ,
           must
           be
           bold
           to
           tell
           them
           they
           are
           spar'd
           :
           though
           at
           the
           same
           time
           I
           am
           not
           ignorant
           that
           they
           interpret
           the
           mildness
           of
           a
           Writer
           to
           them
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           the
           mercy
           of
           the
           Government
           ;
           in
           the
           one
           they
           think
           it
           Fear
           ,
           and
           conclude
           it
           Weakness
           in
           the
           other
           .
           The
           best
           way
           for
           them
           to
           confute
           me
           ,
           is
           ,
           as
           I
           before
           advis'd
           the
           Papists
           ,
           to
           disclaim
           their
           Principles
           ,
           and
           renounce
           their
           Practices
           .
           We
           shall
           all
           be
           glad
           to
           think
           them
           true
           Englishmen
           when
           they
           obey
           the
           King
           ,
           and
           true
           Protestants
           when
           they
           conform
           to
           the
           Church
           Discipline
           .
        
         
           It
           remains
           that
           I
           acquaint
           the
           Reader
           ,
           that
           the
           Verses
           were
           written
           for
           an
           ingenious
           young
           Gentleman
           my
           Friend
           ;
           upon
           his
           Translation
           of
           
             The
             Critical
             History
             of
             the
             Old
             Testament
             ,
          
           compos'd
           by
           the
           learned
           Father
           Simon
           :
           The
           Verses
           therefore
           are
           address'd
           to
           the
           Translatour
           of
           that
           Work
           ,
           and
           the
           style
           of
           them
           is
           ,
           what
           it
           ought
           to
           be
           ,
           Epistolary
           .
        
         
           If
           any
           one
           be
           so
           lamentable
           a
           Critique
           as
           to
           require
           the
           Smoothness
           ,
           the
           Numbers
           and
           the
           Turn
           of
           Heroick
           Poetry
           in
           this
           Poem
           ;
           I
           must
           tell
           him
           ,
           that
           if
           he
           has
           not
           read
           Horace
           ,
           I
           have
           studied
           him
           ,
           and
           hope
           the
           style
           of
           his
           Epistles
           is
           not
           ill
           imitated
           here
           .
           The
           Expressions
           of
           a
           Poem
           ,
           design'd
           purely
           for
           Instruction
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           Plain
           and
           Natural
           ,
           and
           yet
           Majestick
           :
           for
           here
           the
           Poet
           is
           presum'd
           to
           be
           a
           kind
           of
           Law-giver
           ,
           and
           those
           three
           qualities
           which
           I
           have
           nam'd
           are
           proper
           to
           the
           Legislative
           style
           .
           The
           Florid
           ,
           Elevated
           and
           Figurative
           way
           is
           for
           the
           Passions
           ;
           for
           Love
           and
           Hatred
           ,
           Fear
           and
           Anger
           ,
           are
           begotten
           in
           the
           Soul
           by
           shewing
           their
           Objects
           out
           of
           their
           true
           proportion
           ;
           either
           greater
           than
           the
           Life
           ,
           or
           less
           ;
           but
           Instruction
           is
           to
           be
           given
           by
           shewing
           them
           what
           they
           naturally
           are
           .
           A
           Man
           is
           to
           be
           cheated
           into
           Passion
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           reason'd
           into
           Truth
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           TO
           Mr.
           Dryden
           ,
           On
           his
           POEM
           ,
           called
           RELIGIO
           LAICI
           .
        
         
           GReat
           is
           the
           task
           ,
           and
           worthy
           such
           a
           Muse
           ,
        
         
           To
           doe
           Faith
           right
           ,
           yet
           Reason
           disabuse
           .
        
         
           How
           chearfully
           the
           Soul
           does
           take
           its
           flight
           ,
        
         
           On
           Faith's
           strong
           wings
           guided
           by
           Reason's
           light
           ?
        
         
           But
           Reason
           does
           in
           vain
           her
           beams
           display
           ,
        
         
           Shewing
           to
           th'
           place
           ,
           whence
           first
           she
           came
           ,
           the
           way
           ,
        
         
           If
           
           Peter's
           Heirs
           must
           still
           hold
           fast
           the
           Key
           .
        
         
           The
           house
           which
           many
           Mansions
           shou'd
           contain
           ,
        
         
           Form'd
           by
           the
           great
           wise
           Architect
           in
           vain
           ,
        
         
           Of
           Disproportion
           justly
           we
           accuse
           ,
        
         
           If
           the
           streight-gate
           still
           entrance
           must
           refuse
           .
        
         
           The
           onely
           free
           enriching
           Port
           God
           made
        
         
           What
           shamefull
           Monopoly
           did
           invade
           ?
        
         
           One
           Factious
           Company
           ingross'd
           the
           Trade
           .
        
         
         
           Thou
           to
           the
           distant
           Shore
           hast
           safely
           sail'd
           ,
        
         
           Where
           the
           best
           Pilots
           have
           so
           often
           fail'd
           .
        
         
           Freely
           we
           now
           may
           buy
           the
           Pearl
           of
           price
           ,
        
         
           The
           happy
           Land
           abounds
           with
           fragrant
           Spice
           ,
        
         
           And
           nothing
           is
           forbidden
           there
           but
           Vice.
        
         
           Thou
           best
           Columbus
           to
           the
           unknown
           World
           !
        
         
           Mountains
           of
           Doubt
           that
           in
           thy
           way
           were
           hurld
           ,
        
         
           Thy
           generous
           Faith
           has
           bravely
           overcome
           ,
        
         
           And
           made
           Heaven
           truly
           our
           familiar
           home
           .
        
         
           Let
           Crowds
           impossibilities
           receive
           ,
        
         
           Who
           cannot
           think
           ,
           ought
           not
           to
           disbelieve
           .
        
         
           Let
           'em
           pay
           Tithes
           ,
           and
           hud-wink'd
           go
           to
           Heaven
           ;
        
         
           But
           sure
           the
           Quaker
           cou'd
           not
           be
           forgiven
           ,
        
         
           Had
           not
           the
           Clerk
           who
           hates
           Lay-policy
        
         
           Found
           out
           ,
           to
           countervail
           the
           Injury
           ,
        
         
           Swearing
           ,
           a
           trade
           of
           which
           they
           are
           not
           free
           .
        
         
           Too
           long
           has
           captiv'd
           Reason
           been
           enslav'd
           ,
        
         
           By
           Visions
           scar'd
           ,
           and
           airy
           Phantasms
           brav'd
           ,
        
         
           Listning
           t'
           each
           proud
           Enthusiastick
           Fool
           ,
        
         
           Pretending
           Conscience
           ,
           but
           designing
           Rule
           ;
        
         
           Whilst
           Law
           ,
           Form
           ,
           Interest
           ,
           Ignorance
           ,
           Design
           ,
        
         
           Did
           in
           the
           holy
           Cheat
           together
           joyn
           .
        
         
           Like
           vain
           Astrologers
           gazing
           on
           the
           Skyes
           ,
        
         
           We
           fell
           ,
           and
           did
           not
           dare
           to
           trust
           our
           Eyes
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           time
           at
           last
           to
           fix
           the
           trembling
           Soul
           ,
        
         
           And
           by
           thy
           Compass
           to
           point
           out
           the
           Pole
           ;
        
         
           All
           men
           agree
           in
           what
           is
           to
           be
           done
           ,
        
         
           And
           each
           Man's
           Heart
           his
           Table
           is
           of
           Stone
           ,
        
         
         
           Where
           he
           the
           God-writ
           Character
           may
           view
           :
        
         
           Were
           it
           as
           needfull
           ,
           Faith
           had
           been
           so
           too
           .
        
