A letter to the Deists
         Prideaux, Humphrey, 1648-1724.
      
       
         
           1696
        
      
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             A letter to the Deists
             Prideaux, Humphrey, 1648-1724.
          
           [2], 154 p.
           
             printed for Edward Castle, next Scotland-yard, by Whitehall,
             London :
             1696.
          
           
             By Humphrey Prideaux.
             With errata at end of text.
             With footnotes.
             Reproduction of the original at the Bodleian Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Deism -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           LETTER
           TO
           THE
           DEISTS
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Edward
             Castle
          
           ,
           next
           Scotland-Yard
           ,
           by
           Whitehall
           ,
           1696.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           LETTER
           TO
           THE
           DEISTS
           .
        
         
           
             GENTLEMEN
             ,
          
        
         
           THAT
           a
           Letter
           addressed
           to
           you
           ,
           in
           this
           Publick
           manner
           ,
           may
           not
           seem
           strange
           ;
           I
           think
           my self
           obliged
           ,
           in
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           to
           acquaint
           you
           with
           the
           reason
           of
           my
           Writing
           it
           .
        
         
           Your
           Title
           is
           New.
           At
           least
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           many
           Years
           ,
           since
           
           Deism
           has
           been
           taken
           for
           a
           Characteristical
           Distinction
           ,
           of
           any
           considerable
           Number
           or
           Body
           of
           Men.
           But
           however
           New
           that
           Title
           be
           ,
           I
           confess
           ,
           I
           esteem
           it
           more
           honourable
           ,
           in
           its
           true
           Signification
           ,
           than
           any
           thing
           can
           be
           ,
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           meer
           Antiquity
           .
           Nevertheless
           ,
           I
           remember
           particularly
           ,
           that
           the
           first
           time
           I
           ever
           heard
           it
           thus
           used
           ,
           was
           in
           a
           way
           of
           Censure
           ;
           Which
           then
           did
           not
           a
           little
           surprize
           me
           .
           I
           considered
           barely
           what
           the
           Word
           imported
           ;
           And
           could
           not
           conceive
           ,
           with
           what
           colour
           ,
           the
           Belief
           or
           Worship
           of
           a
           Deity
           was
           thought
           worthy
           of
           blame
           .
           For
           ,
           reflecting
           upon
           my self
           ,
           my
           own
           Conscience
           told
           me
           that
           I
           was
           included
           in
           the
           Sense
           
           of
           the
           Expression
           ;
           But
           it
           did
           not
           upon
           that
           account
           reproach
           me
           with
           any
           manner
           of
           Guilt
           .
           I
           was
           sure
           that
           my
           Belief
           of
           a
           God
           had
           ,
           by
           no
           means
           ,
           made
           me
           a
           worse
           Man
           or
           worse
           Subject
           ,
           than
           I
           should
           have
           been
           without
           it
           :
           But
           much
           the
           contrary
           .
           Next
           therefore
           ,
           reflecting
           upon
           the
           Narrowness
           and
           Bigottry
           of
           his
           Spirit
           that
           spoke
           to
           me
           ,
           (
           for
           he
           was
           wedded
           to
           a
           Party
           )
           I
           concluded
           that
           his
           partial
           Zeal
           made
           him
           mis-apply
           the
           Term
           ,
           and
           join
           an
           ill
           Idea
           to
           a
           good
           thing
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           Perswasion
           I
           remained
           long
           :
           And
           was
           satisfied
           with
           the
           Integrity
           of
           my
           own
           Mind
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           Obloquy
           which
           attended
           my
           Principles
           .
           Nay
           ,
           it
           was
           also
           some
           
           further
           Delight
           to
           me
           (
           who
           am
           not
           fond
           of
           our
           ordinary
           Distinctions
           of
           Sects
           )
           that
           I
           had
           found
           a
           Name
           ,
           however
           mistaken
           by
           others
           ,
           which
           I
           could
           sincerely
           and
           heartily
           own
           .
           And
           I
           thereupon
           sometimes
           ,
           jestingly
           ,
           compared
           my
           Pleasure
           in
           this
           ,
           to
           that
           of
           the
           Citizen
           in
           the
           Comedy
           ,
           who
           was
           over-joyed
           to
           learn
           that
           he
           had
           all
           his
           life
           been
           accustomed
           to
           speak
           Prose
           ,
           tho'
           without
           knowing
           it
           :
           Which
           Comparison
           I
           thought
           the
           more
           just
           ,
           because
           true
           Deism
           is
           in
           effect
           as
           natural
           and
           easie
           to
           Mankind
           as
           Prose
           ,
           or
           ordinary
           Speech
           .
           For
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           us
           to
           reflect
           upon
           our selves
           ,
           and
           upon
           all
           the
           Objects
           that
           surround
           us
           ,
           without
           admiring
           
           and
           adoring
           the
           Almighty
           Author
           both
           of
           them
           and
           us
           .
           And
           as
           I
           had
           indeed
           been
           long
           a
           Deist
           ,
           before
           I
           was
           acquainted
           with
           the
           Name
           ;
           So
           I
           continued
           for
           several
           Years
           afterwards
           ,
           to
           cultivate
           the
           Consequences
           of
           that
           Principle
           ,
           in
           my
           own
           Mind
           ,
           and
           to
           inculcate
           occasionally
           the
           Necessity
           of
           it
           to
           others
           ;
           Fully
           perswaded
           that
           it
           was
           the
           only
           Foundation
           ,
           upon
           which
           either
           the
           true
           Happiness
           of
           particular
           Persons
           ,
           or
           any
           tolerable
           Degree
           of
           mutual
           Security
           in
           the
           Conduct
           of
           Publick
           Societies
           ,
           could
           be
           established
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           Alas
           ,
           how
           have
           I
           been
           mistaken
           !
           Is
           Deism
           an
           ill
           thing
           ?
           Or
           have
           Ill
           Men
           shrowded
           themselves
           under
           that
           Specious
           
           Name
           ?
           Somewhat
           is
           in
           the
           Matter
           .
           For
           the
           Out-cry
           against
           Deists
           is
           now
           grown
           so
           strong
           ,
           that
           no
           body
           can
           suppose
           it
           to
           be
           wholly
           without
           ground
           .
           I
           beseech
           you
           therefore
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           expostulate
           a
           little
           with
           you
           ;
           That
           we
           may
           come
           to
           some
           clearness
           in
           the
           point
           ,
           and
           be
           thereby
           inabled
           to
           vindicate
           our selves
           from
           the
           infamous
           Aspersions
           that
           are
           cast
           upon
           us
           .
           You
           see
           that
           I
           reckon
           my self
           in
           your
           Number
           :
           And
           if
           you
           are
           true
           Deists
           ,
           I
           assure
           you
           we
           are
           Brethren
           .
           Let
           that
           Consideration
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           prevail
           with
           you
           to
           bear
           with
           me
           ,
           whilst
           I
           require
           ,
           and
           earnestly
           sollicit
           you
           ,
           to
           assist
           me
           in
           the
           Defence
           of
           our
           Common
           Cause
           .
        
         
         
           This
           ,
           then
           ,
           being
           the
           Design
           of
           my
           Letter
           ,
           it
           is
           absolutely
           needful
           that
           ,
           in
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           we
           come
           to
           a
           Scrutiny
           amongst
           our selves
           ;
           And
           examine
           strictly
           what
           it
           is
           we
           mean
           by
           the
           Name
           ;
           And
           whether
           or
           no
           we
           do
           indeed
           own
           the
           Things
           that
           are
           imputed
           to
           us
           .
           The
           word
           ,
           Deist
           ,
           I
           take
           to
           signifie
           no
           more
           than
           One
           that
           believes
           a
           God
           ;
           And
           Deism
           the
           Religion
           of
           One
           that
           so
           believes
           .
           Those
           words
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           in
           their
           natural
           signification
           ,
           do
           not
           exclude
           any
           other
           Belief
           ,
           unless
           it
           be
           opposite
           to
           ,
           or
           inconsistent
           with
           this
           .
           My
           Belief
           that
           there
           is
           a
           God
           does
           not
           hinder
           me
           from
           believing
           any
           other
           thing
           ,
           that
           is
           not
           apparently
           contradictory
           to
           the
           Idea
           that
           I
           have
           entertained
           
           of
           him
           .
           If
           I
           have
           not
           a
           clear
           Demonstration
           ,
           from
           that
           Idea
           ,
           of
           the
           impossibility
           of
           any
           thing
           proposed
           to
           my
           Belief
           ,
           I
           may
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           examine
           the
           probability
           of
           that
           thing
           (
           especially
           if
           it
           be
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           )
           by
           the
           Credibility
           of
           the
           Witnesses
           that
           report
           it
           .
           And
           so
           ,
           in
           the
           Histories
           that
           we
           have
           of
           the
           Life
           of
           Moses
           ,
           of
           Christ
           ,
           of
           Apollonius
           ,
           or
           of
           Mahomet
           ,
           I
           may
           give
           more
           or
           less
           Credit
           to
           any
           of
           them
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           different
           strength
           of
           their
           Testimonials
           .
           A
           Deist
           (
           for
           any
           thing
           that
           the
           word
           imports
           )
           may
           be
           either
           Jew
           or
           Christian
           ,
           Philosopher
           or
           Turk
           ;
           Nay
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           all
           Religionists
           whatsoever
           must
           necessarily
           be
           Deists
           .
           Never
           any
           Appellation
           
           was
           invented
           more
           truly
           Catholick
           .
           Only
           Atheists
           are
           excluded
           from
           it
           .
        
         
           How
           comes
           it
           then
           to
           pass
           that
           a
           Word
           of
           ,
           so
           great
           a
           Latitude
           ,
           is
           used
           in
           so
           narrow
           a
           sence
           ,
           as
           to
           signifie
           a
           very
           small
           number
           of
           those
           that
           have
           equal
           right
           to
           it
           ?
           Nay
           sometimes
           to
           signifie
           those
           that
           have
           no
           such
           Right
           at
           all
           ?
           That
           it
           is
           thus
           used
           ,
           we
           cannot
           doubt
           :
           Daily
           Conversation
           assures
           us
           of
           it
           .
           The
           Reason
           of
           this
           Abuse
           ,
           must
           of
           necessity
           come
           ,
           either
           from
           those
           that
           have
           assumed
           ,
           or
           those
           that
           have
           imposed
           the
           Name
           .
           Nay
           ,
           by
           the
           best
           observation
           I
           have
           been
           able
           to
           make
           ,
           it
           seems
           to
           me
           that
           both
           sides
           have
           contributed
           hereunto
           ;
           by
           fixing
           
           something
           Negative
           to
           the
           Signification
           of
           the
           Word
           ,
           which
           it
           does
           not
           import
           .
           Those
           that
           impose
           it
           ,
           do
           thereby
           at
           least
           understand
           a
           Denial
           of
           the
           Grounds
           of
           Revealed
           Religion
           ;
           In
           which
           indeed
           they
           stretch
           the
           Word
           too
           far
           :
           But
           whilst
           some
           of
           those
           that
           assume
           it
           ,
           do
           at
           the
           same
           time
           deny
           the
           very
           Principles
           of
           Natural
           Religion
           also
           ,
           They
           plainly
           abuse
           and
           pervert
           it
           ,
           directly
           contrary
           to
           what
           it
           signifies
           ;
           And
           usurp
           a
           Title
           that
           no
           ways
           belongs
           to
           them
           .
           For
           tho'
           the
           Belief
           of
           a
           God
           do
           not
           necessarily
           imply
           the
           Belief
           of
           Supernatural
           Revelation
           ;
           (
           many
           having
           acknowledged
           a
           Supream
           Being
           ,
           infinitely
           Wise
           and
           Powerful
           and
           Good
           ,
           who
           
           have
           been
           altogether
           unacquainted
           with
           any
           Manifestation
           of
           his
           Will
           ,
           otherwise
           than
           by
           the
           Use
           of
           their
           own
           Faculties
           in
           the
           contemplation
           of
           his
           Works
           )
           Yet
           it
           does
           necessarily
           carry
           along
           with
           it
           a
           Reverential
           sense
           of
           Duty
           towards
           him
           :
           Which
           is
           the
           ground
           of
           Natural
           Religion
           .
           And
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           tho'
           the
           Denial
           of
           Revelation
           do
           not
           properly
           make
           Men
           Deists
           ,
           in
           the
           strict
           sence
           of
           the
           Word
           ;
           Yet
           the
           total
           want
           of
           Natural
           Religion
           does
           absolutely
           hinder
           them
           from
           being
           Deists
           ,
           in
           any
           sence
           whatsoever
           .
           Let
           us
           then
           ,
           who
           insist
           upon
           a
           Right
           to
           that
           Title
           ,
           in
           the
           first
           place
           discard
           those
           who
           are
           wholly
           destitute
           of
           this
           sense
           ,
           from
           our
           Fraternity
           .
           
           And
           let
           us
           afterwards
           consider
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           able
           ,
           what
           our
           Fundamental
           Article
           ,
           (
           the
           Belief
           of
           a
           Deity
           )
           does
           ,
           or
           does
           not
           ,
           oblige
           us
           to
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           not
           simply
           the
           word
           ,
           God
           ,
           but
           the
           Idea
           fixed
           to
           that
           Word
           ,
           which
           is
           capable
           of
           having
           any
           Influence
           ,
           either
           upon
           Men's
           Minds
           or
           Conversations
           .
           And
           it
           is
           not
           impossible
           ,
           but
           some
           Ideas
           of
           a
           Deity
           may
           have
           a
           worse
           Influence
           upon
           them
           than
           none
           at
           all
           .
           Wherefore
           it
           highly
           imports
           us
           to
           observe
           ,
           whether
           some
           Persons
           ,
           that
           own
           the
           Name
           ,
           do
           not
           yet
           take
           away
           the
           thing
           ;
           Or
           perhaps
           even
           substitute
           a
           worse
           in
           the
           stead
           of
           it
           .
           Those
           that
           say
           directly
           there
           is
           no
           God
           ,
           are
           not
           Deists
           ,
           but
           Atheists
           .
           It
           is
           
           neither
           of
           such
           ,
           nor
           to
           such
           ,
           that
           I
           write
           .
           For
           in
           these
           Parts
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           the
           Notion
           of
           a
           Deity
           is
           so
           universally
           spread
           and
           received
           ,
           that
           no
           man
           dares
           own
           the
           open
           Profession
           of
           down-right
           Atheism
           .
           So
           that
           this
           sort
           of
           Men
           (
           if
           perhaps
           there
           are
           any
           few
           such
           )
           are
           the
           less
           dangerous
           .
           But
           those
           that
           retaining
           the
           usual
           Word
           ,
           endeavour
           slily
           to
           infinuate
           a
           Corrupt
           sence
           of
           it
           ,
           ought
           so
           much
           the
           more
           carefully
           to
           be
           watched
           ,
           by
           how
           much
           the
           more
           their
           Title
           and
           Outside
           is
           less
           apt
           to
           give
           any
           suspicion
           of
           their
           Design
           .
        