         
           Oh
           ,
           that
           our
           greatest
           fault
           were
           humble
           Doubt
           !
        
         
           And
           that
           we
           were
           more
           Iust
           ,
           though
           less
           Devout
           ;
        
         
           What
           reverence
           shou'd
           we
           pay
           thy
           sacred
           Rhimes
           ,
        
         
           Who
           in
           these
           Factious
           too-believing
           Times
        
         
           Hast
           taught
           us
           to
           obey
           ,
           and
           to
           distrust
           :
        
         
           Yet
           to
           our selves
           ,
           our
           King
           ,
           and
           God
           ,
           prove
           just
           .
        
         
           Thou
           wantst
           not
           Praise
           from
           an
           ensuring
           Friend
           ,
        
         
           The
           Poor
           to
           Thee
           on
           double
           Interest
           lend
           .
        
         
           So
           strong
           thy
           Reasons
           ,
           and
           so
           clear
           thy
           Sense
           ,
        
         
           They
           bring
           ,
           like
           Day
           ,
           their
           own
           bright
           Evidence
           :
        
         
           Yet
           whilst
           mysterious
           Truths
           to
           light
           you
           bring
           ,
        
         
           And
           heavenly
           things
           in
           heavenly
           numbers
           sing
           ,
        
         
           The
           joyfull
           Younger
           Choir
           may
           clap
           the
           Wing
           .
        
      
       
         
           To
           Mr.
           DRYDEN
           ,
           on
           Religio
           Laici
           .
        
         
           'T
           Is
           nobly
           done
           ,
           a
           Layman's
           Creed
           profest
           ,
        
         
           When
           all
           our
           Faith
           of
           late
           hung
           on
           a
           Priest
           ;
        
         
           His
           doubtfull
           words
           like
           Oracles
           receiv'd
           ,
        
         
           And
           when
           we
           could
           not
           understand
           ,
           believ'd
           .
        
         
         
           ,
           Triumphant
           Faith
           now
           takes
           a
           nobler
           course
           ,
        
         
           T
           is
           gentle
           ,
           but
           resists
           intruding
           force
           :
        
         
           Weak
           Reason
           may
           pretend
           an
           awfull
           sway
           ,
        
         
           And
           Consistories
           charge
           her
           to
           obey
           ;
        
         
           (
           Strange
           Nonsense
           to
           confine
           the
           sacred
           Dove
           ,
        
         
           And
           narrow
           Rules
           prescribe
           how
           she
           shall
           love
           ,
        
         
           And
           how
           upon
           the
           barren
           Waters
           move
           .
           )
        
         
           But
           she
           rejects
           and
           scorns
           their
           proud
           Pretence
           ,
        
         
           And
           whilst
           those
           groveling
           things
           depend
           on
           Sense
           ;
        
         
           She
           mounts
           on
           certain
           wings
           and
           flys
           on
           high
           ,
        
         
           And
           looks
           upon
           a
           dazling
           Mystery
           ,
        
         
           With
           fixt
           ,
           and
           steddy
           ,
           and
           an
           Eagle's
           Eye
           .
        
         
           Great
           King
           of
           Verse
           ,
           that
           dost
           instruct
           and
           please
           ,
        
         
           As
           Orpheus
           soften'd
           the
           rude
           Savages
           :
        
         
           And
           gently
           freest
           us
           from
           a
           double
           Care
           ,
        
         
           The
           bold
           Socinian
           ,
           and
           the
           Papal
           Chair
           :
        
         
           Thy
           Iudgment
           is
           correct
           ,
           thy
           Fancy
           young
           ,
        
         
           Thy
           Numbers
           ,
           as
           thy
           generous
           faith
           ,
           are
           strong
           :
        
         
           Whilst
           through
           dark
           Prejudice
           they
           force
           their
           way
           ,
        
         
           Our
           Souls
           shake
           off
           the
           Night
           and
           view
           the
           Day
           .
        
         
           We
           live
           secure
           from
           mad
           Enthusiasts
           Rage
           ,
        
         
           And
           fond
           Tradition
           now
           grown
           blind
           with
           Age.
        
         
           Let
           factious
           and
           ambitious
           Souls
           repine
           ,
        
         
           Thy
           Reason's
           strong
           ,
           and
           generous
           thy
           Design
           ,
        
         
           And
           allways
           to
           doe
           well
           is
           onely
           thine
           .
        
         
           Tho.
           Creech
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           Religio
           Laici
           .
        
         
           
             DIM
             ,
             as
             the
             borrow'd
             beams
             of
             Moon
             and
             Stars
          
           
             To
             
               lonely
               ,
               weary
               ,
               wandring
            
             Travellers
             ,
          
           
             Is
             Reason
             to
             the
             Soul
             :
             And
             as
             on
             high
             ,
          
           
             Those
             rowling
             Fires
             discover
             but
             the
             Sky
          
           
             Not
             light
             us
             here
             ;
             So
             Reason's
             glimmering
             Ray
          
           
             Was
             lent
             ,
             not
             to
             assure
             our
             doubtfull
             way
             ,
          
           
             But
             guide
             us
             upward
             to
             a
             
               better
               Day
            
             .
          
           
             And
             as
             those
             nightly
             Tapers
             disappear
          
           
             When
             Day
             's
             bright
             Lord
             ascends
             our
             Hemisphere
             ;
          
           
             So
             pale
             grows
             Reason
             at
             Religions
             sight
             ;
          
           
             So
             dyes
             ,
             and
             so
             dissolves
             in
             
               Supernatural
               Light.
            
          
           
           
             Some
             few
             ,
             whose
             Lamp
             shone
             brighter
             ,
             have
             been
             led
          
           
             From
             Cause
             to
             Cause
             ,
             to
             Natures
             secret
             head
             ;
          
           
             And
             found
             that
             
               one
               first
               principle
            
             must
             be
             :
          
           
             But
             what
             ,
             or
             who
             ,
             that
             
               VNIVERSAL
               HE
            
             ;
          
           
             Whether
             some
             Soul
             incompassing
             this
             Ball
          
           
             
               Vnmade
               ,
               unmov'd
            
             ;
             yet
             
               making
               ,
               moving
               All
            
             ;
          
           
             Or
             various
             Atom's
             ,
             interfering
             Dance
          
           
             Leapt
             into
             Form
             ,
             (
             the
             Noble
             work
             of
             Chance
             ;
             )
          
           
             Or
             this
             great
             All
             was
             from
             Eternity
             ;
          
           
             Not
             ev'n
             the
             Stagirite
             himself
             could
             see
             ;
          
           
             And
             
               Epicurus
               Guess'd
            
             as
             well
             as
             He
             :
          
           
             As
             
               blindly
               grop'd
            
             they
             for
             a
             
               future
               State
            
             ;
          
           
             As
             
               rashly
               Iudg'd
            
             
             of
             Providence
             and
             Fate
             :
          
           
             But
             least
             of
             all
             could
             their
             Endeavours
             find
          
           
             What
             most
             concern'd
             the
             good
             of
             Humane
             kind
             :
          
           
             For
             Happiness
             was
             never
             to
             be
             found
             ;
          
           
             But
             vanish'd
             from
             'em
             ,
             like
             Enchanted
             ground
             .
          
           
           
             One
             thought
             Content
             the
             Good
             to
             be
             enjoy'd
             :
          
           
             This
             ,
             every
             little
             Accident
             destroy'd
             :
          
           
             The
             
               wiser
               Madmen
            
             did
             for
             Vertue
             toyl
             :
          
           
             A
             Thorny
             ,
             or
             at
             best
             a
             barren
             Soil
             :
          
           
             In
             Pleasure
             some
             their
             glutton
             Souls
             would
             steep
             ;
          
           
             But
             found
             their
             Line
             too
             short
             ,
             the
             Well
             too
             deep
             ;
          
           
             And
             leaky
             Vessels
             which
             no
             Bliss
             cou'd
             keep
             .
          
           
             Thus
             ,
             
               anxious
               Thoughts
            
             in
             
               endless
               Circles
            
             roul
             ,
          
           
             Without
             a
             Centre
             where
             to
             fix
             the
             Soul
             :
          
           
             In
             this
             wilde
             Maze
             their
             vain
             Endeavours
             end
             .
          
           
             How
             can
             the
             less
             the
             Greater
             comprehend
             ?
          
           
             Or
             
               finite
               Reason
            
             reach
             Infinity
             ?
          
           
             For
             what
             cou'd
             
               Fathom
               GOD
            
             were
             more
             than
             He.
             
          
        
         
           
             The
             Deist
             thinks
             he
             stands
             on
             firmer
             ground
             ;
             
          
           
             Cries
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             :
             the
             mighty
             Secret's
             found
             :
          
           
             God
             is
             that
             Spring
             of
             
               Good
               ;
               Supreme
            
             ,
             and
             Best
             ;
          
           
             We
             ,
             made
             to
             serve
             ,
             and
             in
             that
             Service
             blest
             ;
          
           
           
             If
             so
             ,
             some
             Rules
             of
             Worship
             must
             be
             given
             ,
          
           
             Distributed
             alike
             to
             all
             by
             Heaven
             :
          
           
             Else
             God
             were
             partial
             ,
             and
             to
             some
             deny'd
          
           
             The
             Means
             his
             Justice
             shou'd
             for
             all
             provide
             .
          
           
             This
             
               general
               Worship
            
             is
             to
             PRAISE
             ,
             and
             PRAY
             :
          
           
             One
             part
             to
             borrow
             Blessings
             ,
             one
             to
             pay
             :
          
           
             And
             when
             frail
             Nature
             slides
             into
             Offence
             ,
          
           
             The
             Sacrifice
             for
             Crimes
             is
             Penitence
             .
          
           
             Yet
             ,
             since
             th'
             Effects
             of
             Providence
             ,
             we
             find
          
           
             Are
             variously
             dispens'd
             to
             Humane
             kind
             ;
          
           
             That
             
               Vice
               Triumphs
            
             ,
             and
             
               Vertue
               suffers
            
             here
             ,
          
           
             (
             A
             Brand
             that
             Sovereign
             Justice
             cannot
             bear
             ;
             )
          
           
             Our
             Reason
             prompts
             us
             to
             a
             future
             State
             :
          
           
             The
             
               last
               Appeal
            
             from
             Fortune
             ,
             and
             from
             Fate
             :
          
           
             Where
             God's
             all-righteous
             ways
             will
             be
             declar'd
             ;
          
           
             The
             Bad
             meet
             Punishment
             ,
             the
             
               Good
               ,
               Reward
            
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             Thus
             Man
             by
             his
             own
             strength
             to
             Heaven
             wou'd
             soar
             :
             
          
           
             And
             wou'd
             not
             be
             Oblig'd
             to
             God
             for
             more
             .
          
           
             Vain
             ,
             wretched
             Creature
             ,
             how
             art
             thou
             misled
          
           
             To
             think
             thy
             Wit
             these
             God-like
             Notions
             bred
             !
          
           
             These
             Truths
             are
             not
             the
             product
             of
             thy
             Mind
             ,
          
           
             But
             dropt
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             of
             a
             Nobler
             kind
             .
          
           
             
               Reveal'd
               Religion
            
             first
             inform'd
             thy
             Sight
             ,
          
           
             And
             Reason
             saw
             not
             ,
             till
             Faith
             sprung
             the
             Light.
          
           
             Hence
             all
             thy
             
               Natural
               Worship
            
             takes
             the
             Source
             :
          
           
             'T
             is
             Revelation
             what
             thou
             thinkst
             Discourse
             .
          
           
             Else
             ,
             how
             com'st
             Thou
             to
             see
             these
             truths
             so
             clear
             ,
          
           
             Which
             so
             obscure
             to
             Heathens
             did
             appear
             ?
          
           
             Not
             Plato
             these
             ,
             nor
             Aristotle
             found
             :
          
           
             Nor
             He
             whose
             Wisedom
             Oracles
             renown'd
             .
             
          
           
             Hast
             thou
             a
             Wit
             so
             deep
             ,
             or
             so
             sublime
             ,
          
           
             Or
             canst
             thou
             lower
             dive
             ,
             or
             higher
             climb
             ?
          
           
           
             Canst
             Thou
             ,
             by
             Reason
             ,
             more
             of
             God-head
             know
          
           
             Than
             
               Plutarch
               ,
               Seneca
            
             ,
             or
             Cicero
             ?
          
           
             Those
             Gyant
             Wits
             ,
             in
             happyer
             Ages
             born
             ,
          
           
             (
             When
             Arms
             ,
             and
             Arts
             did
             Greece
             and
             Rome
             adorn
             )
          
           
             Knew
             no
             such
             Systeme
             :
             no
             such
             Piles
             cou'd
             raise
          
           
             Of
             
               Natural
               Worship
            
             ,
             built
             on
             Pray'r
             and
             Praise
             ,
          
           
             To
             One
             sole
             GOD.
          
           
             Nor
             did
             Remorse
             ,
             to
             Expiate
             Sin
             ,
             prescribe
             :
          
           
             But
             slew
             their
             fellow
             Creatures
             for
             a
             Bribe
             :
          
           
             The
             guiltless
             Victim
             groan'd
             for
             their
             Offence
             ;
          
           
             And
             Cruelty
             ,
             and
             Blood
             was
             Penitence
             .
          
           
             If
             Sheep
             and
             Oxen
             cou'd
             Attone
             for
             Men
          
           
             Ah!
             at
             how
             cheap
             a
             rate
             the
             Rich
             might
             Sin
             !
          
           
             And
             great
             Oppressours
             might
             Heavens
             Wrath
             beguile
          
           
             By
             offering
             his
             own
             Creatures
             for
             a
             Spoil
             !
          
        
         
           
             Dar'st
             thou
             ,
             poor
             Worm
             ,
             offend
             Infinity
             ?
          
           
             And
             must
             the
             Terms
             of
             Peace
             be
             given
             by
             Thee
             ?
          
           
           
             Then
             Thou
             art
             Iustice
             in
             the
             
               last
               Appeal
            
             ;
          
           
             
               Thy
               easie
               God
            
             instructs
             Thee
             to
             rebell
             :
          
           
             And
             ,
             like
             a
             King
             remote
             ,
             and
             weak
             ,
             must
             take
          
           
             What
             Satisfaction
             Thou
             art
             pleas'd
             to
             make
             .
          