         
           My
           Intention
           yet
           is
           not
           to
           inquire
           into
           all
           the
           several
           sorts
           of
           Gods
           that
           these
           Men
           frame
           to
           themselves
           .
           It
           has
           been
           done
           
           in
           a
           great
           measure
           by
           others
           ;
           And
           the
           inconsistency
           of
           their
           Notions
           very
           accurately
           exposed
           .
           To
           do
           it
           thorowly
           were
           an
           endless
           Task
           :
           For
           I
           much
           doubt
           ,
           whether
           any
           two
           of
           them
           agree
           intirely
           in
           any
           one
           System
           .
           But
           if
           ,
           in
           pursuing
           some
           of
           their
           Principal
           Hypotheses
           ,
           I
           shew
           the
           mischievous
           influence
           that
           all
           such
           like
           Opinions
           must
           needs
           have
           upon
           the
           whole
           State
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           in
           this
           World
           ;
           I
           hope
           I
           shall
           perswade
           you
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           my
           Brethren
           ,
           who
           are
           true
           Deists
           ,
           to
           concurr
           with
           me
           in
           owning
           your
           detestation
           of
           such
           pernicious
           Principles
           .
        
         
           Which
           of
           them
           shall
           I
           then
           chuse
           ?
           It
           is
           very
           indifferent
           .
           For
           all
           their
           several
           Schemes
           
           do
           equally
           lead
           to
           Irreligion
           ;
           And
           consequently
           to
           the
           utter
           ruin
           of
           Humane
           Societies
           .
           Some
           Men
           ,
           because
           Mr.
           Hobbs
           rellished
           not
           the
           sound
           of
           Immaterial
           Substances
           (
           without
           ever
           considering
           whether
           they
           are
           able
           to
           frame
           to
           themselves
           any
           more
           distinct
           conception
           of
           the
           substance
           of
           Matter
           )
           fear
           not
           ,
           upon
           his
           Authority
           ,
           to
           ridicule
           the
           Notion
           of
           Spirit
           .
           These
           ,
           without
           trying
           their
           Skill
           upon
           particulars
           ,
           resolve
           in
           general
           the
           Structure
           of
           the
           whole
           Universe
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           the
           Animate
           Beings
           which
           replenish
           it
           ,
           into
           the
           unexplicable
           Powers
           of
           Matter
           and
           Motion
           .
           Let
           it
           be
           so
           .
           For
           I
           enter
           not
           into
           the
           Absurdity
           of
           their
           Philosophy
           ,
           which
           has
           been
           sufficiently
           refuted
           
           by
           others
           .
           I
           will
           only
           consider
           some
           Consequences
           of
           it
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           our selves
           .
           If
           there
           be
           nothing
           but
           Matter
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           Then
           Thought
           is
           either
           a
           Property
           necessarily
           belonging
           to
           ,
           and
           inherent
           in
           Matter
           ;
           Or
           the
           Result
           of
           some
           particular
           Figure
           and
           Motion
           impress'd
           upon
           it
           .
           The
           first
           they
           will
           not
           say
           :
           Because
           the
           Parings
           of
           their
           own
           Nails
           convince
           them
           it
           is
           false
           .
           But
           the
           second
           ,
           for
           any
           thing
           they
           know
           ,
           may
           be
           :
           And
           therefore
           they
           say
           it
           is
           .
           I
           pass
           over
           also
           this
           precarious
           
             May
             be
          
           ,
           which
           others
           have
           fully
           demonstrated
           
             cannot
             be
          
           :
           And
           admitting
           their
           Conclusion
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           ;
           
             (
             viz.
          
           That
           the
           Principle
           of
           Wisdom
           which
           discovers
           it-self
           in
           the
           
           Frame
           and
           Government
           of
           the
           Universe
           ,
           is
           only
           an
           Effect
           of
           the
           Position
           and
           Motion
           of
           its
           Parts
           )
           Then
           ,
           however
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           amongst
           infinite
           other
           Absurdities
           ,
           they
           must
           allow
           that
           this
           Principle
           ,
           this
           Effect
           ,
           this
           God
           (
           as
           they
           would
           call
           it
           )
           must
           be
           liable
           to
           all
           the
           changes
           that
           happen
           in
           the
           Universal
           Mass
           of
           Matter
           .
           For
           if
           it
           consist
           only
           in
           some
           particular
           System
           ,
           that
           can
           receive
           no
           impression
           from
           the
           rest
           ;
           Then
           neither
           can
           it
           make
           any
           impression
           upon
           the
           rest
           :
           And
           so
           there
           is
           an
           End
           of
           all
           its
           Energy
           .
           But
           if
           they
           will
           say
           that
           Matter
           moves
           always
           uniformly
           ,
           and
           that
           therefore
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           their
           God
           is
           stable
           ;
           I
           answer
           ,
           that
           the
           uniform
           Mo-Motion
           
           of
           the
           Particles
           of
           Matter
           is
           either
           (
           in
           empty
           space
           )
           an
           Eternal
           Progression
           of
           separate
           Particles
           in
           straight
           lines
           ;
           The
           supposition
           of
           which
           ,
           is
           the
           same
           thing
           ,
           in
           respect
           of
           the
           Energy
           of
           every
           Particle
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           even
           now
           express'd
           concerning
           a
           particular
           System
           remov'd
           from
           any
           Communication
           with
           the
           rest
           :
           Or
           else
           ,
           (
           in
           a
           mixture
           of
           several
           Particles
           )
           it
           is
           a
           regular
           Impulse
           of
           one
           Particle
           upon
           another
           ,
           according
           to
           Bulk
           ,
           Figure
           ,
           Swiftness
           ,
           and
           Incidence
           ;
           Which
           ,
           besides
           that
           it
           gives
           us
           no
           Idea
           of
           any
           possibility
           of
           Thought
           resulting
           from
           such
           Variety
           of
           Figures
           and
           Motions
           ;
           Yet
           if
           we
           should
           allow
           that
           some
           peculiar
           Hit
           ,
           in
           an
           infinite
           Variety
           
           of
           such
           Modifications
           ,
           might
           produce
           it
           ,
           together
           with
           Knowledge
           and
           Wisdom
           in
           the
           highest
           Degree
           ;
           Nevertheless
           ,
           we
           must
           of
           necessity
           allow
           that
           every
           Variation
           of
           that
           particular
           Modification
           which
           produces
           them
           ,
           must
           not
           only
           disturb
           but
           utterly
           destroy
           them
           .
           So
           that
           all
           the
           possible
           Variety
           of
           Figure
           and
           Motion
           that
           we
           can
           conceive
           in
           Matter
           ,
           shews
           us
           either
           an
           impossibility
           of
           any
           thing
           like
           Thought
           resulting
           from
           it
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           a
           Necessity
           of
           the
           Inconstancy
           and
           Changeableness
           of
           that
           Thought
           ,
           with
           every
           change
           in
           the
           Matter
           which
           produces
           it
           .
           And
           thus
           every
           way
           that
           we
           can
           turn
           the
           Notion
           of
           a
           Material
           God
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           (
           in
           
           fiance
           of
           all
           sence
           )
           allow
           him
           Existence
           ;
           Yet
           we
           can
           not
           avoid
           to
           acknowledge
           him
           subject
           to
           Disturbances
           ,
           Diseases
           ,
           Passions
           ,
           and
           all
           manner
           of
           Alterations
           that
           are
           incident
           to
           Matter
           ,
           and
           altogether
           unsuitable
           to
           the
           Perfections
           which
           we
           must
           of
           necessity
           attribute
           to
           the
           Supream
           Deity
           .
        
         
           This
           then
           is
           the
           God
           which
           these
           Men
           frame
           to
           themselves
           .
           At
           least
           ,
           this
           is
           the
           Idea
           of
           the
           God
           that
           results
           from
           their
           Hypothesis
           ,
           whether
           they
           describe
           him
           so
           or
           no.
           A
           Worthy
           God
           indeed
           !
           Not
           the
           Creator
           or
           Disposer
           of
           this
           Universal
           Frame
           of
           things
           ,
           but
           the
           Effect
           of
           some
           Peculiar
           Disposition
           in
           it
           ;
           Posterior
           to
           Matter
           ,
           and
           liable
           (
           if
           not
           to
           Extinction
           )
           at
           
           least
           to
           Inconstancy
           ,
           Fluctuation
           ,
           and
           Change.
           If
           this
           be
           He
           ,
           no
           wonder
           if
           they
           bear
           little
           Respect
           to
           him
           .
           A
           contingent
           and
           transitory
           thing
           :
           To
           which
           whilst
           they
           endeavour
           to
           give
           some
           Solidity
           ,
           by
           drawing
           him
           out
           of
           lumpish
           Matter
           ,
           they
           are
           forced
           so
           to
           volatilize
           their
           own
           Imaginations
           ,
           that
           they
           destroy
           the
           very
           Idea
           which
           they
           pretend
           to
           give
           of
           him
           .
        
         
           But
           before
           we
           contemplate
           the
           Consequences
           of
           this
           Hypothesis
           ,
           let
           us
           consider
           Another
           .
           And
           because
           This
           plainly
           takes
           away
           the
           thing
           that
           it
           pretends
           to
           constitute
           ,
           and
           instead
           of
           a
           fundamental
           Cause
           ,
           puts
           us
           off
           with
           a
           very
           transitory
           Effect
           ,
           let
           us
           set
           before
           
           our
           Eyes
           One
           Omnipotent
           Universal
           Cause
           of
           all
           things
           .
           For
           such
           an
           Idea
           some
           Men
           are
           apt
           to
           give
           of
           God.
           Without
           determining
           any
           thing
           about
           his
           Substance
           ,
           whether
           Material
           or
           Immaterial
           ;
           They
           suppose
           it
           suitable
           to
           the
           perfection
           of
           his
           Nature
           ,
           that
           (
           in
           the
           first
           Constitution
           of
           the
           Universe
           )
           he
           should
           have
           impressed
           such
           an
           Energy
           into
           the
           Texture
           and
           Frame
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           is
           capable
           for
           ever
           afterwards
           to
           continue
           all
           the
           Appearances
           of
           things
           ;
           that
           we
           are
           or
           are
           not
           acquainted
           withal
           ,
           without
           his
           intermeddling
           or
           interposing
           any
           more
           in
           the
           Production
           ,
           Guidance
           or
           Government
           of
           any
           thing
           whatsoever
           .
           It
           is
           (
           at
           least
           )
           below
           his
           Dignity
           ,
           
           say
           they
           ,
           to
           concern
           himself
           in
           the
           vain
           Tumults
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           to
           co-operate
           either
           with
           or
           against
           any
           of
           our
           Projects
           ,
           by
           his
           immediate
           Influx
           .
           His
           business
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           any
           ,
           is
           about
           higher
           things
           ;
           far
           remote
           from
           our
           Cognizance
           .
           We
           are
           pitiful
           Engines
           ,
           moved
           any
           way
           by
           the
           Impressions
           made
           upon
           our
           Senses
           ,
           by
           things
           without
           us
           ;
           And
           so
           necessitated
           to
           whatsoever
           we
           do
           ,
           by
           the
           fatal
           Chain
           of
           Causes
           in
           which
           he
           at
           first
           linked
           the
           whole
           Universe
           .
        
         
           I
           pretend
           not
           ,
           in
           these
           two
           particulars
           ,
           to
           give
           any
           exact
           System
           of
           the
           Opinions
           of
           Ancient
           Philosophers
           .
           The
           fortuitous
           jumblings
           of
           Democritean
           Atomes
           ,
           The
           Idle
           Deity
           
           of
           the
           Epicureans
           ,
           And
           the
           fatal
           Necessity
           of
           the
           Stoicks
           ,
           are
           not
           the
           Subject
           of
           my
           Enquiry
           .
           But
           a
           mixture
           of
           such
           Thoughts
           as
           these
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           fill
           the
           Heads
           of
           many
           who
           now
           call
           themselves
           Deists
           ,
           and
           make
           too
           ordinary
           a
           Subject
           of
           Modern
           Conversation
           .
           And
           it
           is
           upon
           the
           Benefit
           of
           this
           Age
           ,
           and
           of
           my
           own
           Country
           (
           if
           I
           might
           be
           able
           in
           the
           least
           Degree
           to
           contribute
           towards
           it
           )
           that
           my
           Thoughts
           are
           now
           intent
           .
        
         
           To
           these
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           I
           will
           add
           yet
           another
           Opinion
           ;
           that
           has
           great
           Affinity
           with
           them
           .
           Some
           Men
           ,
           without
           troubling
           themselves
           in
           any
           manner
           about
           the
           Notion
           of
           a
           Deity
           ,
           and
           considering
           only
           how
           evidently
           
           our
           Thoughts
           depend
           upon
           the
           Disposition
           of
           the
           Organs
           of
           our
           Body
           (
           because
           we
           see
           the
           Disorders
           that
           oft
           arise
           in
           our
           Minds
           ,
           from
           the
           Affections
           to
           which
           they
           are
           incident
           )
           are
           apt
           boldly
           to
           conclude
           ,
           and
           maintain
           ,
           that
           an
           absolute
           Dissolution
           of
           this
           Organical
           Texture
           ,
           (
           which
           all
           Men
           are
           subject
           to
           in
           Death
           )
           must
           of
           necessity
           extinguish
           the
           Principle
           of
           Thought
           that
           we
           have
           now
           in
           us
           ,
           and
           leave
           nothing
           capable
           of
           any
           Conscious
           Reflections
           upon
           our
           preceeding
           Life
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           said
           already
           that
           I
           intended
           not
           to
           meddle
           with
           the
           Philosophical
           Absurdity
           of
           any
           of
           these
           Opinions
           .
           They
           have
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           been
           sufficiently
           
           refuted
           by
           others
           .
           My
           Business
           now
           is
           to
           consider
           the
           Moral
           Influence
           that
           they
           are
           apt
           to
           have
           upon
           Men's
           Lives
           ,
           and
           upon
           Societies
           ;
           And
           to
           intreat
           you
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           to
           consider
           how
           unworthy
           a
           thing
           it
           is
           that
           the
           Glorious
           Name
           of
           Deism
           should
           be
           stained
           with
           such
           abominable
           Consequences
           .
        
         
           Take
           any
           ,
           take
           all
           of
           their
           Opinions
           together
           ,
           and
           as
           many
           more
           such
           like
           as
           you
           may
           meet
           withal
           suggested
           by
           any
           particular
           persons
           :
           What
           do
           they
           all
           amount
           to
           ?
           Just
           as
           it
           was
           said
           of
           *
           Epicurus
           ,
           of
           old
           ;
           
             Whilst
             to
             avoid
             Offence
             ,
             they
             make
             use
             of
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             ,
             
             they
             ,
             nevertheless
             ,
             destroy
             the
             Thing
          
           ;
           And
           in
           effect
           absolutely
           remove
           him
           out
           of
           the
           *
           World.
           A
           Material
           God
           ,
           sprung
           from
           the
           fortuitous
           jumblings
           of
           Atomes
           ,
           or
           from
           ever
           so
           regular
           Motions
           supposed
           to
           be
           in
           the
           Universal
           Mass
           of
           Matter
           ;
           Such
           a
           God
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           is
           evidently
           the
           Result
           of
           such
           Causes
           ;
           Far
           from
           being
           himself
           the
           first
           Cause
           of
           all
           things
           .
           And
           it
           can
           not
           be
           denied
           ,
           but
           he
           must
           be
           liable
           to
           continual
           Alterations
           ,
           with
           the
           whiffling
           of
           every
           Wind.
           What
           Effect
           now
           can
           the
           Idea
           of
           such
           a
           God
           as
           this
           have
           upon
           the
           Minds
           of
           Men
           ?
           We
           may
           think
           it
           a
           fine
           
           thing
           ;
           and
           gape
           and
           wonder
           at
           it
           :
           But
           that
           is
           all
           .
           On
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           take
           as
           Spiritual
           a
           God
           as
           you
           please
           ;
           If
           you
           suppose
           him
           absolutely
           removed
           from
           all
           Cognizance
           of
           our
           affairs
           ,
           *
           What
           are
           we
           concerned
           in
           the
           Contemplation
           of
           him
           ?
           The
           History
           of
           what
           he
           once
           transacted
           ,
           in
           framing
           the
           World
           ,
           (
           supposing
           he
           did
           it
           )
           is
           no
           more
           to
           us
           ,
           nay
           not
           so
           much
           as
           a
           mere
           Romance
           ;
           Because
           That
           ,
           (
           by
           the
           Application
           we
           may
           make
           of
           it
           to
           our
           own
           Circumstances
           )
           is
           fitted
           for
           our
           Instruction
           .
           And
           his
           Retirement
           now
           ,
           is
           just
           as
           the
           Death
           
           of
           such
           a
           Romantick
           Hero.
           Or
           further
           ,
           if
           you
           suppose
           this
           God
           that
           now
           supinely
           reposes
           ,
           to
           have
           framed
           the
           Universal
           Engine
           (
           and
           us
           as
           part
           of
           it
           )
           at
           first
           so
           perfectly
           ,
           that
           no
           Wheel
           ,
           no
           Spring
           ,
           no
           Counterpoize
           can
           ever
           hereafter
           fail
           ,
           in
           the
           performance
           of
           those
           Functions
           that
           he
           designed
           them
           for
           ,
           but
           all
           Effects
           will
           be
           *
           necessarily
           produced
           for
           ever
           by
           this
           uninterrupted
           Chain
           of
           Causes
           ;
           What
           does
           this
           Doctrine
           teach
           us
           ,
           more
           than
           that
           we
           our selves
           are
           some
           little
           inconsiderable
           Parts
           
           in
           a
           stupendious
           Piece
           of
           Excellent
           Clock-Work
           ?
           None
           of
           these
           things
           are
           ,
           in
           the
           least
           ,
           proper
           to
           influence
           any
           of
           our
           Actions
           .
           And
           if
           ,
           in
           the
           last
           place
           ,
           we
           add
           to
           these
           ,
           the
           Opinion
           of
           the
           Mortality
           of
           our
           Souls
           ;
           What
           other
           Thought
           can
           that
           suggest
           to
           us
           ,
           than
           that
           we
           should
           Eat
           and
           Drink
           ,
           and
           (
           without
           any
           restraint
           )
           satiate
           our selves
           with
           whatsoever
           is
           Delightful
           here
           ;
           As
           having
           no
           Law
           (
           I
           mean
           more
           than
           humane
           )
           to
           check
           us
           ,
           nor
           any
           expectation
           of
           a
           Subsistence
           hereafter
           ?
        
         
           This
           being
           the
           Case
           ,
           I
           would
           fain
           know
           of
           these
           Deists
           at
           large
           ,
           what
           real
           difference
           they
           make
           in
           the
           Consequence
           and
           use
           of
           their
           Opinions
           to
           Humane
           
           Life
           ,
           from
           those
           of
           the
           directest
           Atheism
           ?
           What
           Difference
           to
           me
           is
           there
           between
           a
           God
           that
           neither
           can
           influence
           here
           ,
           nor
           will
           ever
           hereafter
           animadvert
           upon
           my
           Actions
           ,
           and
           no
           God
           at
           all
           ?
           I
           would
           fain
           learn.
           I
           can
           receive
           neither
           Good
           nor
           Harm
           from
           either
           Supposition
           :
           And
           therefore
           am
           both
           ways
           equally
           at
           Liberty
           .
           But
           if
           I
           take
           the
           Supposition
           of
           the
           *
           fatal
           God
           (
           Him
           that
           necessitates
           me
           by
           inevitable
           and
           irresistible
           impulses
           from
           without
           my self
           ,
           to
           whatsoever
           I
           do
           )
           the
           Consequence
           of
           that
           Belief
           upon
           my
           Mind
           ,
           must
           needs
           be
           much
           worse
           than
           
           meer
           Atheism
           .
           For
           if
           I
           have
           no
           freedom
           of
           Will
           ,
           no
           power
           to
           resist
           the
           force
           of
           that
           fatal
           Chain
           by
           which
           I
           am
           dragg'd
           ;
           I
           am
           not
           capable
           ,
           in
           those
           Circumstances
           ,
           of
           doing
           any
           Moral
           either
           Good
           or
           Evil.
           But
           for
           whatever
           I
           do
           ,
           be
           it
           never
           so
           ill
           ,
           I
           may
           very
           fairly
           *
           excuse
           my self
           ,
           and
           cast
           the
           Fault
           upon
           him
           that
           put
           me
           into
           this
           Plight
           .
           For
           it
           lies
           at
           his
           Door
           ,
           not
           mine
           .
        
         
           I
           ask
           then
           ,
           Would
           the
           World
           receive
           any
           considerable
           Advantage
           by
           the
           spreading
           of
           these
           Opinions
           ?
           Would
           Mankind
           become
           more
           Just
           and
           True
           ,
           Sociable
           and
           Friendly
           to
           one
           another
           ,
           in
           proportion
           as
           they
           
           became
           more
           and
           more
           strongly
           to
           disbelieve
           a
           Deity
           ,
           Superintending
           over
           their
           Actions
           ?
           *
           Cicero
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           
             there
             were
             Philosophers
             who
             held
             that
             the
             Gods
             did
             not
             at
             all
             intermeddle
             in
             the
             Administration
             of
             Humane
             Affairs
             .
             But
          
           (
           says
           he
           )
           
             if
             their
             Opinion
             be
             true
             ;
             What
             ground
             is
             there
             left
             for
             Piety
             ,
             Sanctity
             ,
             or
             Religion
             ?
          
           And
           afterwards
           he
           adds
           ,
           
             That
             if
             those
             be
             taken
             away
             ,
             Disturbance
             and
             Confusion
             must
             needs
             follow
             :
             And
             that
             where
             there
             is
             no
             Religion
             ,
             there
             can
             be
             neither
             Truth
             ,
             nor
             Justice
             ,
             nor
             even
             any
             Society
             
             maintained
             amongst
             Men.
          
           What
           is
           the
           matter
           then
           ,
           that
           this
           sort
           of
           Deists
           are
           so
           busie
           and
           industrious
           in
           propagating
           their
           Notions
           ,
           and
           gaining
           Proselytes
           ?
           They
           are
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           pretend
           to
           be
           ,
           Men
           of
           Sence
           .
           Nay
           ,
           many
           of
           them
           pretend
           not
           a
           little
           to
           Benevolence
           and
           Good-will
           to
           Mankind
           :
           Which
           I
           take
           to
           be
           the
           great
           Fountain
           of
           all
           Virtues
           tending
           to
           the
           Establishment
           and
           Welfare
           of
           Societies
           :
           Surely
           they
           have
           some
           End
           proportionable
           to
           the
           Diligence
           of
           their
           Endeavours
           .
           It
           deserves
           to
           be
           enquired
           into
           :
           And
           I
           think
           the
           Account
           they
           give
           of
           it
           is
           to
           this
           purpose
           .
        
         
           Religion
           (
           they
           say
           )
           or
           the
           Belief
           of
           a
           Superintending
           
           God
           ,
           is
           wholly
           useless
           to
           the
           Government
           of
           Men's
           Actions
           ,
           in
           relation
           to
           their
           Neighbours
           :
           Which
           is
           all
           that
           any
           one
           is
           concerned
           to
           look
           after
           in
           another
           .
           Humane
           Laws
           ,
           fortified
           by
           the
           infliction
           of
           Punishments
           upon
           all
           that
           commit
           Injuries
           ,
           are
           sufficient
           to
           restrain
           the
           Disorders
           of
           that
           kind
           ,
           which
           Innocent
           Men
           are
           exposed
           to
           .
           They
           do
           it
           ,
           in
           effect
           ,
           in
           a
           good
           measure
           .
           And
           the
           Instances
           of
           those
           injurious
           practices
           which
           yet
           continue
           ,
           appear
           so
           indifferently
           amongst
           the
           Professors
           of
           all
           sorts
           of
           Religion
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           evident
           ,
           Religion
           (
           of
           any
           sort
           )
           signifies
           nothing
           to
           their
           Cure
           :
           Therefore
           (
           say
           they
           )
           Useless
           .
           But
           they
           also
           further
           add
           ,
           That
           it
           
           is
           not
           only
           useless
           ,
           but
           hurtful
           .
           The
           Expectation
           of
           another
           State
           of
           Life
           after
           this
           ,
           in
           which
           Account
           must
           be
           given
           of
           our
           Actions
           done
           here
           ,
           is
           apt
           to
           fill
           Men's
           Minds
           with
           *
           Anxieties
           ,
           Doubt
           ,
           and
           Fears
           ;
           Which
           debase
           their
           Spirits
           ,
           perplex
           their
           thoughts
           ,
           and
           render
           them
           uncapable
           of
           attending
           to
           many
           important
           Duties
           of
           Society
           ,
           with
           that
           Diligence
           ,
           and
           Steddiness
           of
           Resolution
           that
           is
           necessary
           :
           And
           the
           awful
           Dread
           of
           an
           avenging
           God
           inclines
           them
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           †
           Superstitious
           
           Observances
           that
           their
           own
           deprav'd
           Imaginations
           ,
           or
           the
           Craft
           of
           Priests
           perswades
           them
           to
           be
           the
           Methods
           of
           rendring
           him
           Propitious
           .
           On
           this
           Head
           they
           expatiate
           with
           pleasure
           .
           The
           perversion
           of
           true
           Religion
           by
           Priest-craft
           affords
           them
           (
           God
           knows
           )
           too
           great
           an
           Advantage
           .
           They
           find
           it
           easie
           to
           discover
           the
           Abuses
           of
           this
           ,
           or
           that
           ,
           or
           the
           other
           particular
           Way
           ;
           And
           by
           that
           means
           too
           plausibly
           ,
           and
           too
           prevalently
           ,
           insinuate
           unto
           the
           Unwary
           that
           all
           Religion
           ,
           alike
           ,
           is
           nothing
           else
           but
           a
           Holy
           Cheat.
           
        
         
           But
           let
           us
           ,
           I
           beseech
           you
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           that
           are
           Deists
           in
           reality
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           Name
           only
           ,
           examine
           the
           reality
           of
           these
           
           Pretensions
           .
           If
           there
           be
           a
           God
           ,
           an
           intelligent
           Being
           ,
           infinitely
           Powerful
           ,
           and
           Wise
           ,
           and
           Good
           ,
           (
           all
           which
           he
           must
           of
           necessity
           be
           ,
           if
           he
           be
           at
           all
           )
           I
           say
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           such
           a
           God
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           that
           these
           Affirmations
           or
           Inferences
           (
           of
           these
           pretended
           Deists
           )
           can
           be
           true
           .
           The
           Knowledge
           of
           such
           a
           God
           ,
           and
           those
           consequences
           of
           Love
           and
           Reverence
           and
           Duty
           ,
           which
           naturally
           arise
           from
           that
           knowledge
           ,
           can
           by
           no
           means
           be
           insignificant
           ,
           and
           much
           less
           prejudicial
           to
           his
           Creatures
           .
        