        
         
           
             But
             if
             there
             be
             a
             Pow'r
             too
             Iust
             ,
             and
             strong
          
           
             To
             wink
             at
             Crimes
             ,
             and
             bear
             unpunish'd
             Wrong
             ;
          
           
             Look
             humbly
             upward
             ,
             see
             his
             Will
             disclose
          
           
             The
             Forfeit
             first
             ,
             and
             then
             the
             Fine
             impose
             :
          
           
             A
             
               Mulct
               thy
            
             Poverty
             cou'd
             never
             pay
          
           
             Had
             not
             
               Eternal
               Wisedom
            
             found
             the
             way
             :
          
           
             And
             with
             Coelestial
             Wealth
             supply'd
             thy
             Store
             :
          
           
             
               His
               Iustice
            
             makes
             the
             
               Fine
               ,
               his
               Mercy
            
             quits
             the
             Score
             .
          
           
             See
             God
             descending
             in
             thy
             Humane
             Frame
             ;
          
           
             Th'
             offended
             ,
             suff'ring
             in
             th'
             Offenders
             Name
             :
          
           
             All
             thy
             Misdeeds
             to
             him
             imputed
             see
             ,
          
           
             And
             all
             his
             Righteousness
             devolv'd
             on
             thee
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             For
             granting
             we
             have
             Sin'd
             ,
             and
             that
             th'
             offence
          
           
             Of
             Man
             ,
             is
             made
             against
             Omnipotence
             ,
          
           
             Some
             Price
             ,
             that
             bears
             proportion
             ,
             must
             be
             paid
             ;
          
           
             And
             Infinite
             with
             Infinite
             be
             weigh'd
             .
          
           
             See
             then
             the
             
               Deist
               lost
               :
               Remorse
            
             for
             Vice
             ,
          
           
             Not
             paid
             ,
             or
             
               paid
               ,
               inadequate
            
             in
             price
             :
          
           
             What
             farther
             means
             can
             Reason
             now
             direct
             ,
          
           
             Or
             what
             Relief
             from
             
               humane
               Wit
            
             expect
             ?
          
           
             That
             shews
             us
             sick
             ;
             and
             sadly
             are
             we
             sure
          
           
             Still
             to
             be
             Sick
             ,
             till
             Heav'n
             reveal
             the
             Cure
             :
          
           
             Itfhen
             
             Heaven's
             Will
             must
             needs
             be
             understood
             ,
          
           
             (
             Which
             must
             ,
             if
             we
             want
             Cure
             ,
             and
             Heaven
             ,
             be
             Good
             )
          
           
             Let
             all
             Records
             of
             
               Will
               reveal'd
            
             be
             shown
             ;
          
           
             With
             Scripture
             ,
             all
             in
             equal
             ballance
             thrown
             ,
          
           
             And
             our
             one
             Sacred
             Book
             
               will
               be
            
             That
             one
             .
          
        
         
           
             Proof
             needs
             not
             here
             ,
             for
             whether
             we
             compare
          
           
             That
             Impious
             ,
             Idle
             ,
             Superstitious
             Ware
          
           
           
             Of
             
               Rites
               ,
               Lustrations
               ,
               Offerings
            
             ,
             (
             which
             before
             ,
          
           
             In
             various
             Ages
             ,
             various
             Countries
             bore
             )
          
           
             With
             
               Christian
               Faith
            
             and
             Vertues
             ,
             we
             shall
             find
          
           
             None
             answ'ring
             the
             great
             ends
             of
             humane
             kind
          
           
             But
             
               This
               one
               Rule
               of
               Life
               :
               That
            
             shews
             us
             best
          
           
             How
             God
             may
             be
             appeas'd
             ,
             and
             
               Mortals
               blest
            
             .
          
           
             Whether
             from
             length
             of
             Time
             its
             worth
             we
             draw
             ,
          
           
             The
             World
             is
             scarce
             more
             Ancient
             than
             the
             Law
             :
          
           
             Heav'ns
             early
             Care
             prescrib'd
             for
             every
             Age
             ;
          
           
             First
             ,
             in
             the
             Soul
             ,
             and
             after
             ,
             in
             the
             Page
             .
          
           
             Or
             ,
             whether
             more
             abstractedly
             we
             look
             ,
          
           
             Or
             on
             the
             Writers
             ,
             or
             the
             
               written
               Book
            
             ,
          
           
             Whence
             ,
             but
             from
             Heav'n
             ,
             cou'd
             men
             unskill'd
             in
             Arts
             ,
          
           
             In
             several
             Ages
             born
             ,
             in
             several
             parts
             ,
          
           
             Weave
             such
             
               agreeing
               Truths
            
             ?
             or
             how
             ,
             or
             why
          
           
             Shou'd
             all
             conspire
             to
             cheat
             us
             with
             a
             Lye
             ?
          
           
             Vnask'd
             their
             
               Pains
               ,
               ungratefull
            
             their
             Advice
             ,
          
           
             Starving
             their
             Gain
             ,
             and
             Martyrdom
             their
             Price
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             If
             on
             the
             Book
             it self
             we
             cast
             our
             view
             ,
          
           
             Concurrent
             Heathens
             prove
             the
             Story
             True
             :
          
           
             The
             
               Doctrine
               ,
               Miracles
            
             ;
             which
             must
             convince
             ,
          
           
             For
             Heav'n
             in
             Them
             appeals
             to
             
               humane
               Sense
            
             :
          
           
             And
             though
             they
             prove
             not
             ,
             they
             Confirm
             the
             Cause
             ,
          
           
             When
             what
             is
             Taught
             agrees
             with
             
               Natures
               Laws
            
             .
          
        
         
           
             Then
             for
             the
             
               Style
               ;
               Majestick
            
             and
             Divine
             ,
          
           
             It
             speaks
             no
             less
             than
             God
             in
             every
             Line
             :
          
           
             
               Commanding
               words
            
             ;
             whose
             Force
             is
             still
             the
             same
          
           
             As
             the
             first
             Fiat
             that
             produc'd
             our
             Frame
             .
          
           
             All
             Faiths
             beside
             ,
             or
             did
             by
             Arms
             ascend
             ;
          
           
             Or
             Sense
             indulg'd
             has
             made
             Mankind
             their
             Friend
             :
          
           
             This
             onely
             Doctrine
             does
             our
             Lusts
             oppose
             :
          
           
             Unfed
             by
             Natures
             Soil
             ,
             in
             which
             it
             grows
             ;
          
           
             Cross
             to
             our
             Interests
             ,
             curbing
             Sense
             ,
             and
             Sin
             ;
          
           
             Oppress'd
             without
             ,
             and
             undermin'd
             within
             ,
          
           
           
             It
             thrives
             through
             pain
             ;
             it
             s
             own
             Tormentours
             tires
             ;
          
           
             And
             with
             a
             stubborn
             patience
             still
             aspires
             .
          
           
             To
             what
             can
             Reason
             such
             Effects
             assign
          
           
             Transcending
             Nature
             ,
             but
             to
             
               Laws
               Divine
            
             ?
          
           
             Which
             in
             that
             Sacred
             Volume
             are
             contain'd
             ;
          
           
             Sufficient
             ,
             clear
             ,
             and
             for
             that
             use
             ordain'd
             .
          