         
           If
           Humane
           Laws
           alone
           are
           sufficient
           for
           the
           Weal
           of
           Mankind
           in
           Societies
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           true
           that
           any
           thing
           further
           is
           superfluous
           and
           impertinent
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           that
           End.
           But
           are
           
           they
           indeed
           so
           ?
           I
           desire
           the
           Assertors
           of
           that
           Position
           ,
           to
           give
           me
           some
           Instance
           of
           a
           Nation
           ,
           or
           considerable
           Body
           of
           People
           ,
           since
           the
           World
           began
           ,
           that
           ever
           formed
           themselves
           into
           a
           Society
           ,
           and
           liv'd
           in
           any
           Degree
           ,
           (
           I
           will
           not
           say
           of
           Happiness
           ,
           but
           )
           even
           of
           such
           Misery
           as
           we
           can
           count
           tolerable
           ;
           Who
           ,
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           denied
           absolutely
           the
           Existence
           of
           a
           powerful
           Being
           ,
           presiding
           over
           the
           Universe
           by
           his
           Providence
           here
           ;
           And
           thought
           themselves
           perfectly
           secure
           against
           all
           danger
           of
           being
           call'd
           to
           account
           by
           him
           hereafter
           .
           When
           they
           have
           done
           that
           ,
           they
           will
           have
           some
           seeming
           ground
           for
           their
           Assertion
           :
           But
           if
           that
           can
           not
           be
           done
           ,
           the
           Authority
           of
           all
           
           Nations
           ,
           in
           all
           Ages
           ,
           will
           be
           so
           strong
           a
           Prejudice
           against
           it
           ,
           as
           others
           will
           not
           easily
           overcome
           ;
           And
           (
           if
           they
           have
           any
           Degree
           of
           Modesty
           )
           ought
           to
           make
           them
           forbear
           insisting
           upon
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           (
           that
           I
           may
           not
           seem
           captiously
           to
           put
           them
           upon
           an
           insuperable
           Difficulty
           )
           if
           they
           can
           not
           find
           a
           Nation
           of
           absolute
           Atheists
           ,
           let
           them
           examine
           the
           condition
           of
           those
           that
           come
           nearest
           to
           it
           .
           Philosophical
           ,
           thinking
           Men
           are
           too
           thin
           sown
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           for
           us
           to
           expect
           to
           find
           any
           Number
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           ,
           upon
           examination
           of
           Argument
           ,
           deliberately
           concluded
           there
           is
           no
           God
           ,
           and
           instituted
           a
           Form
           of
           Government
           amongst
           themselves
           upon
           
           that
           Principle
           .
           We
           must
           be
           content
           therefore
           to
           consider
           the
           condition
           of
           those
           People
           ,
           not
           that
           deny
           a
           God
           ,
           but
           that
           are
           ignorant
           of
           one
           .
           And
           of
           them
           we
           have
           many
           Instances
           :
           Whether
           perfect
           or
           no
           ,
           is
           not
           worth
           enquiring
           ,
           but
           certainly
           to
           a
           very
           great
           Degree
           .
           Africa
           and
           America
           abound
           with
           them
           .
           I
           will
           not
           trouble
           you
           with
           the
           Relations
           of
           Travellers
           ,
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           which
           are
           in
           ever
           body's
           hands
           .
           But
           I
           desire
           you
           ,
           upon
           the
           view
           of
           all
           or
           any
           of
           those
           Relations
           ,
           to
           examine
           whether
           the
           Brutality
           of
           those
           Nations
           do
           not
           hold
           exact
           proportion
           with
           the
           Degrees
           of
           their
           Irreligion
           .
           Those
           that
           have
           no
           sense
           at
           all
           of
           a
           Deity
           ,
           nor
           any
           expectation
           of
           a
           Future
           Life
           ,
           
           have
           no
           such
           thing
           as
           Government
           amongst
           them
           ,
           nay
           ,
           nor
           any
           Rule
           for
           their
           private
           Conduct
           .
           Now
           without
           Government
           ,
           Combination
           into
           Societies
           ,
           and
           mutual
           Assistance
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           that
           any
           manner
           of
           Conveniencies
           can
           be
           provided
           for
           the
           comfortable
           Sustenance
           of
           Humane
           Life
           .
           In
           every
           thing
           that
           we
           make
           use
           of
           ,
           we
           stand
           in
           need
           of
           one
           another's
           *
           help
           .
           Those
           that
           enjoy
           not
           that
           benefit
           ,
           are
           left
           to
           the
           condition
           of
           Beasts
           :
           Nay
           ,
           much
           worse
           than
           those
           Beasts
           that
           live
           upon
           the
           Fruits
           of
           the
           Earth
           ;
           Because
           of
           the
           real
           want
           ,
           
           or
           lustful
           Appetite
           ,
           that
           all
           Mankind
           have
           after
           Flesh
           .
           They
           therefore
           are
           reduced
           to
           the
           Condition
           of
           Beasts
           of
           Prey
           :
           But
           yet
           much
           morse
           than
           them
           too
           ;
           Because
           Nature
           has
           not
           provided
           Men
           with
           any
           such
           competent
           Defence
           against
           the
           Injuries
           of
           the
           Air
           as
           are
           the
           Skins
           of
           Bears
           and
           Lions
           ;
           Nor
           with
           such
           Arms
           as
           are
           their
           Teeth
           and
           Claws
           .
           Which
           ,
           by
           the
           way
           ,
           is
           a
           manifest
           proof
           that
           Nature
           never
           intended
           Men
           for
           that
           kind
           of
           Life
           :
           For
           we
           find
           unexceptionably
           throughout
           all
           the
           Species
           of
           Animals
           ,
           that
           every
           one
           is
           by
           Nature
           provided
           with
           Members
           ,
           or
           Instruments
           ,
           directly
           suited
           to
           that
           kind
           of
           Prey
           which
           Nature
           designed
           for
           
           their
           support
           .
           But
           naked
           Man
           ,
           unassisted
           with
           Tools
           ,
           (
           which
           are
           the
           Products
           of
           Arts
           and
           Society
           )
           is
           the
           worst
           provided
           of
           them
           all
           .
        
         
           It
           may
           indeed
           be
           said
           ,
           that
           instead
           of
           these
           ,
           we
           have
           hands
           ,
           wherewith
           we
           can
           employ
           every
           thing
           that
           we
           find
           about
           us
           ,
           to
           our
           purpose
           ;
           And
           a
           Genius
           capable
           to
           improve
           all
           things
           to
           our
           best
           Advantage
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           .
           But
           the
           same
           Capacity
           inables
           us
           also
           ,
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           to
           do
           so
           much
           the
           more
           Mischief
           .
           And
           this
           is
           the
           most
           deplorable
           Circumstance
           of
           all
           ,
           in
           the
           state
           of
           those
           Savages
           ;
           who
           having
           neither
           any
           manner
           of
           Government
           amongst
           them
           here
           ,
           nor
           sense
           of
           a
           Superintending
           Deity
           ,
           with
           expectation
           
           of
           Rewards
           or
           Punishments
           hereafter
           ,
           can
           have
           no
           other
           Rule
           of
           their
           private
           Conduct
           ,
           than
           the
           present
           Impulse
           of
           every
           unruly
           Appetite
           .
           By
           this
           means
           (
           I
           say
           )
           it
           comes
           to
           pass
           ,
           that
           ,
           as
           the
           Capacity
           of
           their
           Mind
           is
           greater
           than
           that
           of
           Bears
           ,
           their
           condition
           also
           comes
           to
           be
           so
           much
           the
           more
           miserable
           .
           For
           admitting
           that
           a
           Bear
           or
           a
           Lion
           were
           less
           fitted
           by
           Nature
           for
           procuring
           the
           Prey
           that
           they
           stand
           in
           need
           of
           ,
           than
           is
           one
           of
           these
           Unassociated
           Savages
           ;
           Yet
           it
           must
           (
           in
           the
           first
           place
           )
           be
           acknowledged
           that
           they
           are
           less
           exposed
           to
           be
           preyed
           upon
           themselves
           .
           They
           reign
           Soveraigns
           over
           the
           inferiour
           Herds
           of
           Animals
           ,
           in
           the
           Countries
           where
           they
           inhabit
           ;
           
           And
           are
           at
           perfect
           *
           Amity
           with
           those
           of
           their
           own
           kinds
           :
           Whereas
           with
           Man
           it
           is
           wholly
           otherwise
           .
           For
           He
           (
           in
           the
           next
           place
           )
           is
           not
           only
           liable
           to
           the
           Surprizes
           and
           Assaults
           of
           many
           sorts
           of
           ravenous
           Beasts
           ;
           But
           most
           of
           all
           to
           those
           of
           his
           own
           Species
           .
           No
           Man
           ,
           in
           this
           Estate
           ,
           can
           be
           secure
           from
           his
           Neighbour
           .
           The
           Capacity
           of
           Mind
           that
           every
           one
           is
           endow'd
           with
           ,
           suggests
           to
           him
           many
           Advantages
           to
           be
           made
           of
           his
           Brethren
           .
           And
           hereupon
           ,
           every
           Man
           designing
           his
           own
           private
           Advantage
           ,
           becomes
           his
           Neighbour's
           Enemy
           ;
           And
           they
           mutually
           
           put
           each
           other
           into
           the
           most
           deplorable
           State
           of
           War
           imaginable
           .
           Thus
           ,
           in
           some
           places
           ,
           the
           strongest
           sell
           the
           weakest
           ;
           nay
           ,
           Parents
           many
           times
           their
           Children
           ,
           into
           Captivity
           ;
           For
           a
           Bracelet
           ,
           a
           Looking-glass
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           little
           Bauble
           that
           their
           foolish
           Fancies
           are
           delighted
           with
           :
           And
           ,
           in
           other
           places
           ,
           they
           hunt
           and
           destroy
           one
           another
           ,
           as
           we
           do
           Hares
           ,
           directly
           to
           satisfie
           either
           their
           hungry
           or
           luxurious
           *
           Appetites
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           plain
           Matter
           of
           Fact.
           There
           is
           no
           instance
           to
           be
           found
           ,
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           World
           to
           this
           day
           ,
           of
           any
           People
           wholly
           void
           of
           all
           
           sense
           of
           Religion
           ,
           whose
           way
           of
           living
           did
           not
           expose
           them
           to
           more
           Miseries
           than
           even
           the
           Beasts
           of
           the
           Field
           or
           Forest
           .
           But
           it
           will
           be
           said
           ,
           this
           is
           for
           want
           of
           Government
           :
           Good
           Laws
           would
           have
           made
           their
           Condition
           more
           happy
           .
           I
           grant
           it
           ,
           in
           some
           Degree
           .
           But
           then
           I
           desire
           the
           Objectors
           to
           shew
           me
           an
           instance
           of
           any
           Government
           ,
           instituted
           and
           established
           by
           good
           Laws
           ,
           without
           a
           mixture
           of
           some
           Religion
           in
           it
           .
           They
           can
           not
           do
           it
           .
           We
           have
           seen
           the
           Opinion
           of
           Cicero
           already
           upon
           that
           Point
           .
           I
           will
           here
           add
           that
           of
           *
           Plutarch
           .
           He
           said
           ,
           That
           
             he
             would
             sooner
             believe
             a
             City
             might
             be
             built
             without
             any
             Foundation
             ,
             than
             
             that
             a
             Government
             could
             either
             be
             framed
             or
             supported
             without
             the
             Belief
             of
             a
             Deity
             .
          
           Thus
           ,
           the
           Effect
           it-self
           proves
           that
           Mankind
           is
           uncapable
           of
           Government
           ,
           without
           Religion
           .
           And
           since
           these
           Men
           themselves
           are
           forced
           to
           allow
           Government
           and
           Laws
           to
           be
           necessary
           to
           any
           competent
           degree
           of
           Happiness
           ;
           They
           must
           ,
           upon
           the
           Evidence
           of
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           allow
           Religion
           to
           be
           of
           the
           same
           Necessity
           :
           Because
           ,
           the
           one
           has
           never
           been
           without
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           Nay
           ,
           further
           yet
           ;
           If
           enquiry
           were
           made
           into
           all
           particular
           Histories
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           especially
           into
           all
           Religions
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           doubt
           but
           it
           would
           be
           found
           that
           the
           more
           or
           less
           easie
           
           and
           comfortable
           way
           of
           subsisting
           in
           any
           Nation
           ,
           has
           always
           held
           and
           does
           still
           hold
           proportion
           ,
           with
           the
           greater
           or
           less
           sense
           of
           true
           Religion
           ,
           (
           unmixt
           with
           superstition
           )
           that
           has
           been
           spread
           amongst
           them
           .
           I
           say
           ,
           
             Religion
             ,
             unmixt
             with
             Superstition
          
           :
           Because
           it
           is
           not
           improbable
           that
           some
           Sorts
           and
           Degrees
           of
           Superstition
           may
           be
           of
           as
           evil
           Tendency
           ,
           if
           not
           worse
           ,
           than
           absolute
           Irreligion
           ;
           Of
           which
           the
           *
           Sacrifices
           that
           have
           been
           anciently
           made
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           the
           Modern
           Persecutions
           amongst
           Sects
           (
           to
           the
           Destruction
           of
           Men's
           Bodies
           ,
           as
           
           is
           pretended
           ,
           for
           the
           Salvation
           of
           their
           Souls
           )
           seems
           to
           be
           a
           strong
           Argument
           .
           And
           therefore
           ,
           without
           pretending
           to
           define
           for
           any
           body
           else
           ,
           I
           think
           my self
           obliged
           (
           in
           this
           place
           )
           to
           explain
           what
           I
           my self
           understand
           by
           both
           .
           
             True
             Religion
          
           I
           take
           to
           be
           an
           Acknowledgment
           of
           a
           Deity
           (
           infinitely
           Powerful
           ,
           Wise
           ,
           and
           Good
           )
           superintending
           the
           Actions
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           retribute
           unto
           every
           one
           ,
           either
           here
           or
           hereafter
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           Doing
           ;
           Together
           with
           the
           Sense
           of
           an
           Obligation
           to
           all
           our
           Duties
           both
           to
           God
           and
           our
           Neighbour
           ,
           resulting
           from
           that
           Belief
           .
           Superstition
           ,
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           is
           an
           Acknowledgment
           and
           Dread
           of
           God's
           super-intending
           
           Power
           ;
           Accompanied
           with
           a
           wrong
           Opinion
           of
           the
           Ways
           of
           pleasing
           him
           ,
           resulting
           from
           false
           Ideas
           ,
           unsuitable
           to
           his
           forementioned
           Perfections
           .
           And
           let
           me
           here
           add
           ,
           that
           Irreligion
           I
           understand
           to
           be
           an
           utter
           insensibility
           of
           any
           Obligation
           or
           Duty
           arising
           from
           the
           Idea
           of
           a
           God
           ;
           Or
           perhaps
           (
           according
           as
           the
           Idol
           may
           be
           framed
           which
           they
           set
           up
           instead
           of
           the
           Idea
           of
           the
           true
           God
           )
           a
           positive
           perswasion
           that
           no
           such
           Obligation
           at
           all
           can
           arise
           .
           Now
           I
           must
           needs
           say
           that
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           I
           have
           had
           opportunity
           of
           observing
           ,
           I
           have
           always
           found
           that
           the
           more
           any
           People
           have
           had
           of
           True
           Religion
           ,
           with
           less
           mixture
           of
           Superstition
           ,
           they
           have
           
           always
           formed
           themselves
           unto
           so
           much
           more
           orderly
           Societies
           ,
           and
           lived
           so
           much
           the
           more
           comfortably
           .
           So
           that
           I
           am
           perswaded
           ,
           whoever
           takes
           the
           pains
           to
           examine
           ,
           will
           find
           that
           the
           Rule
           holds
           true
           throughout
           ,
           in
           exact
           Proportion
           .
        