        
         
           
             But
             stay
             :
             the
             Deist
             
             here
             will
             urge
             anew
             ,
          
           
             No
             
               Supernatural
               Worship
            
             can
             be
             True
             :
          
           
             Because
             a
             
               general
               Law
            
             is
             that
             alone
          
           
             Which
             must
             to
             all
             ,
             and
             every
             where
             be
             known
             :
          
           
             A
             Style
             so
             large
             as
             not
             this
             Book
             can
             claim
          
           
             Nor
             ought
             that
             bears
             reveal'd
             Religions
             Name
             .
          
           
             'T
             is
             said
             the
             sound
             of
             a
             
             Messiah's
             Birth
          
           
             Is
             gone
             through
             all
             the
             habitable
             Earth
             :
          
           
             But
             still
             that
             Text
             must
             be
             confin'd
             alone
          
           
             To
             what
             was
             Then
             inhabited
             ,
             and
             known
             :
          
           
           
             And
             what
             Provision
             cou'd
             from
             thence
             accrue
          
           
             To
             Indian
             Souls
             ,
             and
             Worlds
             discover'd
             New
             ?
          
           
             In
             other
             parts
             it
             helps
             ,
             that
             Ages
             past
             ,
          
           
             The
             Scriptures
             there
             were
             known
             ,
             and
             were
             imbrac'd
             ,
          
           
             Till
             Sin
             spread
             once
             again
             the
             Shades
             of
             Night
             :
          
           
             What
             's
             that
             to
             these
             who
             never
             saw
             the
             Light
             ?
          
        
         
           
             Of
             all
             Objections
             
             this
             indeed
             is
             chief
          
           
             To
             startle
             Reason
             ,
             stagger
             frail
             Belief
             :
          
           
             We
             grant
             ,
             't
             is
             true
             ,
             that
             Heav'n
             from
             humane
             Sense
          
           
             Has
             hid
             the
             secret
             paths
             of
             Providence
             :
          
           
             But
             boundless
             Wisedom
             ,
             boundless
             Mercy
             ,
             may
          
           
             Find
             ev'n
             for
             those
             be-wildred
             Souls
             ,
             a
             way
             :
          
           
             If
             from
             his
             
               Nature
               Foes
            
             may
             Pity
             claim
             ,
          
           
             Much
             more
             may
             Strangers
             who
             ne'er
             heard
             his
             Name
             .
          
           
             And
             though
             
               no
               Name
            
             be
             for
             Salvation
             known
             ,
          
           
             But
             that
             of
             his
             
               Eternal
               Sons
            
             alone
             ;
          
           
           
             Who
             knows
             how
             far
             transcending
             Goodness
             can
          
           
             Extend
             the
             Merits
             of
             
               that
               Son
            
             to
             Man
             ?
          
           
             Who
             knows
             what
             Reasons
             may
             his
             Mercy
             lead
             ;
          
           
             Or
             
               Ignorance
               invincible
            
             may
             plead
             ?
          
           
             Not
             onely
             Charity
             bids
             hope
             the
             best
             ,
          
           
             But
             more
             the
             great
             Apostle
             has
             exprest
             :
          
           
             
               That
               ,
               if
               the
            
             Gentiles
             ,
             (
             whom
             no
             Law
             inspir'd
             ,
             )
          
           
             By
             Nature
             did
             what
             
               was
               by
            
             Law
             requir'd
             ;
          
           
             They
             ,
             who
             the
             written
             Rule
             had
             never
             known
             ,
          
           
             Were
             to
             themselves
             both
             Rule
             and
             Law
             alone
             :
          
           
             To
             Natures
             plain
             indictment
             they
             shall
             plead
             ;
          
           
             And
             ,
             by
             their
             Conscience
             ,
             be
             condemn'd
             or
             freed
             .
          
           
             Most
             righteous
             Doom
             !
             because
             a
             
               Rule
               reveal'd
            
             .
          
           
             Is
             none
             to
             Those
             ,
             from
             whom
             it
             was
             conceal'd
             .
          
           
             Then
             those
             who
             follow'd
             Reasons
             Dictates
             right
             ;
          
           
             Liv'd
             up
             ,
             and
             lifted
             high
             their
             
               Natural
               Light
            
             ;
          
           
             With
             Socrates
             may
             see
             their
             Maker's
             Face
             ,
          
           
             While
             Thousand
             Rubrick-Martyrs
             want
             a
             place
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             Nor
             does
             it
             baulk
             my
             Charity
             ,
             to
             find
          
           
             Th'
             Egyptian
             Bishop
             of
             another
             mind
             :
          
           
             For
             ,
             though
             his
             
               Creed
               Eternal
               Truth
            
             contains
             ,
          
           
             'T
             is
             hard
             for
             Man
             to
             doom
             to
             
               endless
               pains
            
          
           
             All
             who
             believ'd
             not
             all
             ,
             his
             Zeal
             requir'd
             ;
          
           
             Unless
             he
             first
             cou'd
             prove
             he
             was
             inspir'd
             .
          
           
             Then
             let
             us
             either
             think
             he
             meant
             to
             say
          
           
             
               This
               Faith
            
             ,
             where
             publish'd
             ,
             was
             the
             onely
             way
             ;
          
           
             Or
             else
             conclude
             that
             ,
             Arius
             to
             confute
             ,
          
           
             The
             good
             old
             Man
             ,
             too
             eager
             in
             dispute
             ,
          
           
             Flew
             high
             ;
             and
             as
             his
             Christian
             Fury
             rose
          
           
             Damn'd
             all
             for
             Hereticks
             who
             durst
             oppose
             .
          
        
         
           
             Thus
             far
             my
             Charity
             this
             path
             has
             try'd
             ;
             
          
           
             (
             A
             much
             unskilfull
             ,
             but
             well
             meaning
             guide
             :
             )
          
           
             Yet
             what
             they
             are
             ,
             ev'n
             these
             crude
             thoughts
             were
             bred
          
           
             By
             reading
             that
             ,
             which
             better
             thou
             hast
             read
             .
          
           
           
             Thy
             Matchless
             Author's
             work
             :
             which
             thou
             ,
             my
             Friend
             ,
          
           
             By
             well
             translating
             better
             dost
             commend
             :
          
           
             Those
             youthfull
             hours
             which
             ,
             of
             thy
             Equals
             most
          
           
             In
             Toys
             have
             squander'd
             ,
             or
             in
             Vice
             have
             lost
             ,
          
           
             Those
             hours
             hast
             thou
             to
             Nobler
             use
             employ'd
             ;
          
           
             And
             the
             severe
             Delights
             of
             Truth
             enjoy'd
             .
          
           
             Witness
             this
             weighty
             Book
             ,
             in
             which
             appears
          
           
             The
             crabbed
             Toil
             of
             many
             thoughtfull
             years
             ,
          
           
             Spent
             by
             thy
             Authour
             ,
             in
             the
             Sifting
             Care
          
           
             Of
             Rabbins
             old
             Sophisticated
             Ware
          
           
             From
             Gold
             Divine
             ;
             which
             he
             who
             well
             can
             sort
          
           
             May
             afterwards
             make
             Algebra
             a
             Sport.
          
           
             A
             Treasure
             ,
             which
             if
             Country-Curates
             buy
             ,
          
           
             They
             Junius
             ,
             and
             Tremellius
             may
             defy
             :
          
           
             Save
             pains
             in
             various
             readings
             ,
             and
             Translations
             ;
          
           
             And
             without
             Hebrew
             make
             most
             learn'd
             quotations
             .
          
           
             A
             Work
             so
             full
             with
             various
             Learning
             fraught
             ,
          
           
             So
             nicely
             pondred
             ,
             yet
             so
             strongly
             wrought
             ,
          
           
           
             As
             Natures
             height
             and
             Arts
             last
             hand
             requir'd
             :
          
           
             As
             much
             as
             Man
             cou'd
             compass
             ,
             uninspir'd
             .
          
           
             Where
             we
             may
             see
             what
             Errours
             have
             been
             made
          
           
             Both
             in
             the
             Copiers
             and
             
               Translaters
               Trade
            
             :
          
           
             How
             
               Iewish
               ,
               Popish
            
             ,
             Interests
             have
             prevail'd
             ,
          
           
             And
             where
             Infallibility
             has
             fail'd
             .
          
        
         
           
             For
             some
             ,
             who
             have
             his
             secret
             meaning
             ghes'd
             ,
          
           
             Have
             found
             our
             Authour
             not
             too
             much
             a
             Priest
             :
          
           
             For
             Fashion-sake
             he
             seems
             to
             have
             recourse
          
           
             To
             Pope
             ,
             and
             Councils
             ,
             and
             Traditions
             force
             :
          
           
             But
             he
             that
             old
             Traditions
             cou'd
             subdue
             ,
          
           
             Cou'd
             not
             but
             find
             the
             weakness
             of
             the
             New
             :
          
           
             If
             Scripture
             ,
             though
             deriv'd
             from
             
               heav'nly
               birth
            
             ,
          
           
             Has
             been
             but
             carelesly
             preserv'd
             on
             Earth
             ;
          
           
             If
             
             God's
             
               own
               People
            
             ,
             who
             of
             God
             before
          
           
             Knew
             what
             we
             know
             ,
             and
             had
             been
             promis'd
             more
             ,
          
           
           
             In
             fuller
             Terms
             ,
             of
             Heaven's
             assisting
             Care
             ,
          
           
             And
             who
             did
             neither
             Time
             ,
             nor
             Study
             spare
          
           
             To
             keep
             this
             Book
             
               untainted
               ,
               unperplext
            
             ;
          
           
             Let
             in
             gross
             Errours
             to
             corrupt
             the
             Text
             :
          
           
             Omitted
             paragraphs
             ,
             embroyl'd
             the
             Sense
             ;
          
           
             With
             vain
             Traditions
             stopt
             the
             gaping
             Fence
             ,
          
           
             Which
             every
             common
             hand
             pull'd
             up
             with
             ease
             :
          
           
             What
             Safety
             from
             such
             brushwood-helps
             as
             these
             ?
          
           
             If
             
               written
               words
            
             from
             time
             are
             not
             secur'd
             ,
          
           
             How
             can
             we
             think
             have
             
               oral
               Sounds
            
             endur'd
             ?
          
           
             Which
             thus
             transmitted
             ,
             if
             one
             Mouth
             has
             fail'd
             ,
          
           
             
               Immortal
               Lyes
            
             on
             Ages
             are
             intail'd
             :
          
           
             And
             that
             some
             such
             have
             been
             ,
             is
             prov'd
             too
             plain
             ;
          
           
             If
             we
             consider
             
               Interest
               ,
               Church
            
             ,
             and
             Gain
             .
          
        
         
           
             Oh
             but
             says
             one
             ,
             Tradition
             
             set
             aside
             ,
          
           
             Where
             can
             we
             hope
             for
             an
             
               unerring
               Guid
            
             ?
          
           
           
             For
             since
             th'
             original
             Scripture
             has
             been
             lost
             ,
          
           
             All
             Copies
             
               disagreeing
               ,
               maim'd
            
             the
             most
             ,
          
           
             Or
             
               Christian
               Faith
            
             can
             have
             no
             certain
             ground
             ,
          
           
             Or
             Truth
             in
             
               Church
               Tradition
            
             must
             be
             found
             .
          
        
         
           
             Such
             an
             Omniscient
             Church
             we
             wish
             indeed
             ;
          
           
             'T
             were
             worth
             
               Both
               Testaments
            
             ,
             and
             cast
             in
             the
             Creed
             :
          
           
             But
             if
             
               this
               Mother
            
             be
             a
             Guid
             so
             sure
             ,
          
           
             As
             can
             all
             
               doubts
               resolve
            
             ,
             all
             
               truth
               secure
            
             ,
          
           
             Then
             her
             Infallibility
             ,
             as
             well
          
           
             Where
             Copies
             are
             corrupt
             ,
             or
             lame
             ,
             can
             tell
             ;
          
           
             Restore
             
               lost
               Canon
            
             with
             as
             little
             pains
             ,
          
           
             As
             
               truly
               explicate
            
             what
             still
             remains
             :
          
           
             Which
             yet
             no
             Council
             dare
             pretend
             to
             doe
             ;
          
           
             Unless
             like
             Esdras
             ,
             they
             cou'd
             write
             it
             new
             :
          
           
             Strange
             Confidence
             ,
             still
             to
             interpret
             true
             ,
          
           
             Yet
             not
             be
             sure
             that
             all
             they
             have
             explain'd
             ,
          
           
             Is
             in
             the
             blest
             Original
             contain'd
             .
          
           
           
             More
             Safe
             ,
             and
             much
             more
             modest
             't
             is
             ,
             to
             say
          
           
             God
             wou'd
             not
             leave
             Mankind
             without
             a
             way
             :
          
           
             And
             that
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             though
             not
             
               every
               where
            
          
           
             Free
             from
             Corruption
             ,
             or
             intire
             ,
             or
             clear
             ,
          
           
             Are
             uncorrupt
             ,
             sufficient
             ,
             clear
             ,
             intire
             ,
          
           
             In
             all
             things
             which
             our
             needfull
             Faith
             require
             .
          
           
             If
             others
             in
             the
             
               same
               Glass
               better
            
             see
          
           
             'T
             is
             for
             Themselves
             they
             look
             ,
             but
             not
             for
             me
             :
          
           
             For
             MY
             Salvation
             must
             its
             Doom
             receive
          
           
             Not
             from
             what
             OTHERS
             ,
             but
             what
             I
             believe
             .
          
        
         
           
             Must
             
               all
               Tradition
            
             
             then
             be
             set
             aside
             ?
          
           
             This
             to
             affirm
             were
             Ignorance
             ,
             or
             Pride
             .
          
           
             Are
             there
             not
             many
             points
             ,
             some
             needfull
             sure
          
           
             To
             saving
             Faith
             ,
             that
             Scripture
             leaves
             obscure
             ?
          
           
             Which
             every
             Sect
             will
             wrest
             a
             several
             way
          
           
             (
             For
             what
             one
             Sect
             Interprets
             ,
             all
             Sects
             may
             :
             )
          
           
           
             We
             hold
             ,
             and
             say
             we
             prove
             from
             Scripture
             plain
             ,
          
           
             That
             Christ
             is
             GOD
             ;
             the
             bold
             Socinian
          
           
             From
             the
             same
             Scripture
             urges
             he
             's
             but
             MAN.
          
           
             Now
             what
             Appeal
             can
             end
             th'
             important
             Suit
             ;
          
           
             Both
             parts
             talk
             loudly
             ,
             but
             the
             Rule
             is
             mute
             ?
          
        
         
           
             Shall
             I
             speak
             plain
             ,
             and
             in
             a
             Nation
             free
          
           
             Assume
             an
             honest
             
               Layman's
               Liberty
            
             ?
          