         
           But
           leaving
           now
           this
           Appeal
           to
           History
           ,
           to
           every
           one's
           Examination
           and
           Judgment
           ;
           I
           am
           desirous
           to
           weigh
           a
           little
           the
           Reason
           of
           the
           thing
           it-self
           .
           Let
           us
           inspect
           the
           Nature
           of
           Mankind
           as
           it
           is
           ,
           and
           see
           what
           probability
           there
           is
           that
           any
           considerable
           Number
           of
           Men
           ,
           (
           A
           Nation
           ,
           as
           England
           ,
           for
           Example
           )
           wholly
           void
           of
           all
           sense
           of
           Religion
           ,
           should
           be
           able
           to
           establish
           and
           maintain
           such
           Laws
           and
           Methods
           of
           Government
           
           amongst
           themselves
           ,
           as
           could
           give
           them
           any
           tolerable
           Degree
           of
           mutual
           Security
           ,
           Peace
           and
           Happiness
           .
           In
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           think
           it
           very
           difficult
           ,
           if
           not
           impossible
           ,
           that
           such
           a
           People
           should
           ever
           agree
           upon
           any
           Terms
           at
           all
           .
           The
           Natural
           Impetuosity
           of
           their
           Passions
           ,
           must
           needs
           make
           them
           very
           untractable
           .
           It
           can
           not
           be
           supposed
           that
           those
           who
           found
           their
           Advantage
           over
           others
           ,
           in
           strength
           of
           Body
           ,
           would
           easily
           submit
           their
           Necks
           to
           the
           Yoke
           of
           Laws
           .
           They
           would
           find
           themselves
           secure
           and
           easie
           in
           that
           natural
           Superiority
           ,
           and
           always
           endeavour
           to
           maintain
           it
           :
           So
           that
           it
           would
           ,
           at
           least
           ,
           be
           very
           difficult
           to
           bring
           them
           to
           any
           
           Terms
           of
           Composition
           with
           their
           Inferiours
           .
        
         
           But
           let
           the
           thing
           be
           never
           so
           difficult
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           but
           possible
           ,
           I
           am
           willing
           to
           admit
           it
           .
           We
           may
           imagine
           that
           a
           Combination
           of
           a
           great
           Number
           of
           weaker
           Persons
           may
           have
           been
           able
           to
           force
           a
           less
           Number
           of
           those
           that
           are
           stronger
           into
           a
           Compliance
           :
           From
           whence
           something
           like
           a
           Common-wealth
           might
           in
           the
           end
           result
           .
           Therefore
           ,
           without
           more
           ado
           ,
           let
           us
           suppose
           a
           Solon
           ,
           a
           Lycurgus
           ,
           or
           a
           Numa
           ,
           sprung
           out
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           to
           give
           this
           People
           the
           most
           excellent
           Form
           of
           Government
           imaginable
           .
           The
           Supposition
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           is
           absurd
           ;
           Because
           those
           wise
           Legislators
           ,
           all
           of
           them
           ,
           did
           interweave
           
           Religion
           with
           their
           Politicks
           :
           And
           I
           want
           the
           Name
           of
           any
           Legislator
           that
           ever
           did
           otherwise
           .
           But
           supposing
           ,
           any
           way
           ,
           an
           Excellent
           Form
           contrived
           :
           Let
           Chance
           ,
           if
           they
           please
           ,
           the
           Epicurean
           God
           ,
           be
           the
           Author
           of
           it
           :
           Where
           shall
           we
           find
           fit
           Magistrates
           to
           put
           this
           Excellent
           Contrivance
           in
           Execution
           ?
           It
           will
           not
           be
           supposed
           that
           every
           particular
           Member
           of
           this
           Society
           will
           be
           so
           exactly
           Virtuous
           ,
           as
           to
           need
           no
           Inspection
           into
           their
           Actions
           .
           That
           is
           too
           contrary
           to
           all
           Experience
           ;
           And
           would
           be
           occasion
           of
           dissolving
           the
           Government
           it self
           ,
           as
           frivolous
           and
           useless
           .
           We
           must
           therefore
           look
           out
           for
           Senators
           ,
           to
           deliberate
           in
           Ten
           thousand
           Exigencies
           that
           will
           
           arise
           from
           without
           ,
           (
           tho'
           we
           should
           imagine
           our
           Frame
           never
           so
           perfect
           within
           )
           what
           Methods
           may
           be
           most
           conducive
           to
           our
           Common
           Defence
           and
           Publick
           Welfare
           .
           We
           must
           have
           Judges
           too
           ,
           undoubtedly
           ,
           to
           determine
           impartially
           the
           differences
           that
           may
           happen
           between
           Man
           and
           Man.
           And
           (
           to
           cut
           short
           )
           we
           must
           have
           Officers
           of
           all
           kinds
           ,
           both
           Civil
           and
           Military
           ,
           to
           execute
           faithfully
           and
           carefully
           whatever
           is
           resolved
           upon
           by
           these
           Senators
           and
           Judges
           :
           Amongst
           which
           sort
           of
           Business
           ,
           the
           Administration
           of
           the
           Publick
           Revenue
           is
           neither
           the
           least
           nor
           easiest
           Task
           .
        
         
           For
           these
           things
           ,
           we
           must
           of
           necessity
           have
           Men
           of
           Integrity
           .
           
           Any
           failure
           in
           That
           ,
           begets
           Inconveniencies
           :
           And
           the
           total
           want
           of
           it
           brings
           on
           inevitable
           Ruin.
           For
           nothing
           can
           be
           done
           ,
           great
           or
           small
           ,
           without
           Trust
           :
           And
           the
           Breach
           of
           Trust
           is
           always
           mischievous
           to
           the
           thing
           in
           which
           it
           happens
           .
           For
           Example
           ;
           What
           can
           hinder
           but
           a
           Senator
           that
           deliberates
           upon
           the
           weighty
           Affairs
           of
           War
           or
           Peace
           with
           Neighbouring
           Princes
           ,
           may
           have
           Overtures
           made
           to
           him
           of
           more
           considerable
           Advantage
           from
           some
           such
           Prince
           ,
           than
           he
           can
           receive
           in
           his
           own
           Country
           ;
           And
           may
           thereupon
           ,
           without
           any
           Danger
           of
           Discovery
           ,
           reveal
           and
           betray
           the
           Secrets
           of
           a
           State
           ?
           What
           can
           hinder
           but
           a
           Judge
           ,
           biassed
           by
           
           Affection
           ,
           or
           bribed
           by
           Interest
           ,
           may
           ,
           in
           many
           Cases
           ,
           so
           order
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           things
           (
           at
           least
           the
           Methods
           of
           his
           own
           Proceedings
           )
           as
           to
           condemn
           the
           Innocent
           ,
           absolve
           the
           Guilty
           ,
           and
           dispose
           of
           the
           Property
           of
           Goods
           or
           Land
           contrary
           to
           all
           Right
           and
           Equity
           ;
           And
           yet
           cover
           his
           Corruption
           with
           a
           very
           specious
           Appearance
           of
           Justice
           ?
           What
           can
           hinder
           but
           a
           Commander
           of
           Fleets
           or
           Armies
           ,
           by
           Debauchery
           growing
           Supine
           ,
           or
           by
           Covetousness
           growing
           intent
           only
           on
           Profit
           ,
           may
           sacrifice
           the
           Publick
           to
           his
           Luxury
           or
           Gain
           ?
           And
           what
           can
           hinder
           ,
           in
           the
           last
           place
           ,
           (
           for
           't
           would
           be
           too
           tedious
           to
           go
           through
           all
           particulars
           )
           but
           Publick
           Receivers
           ,
           Treasurers
           ,
           
           and
           the
           like
           ,
           may
           ,
           by
           Consent
           and
           Intelligence
           with
           one
           another
           ,
           falsifie
           Accounts
           ,
           and
           divert
           great
           Branches
           of
           the
           Common
           Income
           into
           their
           own
           private
           Pockets
           ;
           without
           any
           possibility
           of
           being
           detected
           ?
           Without
           Integrity
           in
           the
           management
           of
           these
           ,
           and
           such
           like
           affairs
           ,
           all
           must
           needs
           go
           wrong
           ;
           and
           Ruin
           follow
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           doubt
           my
           Reader
           is
           tired
           with
           these
           Instances
           ;
           And
           thinks
           them
           frivolous
           in
           the
           particular
           Case
           that
           I
           now
           examine
           ;
           Because
           they
           are
           so
           very
           frequent
           ,
           as
           every
           Day
           's
           Experience
           tells
           us
           ,
           in
           all
           Governments
           whatsoever
           .
           Are
           they
           so
           ,
           indeed
           ?
           Then
           let
           that
           Government
           where
           they
           are
           most
           prevalent
           ,
           know
           that
           it
           is
           nearest
           
           to
           utter
           Destruction
           .
           For
           no
           body
           can
           doubt
           but
           where
           the
           principal
           and
           ruling
           Functions
           of
           a
           Body
           (
           either
           Civil
           or
           Natural
           )
           are
           perverted
           ,
           and
           made
           to
           operate
           contrary
           to
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           whole
           ,
           That
           Whole
           is
           in
           a
           very
           desperate
           condition
           .
           Let
           the
           Application
           be
           made
           where
           it
           will.
           
        
         
           And
           if
           we
           may
           look
           a
           little
           home
           to
           our
           own
           Case
           ;
           it
           must
           be
           acknowledged
           that
           we
           have
           amongst
           us
           too
           many
           Instances
           of
           such
           like
           Miscarriages
           as
           I
           have
           represented
           .
           What
           is
           the
           Reason
           of
           it
           ?
           Is
           it
           the
           too
           deep
           sense
           and
           Awe
           of
           an
           All-seeing
           Deity
           that
           causes
           this
           want
           of
           Integrity
           ,
           and
           makes
           Men
           not
           fear
           to
           transgress
           the
           Ties
           of
           any
           Duty
           ,
           wheresoever
           they
           can
           
           be
           secure
           ,
           that
           He
           alone
           is
           Witness
           of
           their
           Actions
           ?
           This
           cannot
           be
           pretended
           :
           Both
           Experience
           and
           Reason
           contradict
           it
           .
           The
           Men
           I
           write
           of
           ,
           and
           the
           spreading
           progress
           of
           their
           Principles
           ,
           are
           too
           apparent
           Proofs
           that
           we
           are
           not
           at
           this
           time
           in
           such
           like
           Circumstances
           .
           But
           if
           ,
           abstracting
           from
           our
           own
           Case
           ,
           we
           reflect
           only
           upon
           the
           Mischiefs
           that
           attend
           Bigottry
           ,
           and
           wrong
           Notions
           about
           Religion
           ,
           I
           readily
           own
           them
           to
           be
           very
           great
           .
           For
           not
           only
           ,
           some
           of
           those
           Mistakes
           may
           be
           apt
           to
           make
           Men
           presume
           upon
           an
           easie
           way
           of
           attoning
           an
           offended
           Deity
           ,
           by
           Ceremonious
           or
           Devotional
           Tricks
           ,
           and
           therefore
           less
           fearful
           of
           the
           Consequences
           of
           each
           
           single
           Transgression
           ;
           But
           Superstition
           (
           generally
           speaking
           )
           has
           often
           been
           ,
           and
           will
           be
           ,
           the
           occasion
           of
           very
           general
           Mischiefs
           and
           Outrages
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           Tho'
           this
           especially
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           managed
           by
           the
           cunning
           of
           lawless
           ,
           and
           designing
           irreligious
           Men
           in
           Power
           .
           So
           that
           Irreligion
           is
           ,
           very
           frequently
           ,
           the
           ground
           even
           of
           those
           Disorders
           which
           Superstition
           produces
           .
           For
           without
           that
           ,
           the
           mistaken
           Notions
           about
           a
           Deity
           ,
           will
           serve
           indifferent
           well
           to
           preserve
           Society
           and
           maintain
           Government
           ,
           amongst
           those
           of
           this
           or
           that
           particular
           way
           .
           The
           Fear
           and
           Dread
           (
           at
           least
           )
           of
           Invisible
           Powers
           will
           not
           make
           Men
           more
           bold
           in
           the
           Contempt
           of
           
           those
           Powers
           ,
           than
           they
           would
           be
           without
           it
           .
           But
           the
           total
           Absence
           of
           that
           Fear
           (
           which
           is
           Irreligion
           )
           dissolves
           intirely
           the
           Ties
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           strongest
           Bonds
           of
           Society
           ,
           and
           thereby
           turns
           Men
           loose
           from
           the
           Restraint
           and
           Protection
           of
           Laws
           ,
           into
           all
           the
           Disorders
           of
           unrestrained
           Fraud
           and
           Rapine
           .
        
         
           Let
           us
           return
           therefore
           to
           our
           general
           Enquiry
           .
           We
           have
           supposed
           that
           a
           Nation
           ,
           wholly
           void
           of
           all
           Sense
           of
           Religion
           ,
           may
           ,
           peradventure
           ,
           hit
           upon
           the
           most
           excellent
           Form
           of
           Government
           and
           Laws
           imaginable
           :
           And
           now
           in
           looking
           after
           fit
           Magistrates
           ,
           to
           put
           these
           Rules
           and
           Laws
           in
           Execution
           ,
           we
           have
           seen
           in
           some
           measure
           
           what
           kind
           of
           Officers
           are
           necessary
           ,
           and
           what
           sort
           of
           Failures
           those
           Officers
           are
           obnoxious
           to
           .
           In
           short
           ,
           whatever
           other
           Virtues
           may
           be
           useful
           ,
           in
           the
           Discharge
           of
           those
           Trusts
           ;
           That
           ,
           without
           which
           all
           the
           rest
           would
           become
           not
           only
           useless
           ,
           but
           hurtful
           ,
           is
           Integrity
           .
           A
           Man
           that
           has
           not
           a
           Principle
           known
           and
           acknowledged
           by
           others
           to
           be
           capable
           of
           
             influencing
             him
             in
             the
          
           *
           Dark
           ,
           is
           not
           fit
           to
           be
           intrusted
           with
           any
           thing
           capable
           of
           being
           hid
           from
           Witnesses
           :
           That
           is
           ,
           in
           plain
           Terms
           ,
           not
           with
           any
           thing
           at
           all
           ,
           of
           Moment
           .
           For
           throughout
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           the
           Administration
           of
           any
           Government
           ,
           
           there
           occur
           frequent
           Opportunities
           of
           perverting
           the
           Ends
           of
           it
           ,
           secretly
           ,
           to
           evil
           purposes
           .
           Now
           what
           security
           can
           that
           Man
           ,
           who
           makes
           open
           Profession
           of
           the
           Principles
           of
           Irreligion
           ,
           give
           unto
           the
           Publick
           ,
           of
           his
           Fidelity
           in
           any
           Trust
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           a
           possibility
           of
           perverting
           the
           Ends
           of
           it
           without
           Discovery
           ?
           An
           Oath
           is
           the
           most
           usual
           and
           highest
           Pledge
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           that
           Mankind
           are
           yet
           acquainted
           withall
           .
           But
           will
           this
           Man
           ,
           who
           proclaims
           his
           Disbelief
           of
           the
           Animadversion
           of
           a
           Deity
           ,
           pretend
           to
           deserve
           any
           Degree
           of
           Credit
           upon
           account
           of
           his
           attesting
           a
           Name
           ,
           
             (
             God
          
           )
           which
           in
           his
           Mouth
           is
           an
           empty
           Sound
           ,
           without
           any
           signification
           ?
           It
           
           would
           be
           ridiculous
           either
           for
           him
           to
           offer
           himself
           ,
           or
           for
           a
           Government
           to
           receive
           him
           ,
           to
           the
           Solemnity
           of
           an
           Oath
           .
           Thus
           he
           makes
           himself
           an
           useless
           Member
           of
           the
           Society
           he
           is
           in
           :
           And
           if
           the
           whole
           Society
           entertained
           the
           same
           Principles
           ,
           it
           must
           unavoidably
           dissolve
           and
           fall
           into
           Confusion
           .
           For
           ,
           let
           us
           examine
           further
           ;
           What
           is
           it
           that
           can
           influence
           any
           Man
           in
           secure
           Secrecy
           ?
           Honour
           ,
           and
           Shame
           ,
           and
           Humane
           Laws
           of
           any
           kind
           ,
           have
           there
           no
           place
           :
           Because
           no
           body
           sees
           .
           Only
           Interest
           sticks
           close
           to
           every
           Man
           ,
           every
           where
           .
           Whatsoever
           is
           advantageous
           ,
           or
           any
           way
           delightful
           to
           any
           one
           ,
           operates
           constantly
           upon
           every
           one
           ;
           And
           (
           when
           nothing
           intervenes
           
           to
           check
           it
           )
           irresistibly
           .
           Thus
           then
           ,
           a
           Man
           secure
           of
           absolute
           Secrecy
           from
           all
           other
           Men
           ,
           and
           having
           no
           Apprehension
           of
           any
           Invisible
           Being
           super-intending
           him
           ,
           must
           of
           necessity
           pursue
           his
           own
           private
           Satisfaction
           .
           Natural
           Appetite
           ,
           and
           present
           Interest
           ,
           prompt
           him
           to
           it
           :
           No
           Prospect
           of
           any
           Repugnant
           Interest
           ,
           at
           a
           Distance
           ,
           makes
           him
           hesitate
           :
           No
           inward
           sense
           of
           Law
           or
           Duty
           restrains
           him
           :
           (
           For
           what
           can
           be
           called
           either
           Law
           or
           Duty
           ,
           where
           no
           Superiour
           animadverts
           with
           Punishment
           ;
           Nor
           does
           any
           Natural
           Advantage
           ,
           as
           a
           Reward
           ,
           attend
           the
           Action
           it-self
           ?
           )
           Nothing
           from
           without
           interposes
           :
           (
           For
           all
           Humane
           Animadversion
           is
           excluded
           :
           )
           
           He
           must
           therefore
           pursue
           it
           :
           He
           can
           do
           no
           otherwise
           .
           At
           least
           ,
           if
           in
           those
           circumstances
           he
           neglect
           to
           do
           it
           ;
           He
           in
           that
           acts
           not
           only
           *
           foolishly
           ,
           but
           contrary
           to
           that
           general
           Inclination
           (
           the
           Desire
           of
           our
           own
           Good
           )
           which
           is
           by
           Nature
           made
           the
           Spring
           that
           moves
           all
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           (
           I
           say
           )
           the
           Observation
           of
           all
           civil
           Governments
           may
           convince
           any
           one
           ,
           that
           is
           not
           wilfully
           blind
           ,
           that
           the
           Decay
           of
           Integrity
           ,
           and
           the
           Reason
           of
           that
           Decay
           ,
           Irreligion
           ,
           is
           the
           true
           and
           never
           failing
           Cause
           of
           Ruin
           in
           all
           Societies
           .
           I
           say
           again
           ,
           Integrity
           :
           For
           that
           
           is
           the
           Virtue
           that
           I
           lay
           the
           stress
           upon
           .
           The
           Neglect
           ,
           the
           Fraud
           ,
           the
           Corruption
           ,
           the
           Treachery
           ,
           that
           any
           where
           run
           through
           all
           the
           course
           of
           a
           mis-managed
           State
           ,
           proceed
           evidently
           ,
           from
           want
           of
           Integrity
           .
           And
           the
           Consequence
           of
           that
           is
           so
           fatal
           ,
           that
           neither
           Courage
           nor
           Skill
           can
           bear
           up
           under
           it
           .
           Where
           no
           body
           ,
           or
           but
           very
           few
           ,
           make
           Conscience
           of
           their
           Ways
           ;
           Where
           a
           superficial
           specious
           shew
           is
           all
           that
           is
           endeavoured
           after
           towards
           the
           Publick
           ,
           whilst
           Private
           Int'rest
           (
           uncheck't
           by
           any
           inward
           Remorse
           )
           is
           the
           Private
           Measure
           of
           every
           Man's
           Conduct
           ;
           What
           can
           follow
           but
           utter
           Destruction
           ?
           It
           is
           apparent
           that
           every
           where
           ,
           by
           the
           same
           Degrees
           
           that
           a
           sense
           of
           the
           Essential
           Grounds
           of
           Religion
           decay
           ,
           Men's
           Virtue
           vanishes
           ,
           their
           Morals
           corrupt
           ,
           their
           very
           Natures
           degenerate
           ,
           and
           their
           Government
           tends
           inevitably
           to
           Dissolution
           .
        
         
           If
           this
           Decay
           of
           Religion
           (
           mistake
           me
           not
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           mean
           blind
           Devotion
           ,
           or
           superstitious
           Ceremony
           ,
           but
           )
           if
           the
           little
           sense
           of
           the
           Super-intendency
           of
           a
           Deity
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           general
           ground
           of
           all
           Religion
           ,
           be
           not
           the
           occasion
           of
           the
           Decay
           of
           Integrity
           ,
           I
           desire
           any
           one
           to
           shew
           me
           what
           is
           .
           Or
           rather
           ,
           if
           the
           Cause
           of
           this
           Effect
           be
           too
           perplex't
           or
           hidden
           ,
           I
           desire
           them
           to
           shew
           me
           what
           is
           capable
           of
           curing
           it
           .
           That
           would
           be
           a
           Work
           worthy
           not
           
           only
           of
           a
           true
           Patriot
           ,
           but
           of
           a
           Genuine
           Citizen
           of
           the
           World.
           Let
           any
           one
           that
           goes
           about
           it
           ,
           examine
           the
           Principles
           of
           Humane
           Nature
           ,
           and
           (
           removing
           that
           sense
           of
           Religion
           which
           I
           require
           )
           tell
           me
           what
           Notion
           ,
           what
           Thing
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           can
           be
           of
           Force
           enough
           to
           sway
           all
           Mankind
           ,
           in
           absolutely
           secure
           Privacy
           ,
           to
           deny
           themselves
           the
           enjoyment
           of
           any
           offered
           Satisfaction
           .
           Good
           Nature
           ,
           and
           the
           Love
           of
           our
           Brethren
           ,
           is
           the
           plausiblest
           Offer
           towards
           it
           that
           I
           can
           imagine
           .
           Some
           few
           ,
           perhaps
           ,
           having
           been
           educated
           from
           their
           Insancy
           in
           good-natur'd
           Principles
           ,
           may
           find
           such
           an
           habitual
           force
           of
           that
           Love
           in
           their
           own
           Breasts
           as
           may
           seem
           natural
           to
           them
           .
           
           But
           if
           they
           will
           say
           those
           Principles
           have
           the
           same
           Strength
           in
           all
           Men
           ,
           they
           deny
           manifest
           Experience
           ,
           and
           deserve
           no
           Answer
           .
           The
           savage
           Africans
           and
           Americans
           ,
           who
           have
           been
           otherwise
           educated
           ,
           (
           Or
           rather
           who
           ,
           for
           want
           of
           Education
           ,
           would
           be
           the
           only
           proper
           Instances
           in
           our
           Enquiry
           ,
           )
           are
           undeniable
           Demonstrations
           of
           the
           Contrary
           .
           And
           if
           these
           few
           Good-natur'd
           Persons
           should
           go
           about
           to
           destroy
           the
           Belief
           of
           those
           things
           which
           are
           only
           capable
           to
           maintain
           the
           Societies
           of
           Mankind
           in
           any
           tolerable
           Degree
           of
           Happiness
           ,
           without
           substituting
           any
           thing
           at
           all
           ,
           either
           more
           or
           less
           ,
           in
           the
           place
           of
           it
           ;
           What
           shall
           we
           say
           of
           them
           ?
           Do
           they
           not
           evidently
           
           contradict
           the
           Character
           they
           pretend
           to
           ?
           Is
           That
           Good
           Nature
           ,
           which
           is
           charitable
           perhaps
           to
           some
           few
           Persons
           in
           distress
           ,
           who
           lie
           within
           the
           narrow
           Sphere
           of
           this
           or
           that
           Man's
           Acquaintance
           ;
           And
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           breaking
           the
           only
           Reins
           that
           are
           capable
           to
           restrain
           the
           ill
           Nature
           of
           others
           ,
           let
           loose
           the
           whole
           Herd
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           to
           an
           unbridled
           freedom
           of
           destroying
           and
           devouring
           one
           another
           ?
           I
           blush
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           so
           high
           a
           Degree
           of
           Good
           Nature
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           here
           supposed
           some
           may
           be
           endowed
           withall
           ,
           should
           be
           the
           occasion
           of
           producing
           such
           ill-natur'd
           Consequences
           .
           What
           Tyrant
           ,
           what
           Nimrod
           ,
           what
           Caligula
           ,
           did
           ever
           the
           Ten-thousandth
           part
           of
           
           Mischief
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           as
           would
           be
           the
           rooting
           out
           of
           that
           only
           Principle
           which
           is
           capable
           of
           maintaining
           any
           sure
           Amity
           amongst
           them
           ?
           There
           is
           no
           proportion
           between
           these
           Mischiefs
           .
           Let
           these
           Pretenders
           therefore
           to
           Good-Nature
           either
           be
           content
           with
           that
           Principle
           of
           Religion
           ,
           which
           has
           hitherto
           produced
           whatever
           is
           to
           be
           found
           of
           lasting
           Union
           and
           Constancy
           in
           the
           Societies
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           Or
           let
           them
           furnish
           us
           with
           something
           better
           instead
           of
           it
           ;
           Or
           let
           us
           ,
           at
           least
           ,
           beware
           of
           their
           Principles
           ,
           as
           the
           most
           pernicious
           Venom
           that
           could
           possibly
           be
           instill'd
           into
           any
           Society
           ,
           even
           by
           direct
           Enemies
           of
           Mankind
           .
        
         
         
           If
           now
           ,
           upon
           this
           whole
           Enquiry
           ,
           we
           observe
           ,
           That
           where
           ever
           the
           Principles
           of
           Irreligion
           are
           spread
           ,
           in
           proportion
           to
           their
           increase
           ,
           Integrity
           has
           decay'd
           ;
           How
           for
           want
           of
           Integrity
           the
           strength
           of
           any
           Constitution
           of
           State
           is
           weakned
           ;
           What
           a
           disorderly
           and
           uneasie
           Estate
           Men
           grow
           into
           ;
           And
           what
           further
           Confusion
           and
           even
           Ruin
           constantly
           attends
           it
           ;
           I
           say
           if
           this
           be
           every
           where
           observable
           ;
           And
           we
           need
           not
           go
           far
           to
           be
           convinc'd
           of
           it
           ,
           even
           in
           Countries
           where
           the
           general
           Principles
           of
           Religion
           (
           tho'
           decaying
           )
           are
           not
           yet
           quite
           extinguished
           ;
           What
           can
           we
           conclude
           must
           be
           the
           Condition
           of
           a
           People
           that
           is
           wholly
           ,
           in
           every
           particular
           Member
           
           and
           Part
           ,
           devoid
           of
           any
           such
           Principle
           at
           all
           ?
           For
           that
           is
           the
           Supposition
           we
           are
           to
           take
           along
           with
           us
           :
           And
           our
           Enquiry
           is
           ,
           how
           a
           People
           that
           believe
           no
           Super-intendency
           of
           an
           invisible
           Power
           ,
           nor
           think
           themselves
           accountable
           (
           either
           here
           or
           hereafter
           )
           to
           any
           Judge
           but
           the
           Magistrate
           ,
           can
           maintain
           any
           such
           order
           of
           Government
           amongst
           themselves
           ,
           as
           is
           capable
           in
           any
           moderate
           Degree
           to
           make
           their
           Lives
           Secure
           ,
           Easie
           ,
           and
           Comfortable
           .
           Amongst
           this
           People
           ,
           it
           is
           plain
           ,
           there
           can
           not
           be
           one
           single
           virtuous
           Person
           ,
           that
           is
           so
           upon
           a
           Principle
           suited
           to
           the
           general
           Nature
           of
           Mankind
           .
           And
           those
           that
           are
           so
           only
           by
           some
           peculiar
           Excellency
           of
           their
           own
           
           Natural
           inclination
           ,
           not
           common
           to
           others
           ,
           are
           not
           to
           be
           taken
           into
           Consideration
           :
           Because
           Their
           number
           is
           every
           where
           too
           small
           to
           be
           of
           any
           weight
           .
           Their
           personal
           Qualifications
           may
           be
           what
           they
           will
           ,
           and
           deserve
           very
           high
           personal
           Esteem
           :
           But
           I
           think
           nothing
           can
           properly
           be
           called
           Social
           Virtue
           (
           which
           is
           the
           thing
           we
           now
           enquire
           after
           )
           that
           the
           main
           Body
           of
           a
           Society
           is
           uncapable
           of
           having
           any
           sense
           of
           .
           I
           conclude
           therefore
           that
           such
           a
           People
           must
           needs
           be
           very
           unfit
           to
           maintain
           any
           Rules
           of
           Society
           with
           one
           another
           .
           What
           ?
           Where
           there
           is
           not
           one
           honest
           ,
           one
           virtuous
           Man
           in
           a
           Government
           ;
           (
           For
           I
           count
           none
           so
           ,
           nor
           
           will
           any
           be
           found
           so
           at
           a
           stress
           ,
           that
           have
           not
           a
           Principle
           which
           all
           Men
           own
           to
           be
           capable
           of
           making
           them
           so
           in
           the
           Dark
           ;
           And
           that
           I
           am
           sure
           Those
           have
           not
           ,
           who
           are
           utterly
           void
           of
           all
           Religion
           )
           Can
           ,
           There
           ,
           be
           any
           Consistency
           or
           Stability
           in
           that
           Government
           ?
           Methinks
           there
           should
           not
           .
           But
           ,
           especially
           ,
           can
           a
           Government
           ,
           amongst
           such
           Men
           ,
           be
           more
           equal
           ,
           and
           more
           secure
           ,
           than
           amongst
           those
           who
           act
           upon
           a
           Principle
           capable
           (
           if
           followed
           )
           to
           make
           all
           Men
           Virtuous
           ?
           This
           is
           an
           Absurdity
           unsufferable
           .
           Yet
           this
           the
           Men
           that
           I
           write
           of
           ,
           those
           that
           say
           Religion
           is
           useless
           ,
           and
           that
           Humane
           Laws
           alone
           suffice
           to
           maintain
           Order
           and
           Peace
           and
           Security
           in
           Humane
           Societies
           ,
           
           This
           (
           I
           say
           )
           they
           must
           assert
           ;
           Or
           else
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           in
           undermining
           the
           Grounds
           of
           all
           Religion
           ,
           they
           themselves
           act
           more
           contrary
           to
           the
           general
           Int'rest
           of
           all
           Mankind
           ,
           than
           any
           thing
           that
           humane
           Imagination
           can
           compare
           them
           to
           .
        