           
             I
             think
             (
             according
             to
             my
             little
             Skill
             ,
             )
          
           
             To
             my
             own
             Mother-Church
             submitting
             still
             ▪
             )
          
           
             That
             many
             have
             been
             sav'd
             ,
             and
             many
             may
             ,
          
           
             Who
             never
             heard
             this
             Question
             brought
             in
             play
             .
          
           
             Th'
             unletter'd
             Christian
             ,
             who
             believes
             in
             gross
             ,
          
           
             Plods
             on
             to
             Heaven
             ;
             and
             ne'er
             is
             at
             a
             loss
             :
          
           
             For
             the
             Streight-gate
             wou'd
             be
             made
             streighter
             yet
             ,
          
           
             Were
             none
             admitted
             there
             but
             men
             of
             Wit.
          
           
             The
             few
             ,
             by
             Nature
             form'd
             ,
             with
             Learning
             fraught
             ,
          
           
             Born
             to
             instruct
             ,
             as
             others
             to
             be
             taught
             ,
          
           
           
             Must
             Study
             well
             the
             Sacred
             Page
             ;
             and
             see
          
           
             Which
             Doctrine
             ,
             this
             ,
             or
             that
             ,
             does
             best
             agree
          
           
             With
             the
             whole
             Tenour
             of
             the
             Work
             Divine
             :
          
           
             And
             plainlyest
             points
             to
             Heaven
             's
             reveal'd
             Design
             :
          
           
             Which
             Exposition
             flows
             from
             
               genuine
               Sense
            
             ;
          
           
             And
             which
             is
             forc'd
             by
             Wit
             and
             Eloquence
             .
          
           
             Not
             that
             Traditions
             parts
             are
             useless
             here
             :
          
           
             When
             general
             ,
             old
             ,
             disinteress'd
             and
             clear
             :
          
           
             That
             Ancient
             Fathers
             thus
             expound
             the
             Page
             ,
          
           
             Gives
             Truth
             the
             reverend
             Majesty
             of
             Age
             :
          
           
             Confirms
             its
             force
             ,
             by
             biding
             every
             Test
             ;
          
           
             For
             best
             Authority's
             next
             Rules
             are
             best
             .
          
           
             And
             still
             the
             nearer
             to
             the
             Spring
             we
             go
          
           
             More
             limpid
             ,
             more
             unsoyl'd
             the
             Waters
             flow
             .
          
           
             Thus
             ,
             
               first
               Traditions
            
             were
             a
             proof
             alone
             ;
          
           
             Cou'd
             we
             be
             certain
             such
             they
             were
             ,
             so
             known
             :
          
           
             But
             since
             some
             Flaws
             in
             long
             descent
             may
             be
             ,
          
           
             They
             make
             not
             Truth
             but
             Probability
             .
          
           
           
             Even
             Arius
             and
             Pelagius
             durst
             provoke
          
           
             To
             what
             the
             
               Centuries
               preceding
            
             spoke
             .
          
           
             Such
             difference
             is
             there
             in
             an
             oft-told
             Tale
             :
          
           
             But
             Truth
             by
             its
             own
             Sinews
             will
             prevail
             .
          
           
             
               Tradition
               written
            
             therefore
             more
             commends
          
           
             Authority
             ,
             than
             what
             from
             Voice
             descends
             :
          
           
             And
             this
             ,
             as
             perfect
             as
             its
             kind
             can
             be
             ,
          
           
             Rouls
             down
             to
             us
             the
             Sacred
             History
             :
          
           
             Which
             ,
             from
             the
             
               Vniversal
               Church
               receiv'd
            
             ,
          
           
             Is
             try'd
             ,
             and
             after
             ,
             for
             its
             self
             believ'd
             .
          
        
         
           
             The
             partial
             Papists
             wou'd
             infer
             from
             hence
          
           
             Their
             Church
             ,
             
             in
             last
             resort
             ,
             shou'd
             Judge
             the
             Sense
             .
          
           
             But
             first
             they
             wou'd
             assume
             ,
             
             with
             wondrous
             Art
             ,
          
           
             Themselves
             to
             be
             the
             whole
             ,
             who
             are
             but
             part
          
           
             Of
             that
             vast
             Frame
             ,
             the
             Church
             ;
             yet
             grant
             they
             were
          
           
             The
             handers
             down
             ,
             can
             they
             from
             thence
             infer
          
           
           
             A
             right
             t'
             interpret
             ?
             or
             wou'd
             they
             alone
          
           
             Who
             brought
             the
             Present
             ,
             claim
             it
             for
             their
             own
             ?
          
           
             The
             
             Book
             's
             a
             
               Common
               Largess
            
             to
             Mankind
             ;
          
           
             Not
             more
             for
             them
             ,
             than
             every
             Man
             design'd
             :
          
           
             The
             
               welcome
               News
            
             is
             in
             the
             Letter
             found
             ;
          
           
             The
             
             Carrier's
             not
             Commission'd
             to
             expound
             .
          
           
             It
             speaks
             it
             Self
             ,
             and
             what
             it
             does
             contain
             ,
          
           
             In
             all
             things
             needfull
             to
             be
             known
             ,
             is
             plain
             .
          
        
         
           
             In
             times
             o'ergrown
             with
             Rust
             and
             Ignorance
             ,
          
           
             A
             gainfull
             Trade
             their
             Clergy
             did
             advance
             :
          
           
             When
             want
             of
             Learning
             kept
             the
             Laymen
             low
             ,
          
           
             And
             none
             but
             Priests
             were
             Authoriz'd
             to
             know
             :
          
           
             When
             what
             small
             Knowledge
             was
             ,
             in
             them
             did
             dwell
             ;
          
           
             And
             he
             a
             God
             who
             cou'd
             but
             Reade
             or
             Spell
             ;
          
           
             Then
             
               Mother
               Church
            
             did
             mightily
             prevail
             :
          
           
             She
             parcel'd
             out
             the
             Bible
             by
             retail
             :
          
           
           
             But
             still
             expounded
             what
             She
             sold
             or
             gave
             ;
          
           
             To
             keep
             it
             in
             
               her
               Power
            
             to
             Damn
             and
             Save
             :
          
           
             Scripture
             was
             scarce
             ,
             and
             as
             the
             Market
             went.
          
           
             Poor
             Laymen
             took
             Salvation
             on
             Content
             ;
          
           
             As
             needy
             men
             take
             Money
             ,
             good
             or
             bad
             :
          
           
             
             God's
             Word
             they
             had
             not
             ,
             but
             the
             Priests
             they
             had
             .
          
           
             Yet
             ,
             whate'er
             
               false
               Conveyances
            
             they
             made
             ,
          
           
             The
             Lawyer
             still
             was
             certain
             to
             be
             paid
             .
          
           
             In
             those
             dark
             times
             they
             learn'd
             their
             knack
             so
             well
             ,
          
           
             That
             by
             long
             use
             they
             grew
             Infallible
             :
          
           
             At
             last
             ,
             a
             knowing
             Age
             began
             t'
             enquire
          
           
             If
             they
             the
             Book
             ,
             or
             That
             did
             them
             inspire
             :
          
           
             And
             ,
             making
             narrower
             search
             they
             found
             ,
             thô
             late
             ,
          
           
             That
             what
             they
             thought
             the
             
             Priest's
             ,
             was
             Their
             Estate
             :
          
           
             Taught
             by
             the
             
               Will
               produc'd
            
             ,
             (
             the
             written
             Word
             )
          
           
             How
             long
             they
             had
             been
             cheated
             on
             Record
             .
          