         
           If
           ,
           now
           ,
           I
           have
           given
           any
           competent
           Evidence
           ,
           both
           from
           Reason
           and
           Experience
           ,
           that
           Religion
           is
           (
           not
           only
           )
           no
           indifferent
           thing
           ,
           insignificant
           and
           useless
           to
           the
           Ends
           of
           Government
           ;
           But
           that
           (
           in
           Effect
           )
           it
           is
           so
           highly
           necessary
           and
           useful
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           impossible
           any
           Government
           should
           subsist
           without
           it
           ;
           And
           that
           whatever
           Motives
           may
           force
           Men
           into
           Societies
           (
           Conveniency
           ,
           Protection
           ,
           or
           whatsoever
           else
           they
           
           be
           )
           it
           is
           only
           the
           Belief
           of
           a
           Deity
           ,
           and
           the
           consequence
           of
           that
           Belief
           ,
           Religion
           ,
           that
           makes
           a
           Ciment
           capable
           of
           uniting
           those
           Societies
           in
           any
           manner
           of
           Stability
           ;
           (
           Which
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           I
           have
           in
           good
           measure
           performed
           )
           Then
           ,
           methinks
           ,
           I
           need
           say
           very
           little
           in
           answer
           to
           those
           that
           pretend
           Religion
           is
           not
           only
           useless
           ,
           but
           hurtful
           .
           If
           it
           be
           useful
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           proved
           ;
           It
           can
           not
           be
           hurtful
           :
           For
           those
           Terms
           are
           contradictory
           ;
           And
           cannot
           be
           said
           ,
           in
           the
           same
           respect
           ,
           of
           the
           same
           thing
           .
           Let
           us
           examine
           therefore
           if
           in
           any
           Respect
           whatsoever
           ,
           we
           can
           find
           this
           prejudicial
           Tendency
           of
           Religion
           to
           the
           Int'rest
           of
           Society
           .
           
             It
             is
             apt
          
           (
           the
           Objectors
           say
           )
           
             to
             fill
             Men's
             Minds
             
             with
             Anxieties
             ,
             Doubts
             ,
             and
             Fears
             ;
             Which
             debase
             their
             Spirits
             ,
             perplex
             their
             Thoughts
             ,
             and
             render
             them
             unfit
             for
             Business
             .
          
           But
           whoever
           considers
           impartially
           ,
           will
           find
           that
           whatsoever
           there
           is
           of
           Ill
           ,
           in
           all
           these
           Anxieties
           ,
           Doubts
           ,
           Fears
           ,
           Lowness
           of
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           Perplexity
           of
           Thoughts
           ,
           it
           proceeds
           wholly
           from
           the
           neglect
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           by
           no
           means
           from
           the
           strict
           Observance
           of
           the
           Duties
           that
           it
           requires
           :
           And
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           that
           whatsoever
           Confidence
           ,
           Boldness
           ,
           and
           Security
           of
           Mind
           ,
           springs
           from
           Atheism
           or
           Irreligion
           ,
           it
           is
           only
           a
           Boldness
           in
           doing
           Evil
           ;
           Which
           at
           the
           highest
           is
           subject
           to
           many
           Qualms
           ;
           Or
           ,
           tho'
           it
           were
           perfect
           in
           its
           kind
           ,
           That
           surely
           cannot
           
           be
           pleaded
           by
           any
           one
           in
           favour
           of
           those
           Principles
           .
           But
           ,
           however
           ,
           He
           that
           discharges
           faithfully
           the
           Duties
           that
           are
           incumbent
           upon
           him
           ,
           cannot
           possibly
           ,
           in
           that
           ,
           have
           any
           Anxiety
           at
           all
           .
           His
           whole
           Care
           is
           *
           Conscientiously
           imployed
           in
           doing
           the
           thing
           that
           is
           required
           of
           him
           ,
           with
           
             the
             same
             exactness
             as
             if
             it
             were
             before
             a
             Multitude
             of
             Witnesses
             :
             Because
             he
             knows
             he
             is
             continually
             under
             the
          
           †
           
             Inspection
             of
             an
             All-seeing
             God.
          
           And
           having
           done
           that
           ,
           he
           has
           ‖
           Boldness
           both
           towards
           God
           
           and
           towards
           Man.
           There
           may
           happen
           indeed
           many
           Occasions
           ,
           in
           the
           ordinary
           Course
           of
           Humane
           Affairs
           ,
           in
           which
           this
           Man
           may
           be
           fearful
           ,
           and
           unwilling
           to
           proceed
           .
           But
           what
           are
           those
           Occasions
           ?
           From
           whence
           comes
           this
           Fear
           ?
           The
           Occasions
           are
           ,
           when
           he
           is
           required
           by
           Unreasonable
           and
           Tyrannical
           Superiours
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           Instrument
           of
           Violence
           and
           Wrong
           .
           In
           those
           Occasions
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           he
           fears
           :
           He
           fears
           to
           offend
           God
           :
           And
           therefore
           he
           hesitates
           ;
           draws
           back
           ;
           and
           is
           altogether
           unfit
           for
           this
           sort
           of
           Business
           .
           But
           imploy
           him
           in
           any
           thing
           that
           makes
           for
           the
           true
           Welfare
           of
           his
           Country
           ;
           (
           and
           much
           more
           ,
           if
           for
           the
           Welfare
           of
           Mankind
           )
           And
           see
           
           with
           what
           Resolution
           and
           Intrepidity
           he
           will
           face
           the
           Opposers
           of
           it
           .
           No
           Lion
           more
           bold
           than
           He
           ,
           in
           a
           Righteous
           Cause
           .
           Or
           if
           yet
           it
           should
           be
           objected
           ,
           that
           Lowness
           of
           Spirit
           ,
           Meekness
           ,
           and
           Humility
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           Consequences
           of
           a
           Religious
           Temper
           ,
           are
           too
           contrary
           to
           this
           Martial
           Courage
           that
           I
           now
           hint
           at
           ;
           Then
           however
           I
           reply
           :
           So
           much
           the
           rather
           let
           us
           study
           to
           improve
           that
           Temper
           .
           What
           will
           be
           the
           Effect
           of
           it
           ;
           suppose
           the
           whole
           World
           should
           become
           thus
           religious
           ?
           No
           body
           would
           injure
           ,
           no
           body
           would
           hurt
           one
           another
           :
           We
           should
           all
           live
           together
           ,
           as
           Brethren
           ,
           in
           Peace
           and
           Friendship
           .
           And
           what
           's
           the
           Harm
           ?
           Is
           it
           for
           fear
           
           of
           this
           Mischief
           ,
           that
           Men
           endeavour
           to
           destroy
           the
           Seeds
           ,
           and
           extirpate
           the
           Roots
           of
           all
           Religion
           ?
           God
           forbid
           .
        
         
           Another
           Objection
           against
           Religion
           (
           the
           last
           that
           I
           intimated
           before
           ,
           and
           all
           of
           any
           moment
           that
           I
           can
           yet
           think
           of
           )
           
             is
             ,
             That
             the
             Dread
             of
             an
             Avenging
             Deity
             inclines
             Men
             to
             Superstition
             :
          
           And
           Superstition
           ,
           of
           some
           Kinds
           and
           in
           some
           Degrees
           ,
           I
           have
           allowed
           may
           produce
           as
           ill
           ,
           or
           even
           worse
           consequences
           than
           absolute
           Irreligion
           .
           How
           shall
           we
           answer
           this
           ?
           Very
           easily
           .
           The
           Root
           of
           Superstition
           lies
           in
           the
           false
           Ideas
           that
           Men
           frame
           to
           themselves
           of
           God
           :
           Not
           in
           the
           true
           ones
           .
           Those
           that
           consider
           his
           Power
           ,
           may
           indeed
           think
           it
           
           reasonable
           to
           fear
           him
           :
           But
           those
           that
           consider
           also
           his
           Wisdom
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           must
           of
           necessity
           love
           him
           .
           From
           the
           mixture
           of
           these
           two
           Effects
           ,
           proceed
           Respect
           ,
           Reverence
           ,
           and
           Adoration
           .
           And
           when
           the
           grounds
           of
           all
           (
           infinite
           Wisdom
           ,
           Goodness
           ,
           and
           Power
           )
           are
           stedfastly
           kept
           in
           mind
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           that
           those
           who
           are
           deeply
           penetrated
           with
           that
           sense
           ,
           can
           condescend
           to
           any
           way
           of
           expressing
           it
           (
           which
           is
           outward
           Worship
           )
           unsuitable
           to
           his
           Excellencies
           ;
           And
           much
           less
           ,
           to
           any
           Practice
           towards
           their
           Neighbours
           (
           wherein
           lies
           the
           danger
           of
           Society
           )
           directly
           contrary
           to
           his
           Laws
           .
           Thus
           ,
           true
           Religion
           secures
           all
           .
           It
           is
           false
           Religion
           only
           that
           breeds
           
           any
           Danger
           .
           And
           even
           that
           Danger
           too
           ,
           tho'
           it
           may
           be
           very
           great
           in
           some
           particular
           Instances
           ,
           yet
           it
           does
           not
           oft
           extend
           it self
           (
           as
           Irreligion
           )
           to
           the
           extirpating
           and
           utter
           Ruin
           of
           Society
           ,
           in
           the
           Nations
           of
           the
           World.
           I
           have
           hinted
           already
           at
           the
           dreadfullest
           Effects
           of
           Superstition
           that
           I
           could
           think
           of
           :
           Humane
           Sacrifices
           ,
           and
           Persecution
           .
           'T
           is
           the
           last
           of
           these
           that
           ,
           in
           this
           Age
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           it
           most
           concerns
           us
           to
           enquire
           into
           :
           And
           I
           am
           far
           from
           going
           about
           to
           extenuate
           the
           Heinousness
           of
           that
           Practice
           .
           But
           yet
           I
           think
           I
           may
           truly
           say
           ,
           that
           the
           Root
           of
           Persecution
           does
           not
           lie
           very
           much
           in
           bare
           Superstition
           .
           Take
           away
           the
           Int'rest
           ,
           I
           mean
           the
           worldly
           Int'rest
           ,
           
           that
           Irreligious
           Men
           have
           in
           persecuting
           others
           ;
           Let
           not
           those
           Incendiaries
           blow
           up
           the
           Zeal
           of
           Bigots
           into
           a
           Flame
           ,
           against
           those
           that
           differ
           from
           them
           either
           in
           Opinion
           or
           Practice
           ,
           and
           their
           Heats
           will
           be
           tempered
           without
           coming
           to
           Fire
           and
           Faggot
           .
           Superstition
           alone
           ,
           if
           ill-natur'd
           irreligious
           Int'rest
           were
           not
           interwoven
           with
           it
           ,
           would
           no
           more
           disturb
           the
           Peace
           of
           Societies
           ,
           at
           this
           Day
           ,
           than
           it
           did
           in
           the
           Days
           of
           Ancient
           Paganism
           .
           Not
           at
           all
           .
           That
           is
           too
           obvious
           to
           need
           any
           further
           Illustration
           .
           But
           take
           it
           at
           the
           worst
           ;
           That
           Superstition
           is
           the
           sole
           Cause
           of
           Persecution
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           the
           Mischiefs
           attending
           it
           :
           What
           is
           the
           Cure
           of
           this
           Evil
           ?
           Certainly
           
           not
           to
           root
           up
           the
           Grounds
           of
           all
           Religion
           ;
           But
           to
           cultivate
           the
           true
           ones
           .
        