           
             Then
             ,
             every
             man
             who
             saw
             the
             Title
             fair
             ,
          
           
             Claim'd
             a
             Child's
             part
             ,
             and
             put
             in
             for
             a
             Share
             :
          
           
           
             Consulted
             Soberly
             his
             private
             good
             ;
          
           
             And
             sav'd
             himself
             as
             cheap
             as
             e'er
             he
             cou'd
             .
          
        
         
           
             'T
             is
             true
             ,
             my
             Friend
             ,
             (
             and
             far
             be
             Flattery
             hence
             )
          
           
             This
             good
             had
             full
             as
             bad
             a
             Consequence
             :
          
           
             The
             Book
             thus
             put
             in
             every
             vulgar
             hand
             ,
          
           
             Which
             each
             presum'd
             he
             best
             cou'd
             understand
             ,
          
           
             The
             
               Common
               Rule
            
             was
             made
             the
             
               common
               Prey
            
             ;
          
           
             And
             at
             the
             mercy
             of
             the
             Rabble
             lay
             .
          
           
             The
             tender
             Page
             with
             horney
             Fists
             was
             gaul'd
             ;
          
           
             And
             he
             was
             gifted
             most
             that
             loudest
             baul'd
             :
          
           
             The
             Spirit
             gave
             the
             
               Doctoral
               Degree
            
             :
          
           
             And
             every
             member
             of
             a
             Company
          
           
             Was
             of
             
               his
               Trade
            
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             
               Bible
               free
            
             .
          
           
             Plain
             Truths
             enough
             for
             needfull
             use
             they
             found
             ;
          
           
             But
             men
             wou'd
             still
             be
             itching
             to
             expound
             :
          
           
             Each
             was
             ambitious
             of
             th'
             obscurest
             place
             ,
          
           
             No
             measure
             ta'n
             from
             Knowledge
             ,
             all
             from
             GRACE
             .
          
           
           
             Study
             and
             Pains
             were
             now
             no
             more
             their
             Care
             ;
          
           
             Texts
             were
             explain'd
             by
             Fasting
             ,
             and
             by
             Prayer
             :
          
           
             This
             was
             the
             Fruit
             the
             
               private
               Spirit
            
             brought
             ;
          
           
             Occasion'd
             by
             
               great
               Zeal
            
             ,
             and
             
               little
               Thought
            
             .
          
           
             While
             Crouds
             unlearn'd
             ,
             with
             rude
             Devotion
             warm
             ,
          
           
             About
             the
             Sacred
             Viands
             buz
             and
             swarm
             ,
          
           
             The
             
               Fly-blown
               Text
            
             creates
             a
             
               crawling
               Brood
            
             ;
          
           
             And
             turns
             to
             Maggots
             what
             was
             meant
             for
             Food
             .
          
           
             A
             Thousand
             daily
             Sects
             rise
             up
             ,
             and
             dye
             ;
          
           
             A
             Thousand
             more
             the
             perish'd
             Race
             supply
             :
          
           
             So
             all
             we
             make
             of
             Heavens
             discover'd
             Will
          
           
             Is
             ,
             not
             to
             have
             it
             ,
             or
             to
             use
             it
             ill
             .
          
           
             The
             Danger
             's
             much
             the
             same
             ;
             on
             several
             Shelves
          
           
             If
             others
             wreck
             us
             ,
             or
             we
             wreck
             our
             selves
             .
          
        
         
           
             What
             then
             remains
             ,
             but
             ,
             waving
             each
             Extreme
             ,
          
           
             The
             Tides
             of
             Ignorance
             ,
             and
             Pride
             to
             stem
             ?
          
           
           
             Neither
             so
             rich
             a
             Treasure
             to
             forgo
             ;
          
           
             Nor
             proudly
             seek
             beyond
             our
             pow'r
             to
             know
             :
          
           
             Faith
             is
             not
             built
             on
             disquisitions
             vain
             ;
          
           
             The
             things
             we
             must
             believe
             ,
             are
             few
             ,
             and
             plain
             :
          
           
             But
             since
             men
             will
             believe
             more
             than
             they
             need
             ;
          
           
             And
             every
             man
             will
             make
             himself
             a
             Creed
             :
          
           
             In
             doubtfull
             questions
             't
             is
             the
             safest
             way
          
           
             To
             learn
             what
             unsuspected
             Ancients
             say
             :
          
           
             For
             't
             is
             not
             likely
             we
             shou'd
             higher
             Soar
          
           
             In
             search
             of
             Heav'n
             ,
             than
             
               all
               the
               Church
               before
            
             :
          
           
             Nor
             can
             we
             be
             deceiv'd
             ,
             unless
             we
             see
          
           
             The
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Fathers
               disagree
            
             .
          
           
             If
             after
             all
             ,
             they
             stand
             suspected
             still
             ,
          
           
             (
             For
             no
             man's
             Faith
             depends
             upon
             his
             Will
             ;
             )
          
           
             'T
             is
             some
             Relief
             ,
             that
             points
             not
             clearly
             known
             ,
          
           
             Without
             much
             hazard
             may
             be
             let
             alone
             :
          
           
             And
             ,
             after
             hearing
             what
             our
             Church
             can
             say
             ,
          
           
             If
             still
             our
             Reason
             runs
             another
             way
             ,
          
           
           
             That
             private
             Reason
             't
             is
             more
             Just
             to
             curb
             ,
          
           
             Than
             by
             Disputes
             the
             publick
             Peace
             disturb
             .
          
           
             For
             points
             obscure
             are
             of
             small
             use
             to
             learn
             :
          
           
             But
             Common
             quiet
             is
             Mankind's
             concern
             .
          
        
         
           
             Thus
             have
             I
             made
             my
             own
             Opinions
             clear
             :
          
           
             Yet
             neither
             Praise
             expect
             ,
             nor
             Censure
             fear
             :
          
           
             And
             this
             unpolish'd
             ,
             rugged
             Verse
             ,
             I
             chose
             ;
          
           
             As
             fittest
             for
             Discourse
             ,
             and
             nearest
             Prose
             :
          
           
             For
             ,
             while
             from
             
               Sacred
               Truth
            
             I
             do
             not
             swerve
             ,
          
           
             Tom
             Sternhold
             
               's
               ,
               or
            
             Tom
             Sha
             —
             ll
             's
             Rhimes
             
               will
               serve
            
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A36673-e2060
           
             Opinions
             of
             the
             several
             Sects
             of
             Philosophers
             concerning
             the
             
               Summum
               Bonum
            
             .
          
           
             Systeme
             of
             Deisme
             .
          
           
             Of
             Reveal'd
             Religion
             .
          
           
             Socrates
             .
          
           
             Objection
             of
             the
             Deist
             .
          
           
             The
             Objection
             answer'd
             .
          
           
             Digression
             to
             the
             Translatour
             of
             Father
             
             Simon
             's
             Critical
             History
             of
             the
             Old
             Testament
             .
          
           
             Of
             the
             Infallibility
             of
             Tradition
             ,
             in
             General
             .
          
           
             Objection
             in
             behalf
             of
             Tradition
             ;
             urg'd
             by
             Father
             Simon
             .
          
           
             The
             Second
             Objection
             .
          
           
             Answer
             to
             the
             Objection
             .