         
           If
           therefore
           it
           should
           be
           found
           that
           any
           Set
           of
           Men
           ,
           even
           tho'
           they
           were
           Priests
           ,
           (
           of
           whatsoever
           Form
           )
           industriously
           applied
           themselves
           to
           delude
           Mankind
           ,
           with
           Notions
           suitable
           to
           their
           own
           particular
           Int'rest
           ;
           but
           contrary
           to
           the
           general
           Welfare
           of
           Societies
           ;
           Let
           those
           that
           have
           the
           Talent
           declaim
           against
           their
           Villainy
           ,
           expose
           their
           Hypocrisie
           ,
           and
           by
           all
           imaginable
           Arts
           render
           those
           that
           are
           guilty
           as
           contemptible
           ,
           ignominious
           ,
           and
           even
           odious
           in
           the
           Eyes
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           such
           combined
           Enemies
           of
           Mankind
           deserve
           to
           be
           .
           In
           this
           ,
           my
           Heart
           ,
           and
           Hand
           
           too
           (
           if
           it
           were
           able
           )
           should
           go
           along
           with
           them
           .
           Only
           let
           no
           body
           involve
           the
           Innocent
           with
           the
           Guilty
           .
           In
           that
           ,
           there
           ought
           to
           be
           great
           scrupulosity
           ,
           and
           exact
           Care.
           For
           such
           Transgressions
           are
           hainous
           Immoralities
           .
           But
           ,
           within
           this
           Restriction
           ,
           of
           not
           involving
           the
           Innocent
           with
           the
           Guilty
           ;
           Nothing
           can
           be
           too
           strong
           ,
           nor
           too
           severe
           ,
           against
           such
           Doctrines
           and
           Practices
           as
           tend
           to
           the
           Corruption
           of
           Men's
           Minds
           ,
           the
           Inslaving
           of
           their
           Persons
           ,
           and
           the
           Ruin
           of
           Societies
           .
           And
           when
           I
           allow
           this
           Liberty
           ,
           in
           these
           Bounds
           ;
           I
           not
           only
           confine
           it
           strictly
           to
           these
           Bounds
           ,
           but
           extend
           it
           indifferently
           to
           whatsoever
           exceeds
           them
           .
           And
           ,
           that
           no
           body
           may
           mistake
           my
           
           meaning
           ,
           I
           further
           add
           ,
           in
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           that
           (
           considering
           the
           Frailty
           of
           Humane
           Nature
           ,
           and
           the
           Shortness
           of
           our
           Capacities
           )
           it
           seems
           to
           me
           highly
           reasonable
           ,
           that
           All
           manner
           of
           Opinions
           ,
           even
           tho'
           Mistakes
           ,
           about
           Religion
           ,
           which
           spring
           from
           Weakness
           ,
           Tenderness
           ,
           and
           Simplicity
           of
           Heart
           ,
           and
           have
           nothing
           in
           them
           of
           that
           Evil
           Tendency
           which
           I
           have
           now
           hinted
           at
           ,
           should
           be
           indulged
           and
           treated
           with
           all
           the
           sweetness
           imaginable
           .
           For
           what
           conceivable
           Right
           can
           any
           one
           have
           ,
           to
           treat
           those
           otherwise
           ,
           who
           are
           really
           within
           the
           Bounds
           of
           this
           Restriction
           ?
           None
           at
           all
           .
           And
           ,
           in
           the
           next
           place
           ,
           I
           would
           have
           our
           Nominal
           Deists
           (
           on
           the
           other
           
           side
           )
           understand
           ,
           that
           whilst
           they
           continue
           to
           undermine
           the
           Grounds
           of
           all
           Religion
           ,
           They
           themselves
           deserve
           all
           that
           Severity
           ,
           which
           they
           will
           think
           I
           have
           with
           Justice
           allowed
           them
           against
           the
           Perverters
           of
           the
           True
           ;
           And
           which
           they
           are
           always
           ready
           to
           take
           ,
           even
           in
           too
           great
           a
           Latitude
           .
        
         
           I
           think
           I
           have
           now
           succinctly
           answered
           the
           Substance
           of
           all
           that
           is
           most
           commonly
           ,
           and
           most
           plausibly
           ,
           objected
           against
           Religion
           in
           general
           ;
           And
           may
           from
           hence
           conclude
           ,
           that
           the
           Ideas
           we
           entertain
           of
           a
           Deity
           (
           and
           which
           ,
           if
           we
           allow
           the
           use
           of
           our
           Reason
           ,
           every
           thing
           will
           inforce
           upon
           us
           )
           are
           no
           indifferent
           thing
           ,
           even
           to
           the
           Welfare
           of
           Mankind
           in
           this
           
           World.
           A
           God
           that
           either
           does
           not
           ,
           or
           can
           not
           ,
           interpose
           in
           our
           Concerns
           ,
           is
           to
           us
           an
           Empty
           Name
           ,
           and
           signifies
           nothing
           .
           And
           without
           the
           Belief
           of
           an
           interposing
           or
           animadverting
           God
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           that
           any
           Model
           of
           Government
           can
           be
           supported
           .
           This
           the
           wise
           Athenians
           were
           so
           sensible
           of
           ,
           that
           they
           banished
           Protagoras
           ,
           as
           dangerous
           to
           their
           State
           ,
           not
           for
           denying
           ,
           but
           for
           doubting
           of
           it
           .
           And
           the
           Reason
           (
           as
           has
           been
           discoursed
           already
           )
           is
           plain
           .
           For
           Int'rest
           undeniably
           governs
           the
           main
           course
           of
           Humane
           Actions
           .
           We
           are
           so
           framed
           by
           Nature
           ,
           that
           it
           can
           not
           be
           otherwise
           .
           And
           without
           that
           Belief
           ,
           no
           Man
           has
           any
           Int'rest
           
           to
           be
           virtuous
           ,
           further
           than
           in
           outward
           Appearance
           only
           .
           The
           Shew
           alone
           ,
           of
           Benignity
           and
           Good-will
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           not
           only
           avoids
           the
           Reach
           of
           Humane
           Laws
           ,
           but
           suffices
           to
           procure
           the
           Good-will
           of
           those
           who
           see
           nothing
           but
           that
           Shew
           .
           Where
           a
           private
           Advantage
           can
           be
           gained
           ,
           without
           hazard
           of
           Discovery
           ,
           if
           Religion
           be
           removed
           ,
           nothing
           hinders
           .
           And
           is
           that
           Man
           virtuous
           ,
           who
           is
           so
           only
           in
           Appearance
           ,
           either
           for
           fear
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           or
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           his
           Reputation
           ?
           I
           can
           not
           call
           him
           so
           .
           But
           call
           him
           what
           we
           will
           ,
           I
           think
           I
           have
           made
           it
           evident
           that
           no
           Government
           can
           subsist
           ,
           where
           no
           Member
           of
           it
           has
           any
           more
           powerful
           Principle
           of
           Virtue
           than
           this
           :
           
           And
           that
           without
           Government
           no
           tolerable
           Degree
           of
           Security
           ,
           Peace
           ,
           and
           Happiness
           in
           this
           World
           can
           be
           attained
           .
        
         
           After
           this
           ,
           methinks
           I
           should
           need
           few
           words
           to
           perswade
           you
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           (
           who
           are
           Deists
           indeed
           )
           to
           renounce
           the
           Fraternity
           of
           those
           who
           (
           lurking
           under
           the
           Cover
           of
           that
           Name
           )
           go
           about
           secretly
           undermining
           the
           Welfare
           of
           all
           Mankind
           .
           Whatever
           Humanity
           may
           be
           shewn
           to
           their
           Persons
           (
           as
           That
           indeed
           ought
           in
           no
           occasion
           whatsoever
           to
           be
           omitted
           )
           there
           is
           no
           Indulgence
           due
           to
           their
           Opinions
           .
           To
           smile
           at
           ,
           and
           take
           complacence
           ,
           in
           the
           bold
           strokes
           ,
           which
           in
           daily
           Conversation
           they
           give
           at
           the
           Root
           of
           all
           Religion
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           
           delighted
           with
           the
           Ruin
           of
           all
           Humane
           Society
           .
           How
           barbarous
           !
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           none
           that
           in
           reality
           believes
           a
           God
           can
           endure
           it
           .
           Let
           us
           therefore
           be
           always
           upon
           our
           Guard
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           occasions
           discountenance
           and
           oppose
           their
           pernicious
           Principles
           .
        
         
           The
           Task
           of
           opposing
           them
           is
           not
           difficult
           .
           Examine
           but
           the
           ground
           of
           any
           one
           of
           their
           Systems
           ,
           and
           it
           will
           be
           found
           to
           be
           built
           upon
           such
           intolerable
           Presumption
           ,
           as
           one
           would
           think
           they
           themselves
           should
           blush
           to
           own
           .
           
             Is
             it
             because
             of
             any
             Disorders
             they
             observe
             in
             the
             Universe
             ,
             that
             they
             conclude
             it
             not
             to
             have
             been
             formed
             by
             an
             Intelligent
             Workman
             ?
             What!
             His
             bungling
             ,
             perhaps
             ,
             is
             observable
          
           
           (
           as
           one
           said
           )
           
             in
             placing
             the
             Calves
             of
             our
             Legs
             behind
             ;
             Whereas
             they
             ought
             rather
             to
             have
             been
             before
             ,
             for
             the
             Defence
             of
             our
             Shins
             .
          
           Frothy
           Impertinence
           !
           Anatomists
           will
           tell
           them
           the
           indispensible
           Use
           of
           those
           Muscles
           which
           compose
           our
           Calves
           ,
           in
           that
           very
           place
           .
           But
           ,
           how
           dare
           Men
           be
           so
           bold
           to
           carp
           at
           what
           they
           are
           not
           able
           to
           mend
           ;
           nay
           ,
           nor
           in
           the
           least
           degree
           to
           imitate
           ?
           
             O
             ,
             but
          
           ,
           say
           they
           ,
           
             an
             infinitely
             Wise
             and
             Powerful
             God
          
           (
           as
           we
           suppose
           him
           )
           
             could
             have
             framed
             a
             more
             perfect
             Creature
             than
             Man
             is
             .
          
           And
           who
           has
           told
           them
           that
           he
           has
           not
           done
           it
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           numberless
           Varieties
           of
           such
           Creatures
           ,
           suited
           to
           the
           various
           Disposition
           of
           those
           
           Parts
           of
           the
           Universe
           where
           he
           has
           placed
           them
           ?
           We
           have
           no
           reason
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           to
           think
           our selves
           in
           the
           highest
           Stage
           of
           Nature
           .
           
             But
             whatever
             be
             our
             Natural
             Condition
             ;
             Our
             Moral
             Circumstances
             (
             upon
             the
             supposition
             of
             the
             Grounds
             of
             Religion
             )
          
           they
           will
           say
           ,
           
             ought
             to
             have
             been
             much
             otherwise
             .
             He
             ought
             to
             have
             given
             us
             a
             greater
             strength
             of
             Mind
             ,
             to
             bridle
             those
             Appetites
             ,
             for
             the
             Disorders
             of
             which
             it
             is
             pretended
             he
             will
             judge
             us
             .
          
           But
           if
           he
           thought
           fit
           ,
           amongst
           the
           great
           variety
           of
           Creatures
           that
           fill
           the
           Universe
           ,
           to
           create
           us
           in
           a
           state
           of
           Indifferency
           and
           Freedom
           ,
           not
           so
           strongly
           sway'd
           any
           way
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           necessarily
           and
           unavoidably
           either
           Happy
           or
           Miserable
           ;
           
           What
           Irregularity
           is
           there
           in
           this
           ?
           What
           Breach
           of
           Symmetry
           do
           we
           make
           in
           the
           Universe
           ?
           Especially
           ,
           if
           he
           have
           given
           us
           a
           strength
           sufficient
           for
           the
           working
           out
           of
           our
           own
           happiness
           (
           which
           is
           the
           Case
           )
           and
           we
           apply
           not
           our selves
           to
           make
           use
           of
           it
           ;
           What
           reason
           have
           we
           to
           complain
           of
           his
           Judgment
           ?
           
             Yes
             ;
             The
             Judgment
             ordinarily
             believ'd
             ,
             is
             too
             severe
             .
          
           Let
           us
           suspend
           our
           Judgment
           of
           That
           ,
           till
           we
           come
           to
           it
           .
           Our
           ordinary
           Ideas
           of
           a
           Deity
           are
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           both
           Just
           and
           Merciful
           :
           And
           the
           temperature
           that
           must
           result
           from
           the
           combination
           of
           those
           two
           Dispositions
           ,
           will
           undoubtedly
           be
           such
           as
           we
           shall
           be
           forced
           to
           own
           proper
           and
           suitable
           to
           our
           Circumstances
           .
           
           No
           ,
           say
           they
           again
           ,
           
             all
             manner
             of
             Punishment
             will
             be
             then
             unsuitable
             :
             Because
             it
             will
             neither
             tend
             to
             our
             Reformation
             ,
             nor
             serve
             for
             Example
             to
             others
             :
             Without
             which
             it
             is
             no
             better
             than
             meer
             Revenge
             ,
             and
             would
             be
             unjustifiable
             even
             amongst
             Men.
          
           All
           of
           a
           piece
           still
           .
           Who
           told
           them
           that
           we
           shall
           not
           be
           capable
           of
           any
           degrees
           of
           Purification
           in
           another
           Life
           ;
           Or
           that
           none
           of
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           those
           Regions
           ,
           whither
           we
           shall
           be
           transported
           ,
           will
           be
           capable
           of
           receiving
           any
           Benefit
           by
           our
           Example
           ?
           The
           same
           Thread
           of
           Presumption
           runs
           through
           the
           whole
           Series
           of
           these
           Objections
           .
           The
           Offer
           of
           any
           (
           even
           the
           least
           )
           of
           them
           implies
           a
           
           pretence
           to
           a
           full
           and
           comprehensive
           knowledge
           of
           the
           whole
           Universe
           .
           For
           That
           is
           visibly
           one
           intire
           Frame
           ,
           knit
           together
           ,
           without
           the
           least
           Chasm
           ,
           by
           continual
           Relations
           and
           Dependencies
           .
           And
           whoever
           objects
           against
           any
           part
           ,
           if
           he
           really
           pretend
           to
           understand
           the
           whole
           ,
           ought
           to
           blush
           at
           his
           own
           Presumption
           :
           Or
           if
           he
           object
           ,
           without
           pretending
           to
           it
           ,
           He
           must
           needs
           (
           in
           the
           Judgment
           of
           all
           Men
           )
           incur
           the
           Censure
           of
           great
           Extravagance
           .
        
         
           I
           said
           in
           the
           beginning
           ,
           that
           I
           intended
           not
           to
           oppose
           these
           Opinions
           ,
           in
           this
           Paper
           ,
           by
           any
           Philosophical
           Arguments
           :
           Because
           that
           has
           been
           sufficiently
           done
           ,
           over
           and
           over
           again
           ,
           by
           many
           others
           .
           It
           is
           sufficient
           to
           
           me
           ,
           that
           I
           shew
           the
           groundlesness
           of
           all
           of
           them
           ,
           by
           the
           impossibility
           of
           any
           Man
           's
           being
           able
           to
           have
           a
           due
           competency
           of
           Knowledge
           whereon
           to
           build
           them
           .
           And
           the
           same
           Presumption
           that
           runs
           through
           all
           the
           Objections
           drawn
           up
           against
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           God
           ,
           from
           the
           imperfections
           and
           disorders
           that
           are
           pretended
           to
           be
           observed
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           will
           be
           sound
           in
           like
           manner
           to
           be
           the
           root
           of
           all
           those
           that
           are
           brought
           against
           his
           Providence
           .
           That
           Great
           One
           ,
           
             drawn
             from
             the
             Prosperity
             of
             Ill
             Men
             ,
             and
             the
             Adversity
             ,
             which
             oft
             times
             attends
             the
             Good
             ,
             in
             this
             Life
             ,
          
           is
           visibly
           of
           the
           same
           Nature
           .
           For
           who
           has
           assured
           the
           Objectors
           that
           This
           is
           not
           a
           probationary
           
           State
           ;
           And
           that
           all
           such
           irregularities
           will
           be
           set
           even
           hereafter
           ?
           They
           must
           be
           very
           presumptuous
           ,
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           a
           Future
           state
           for
           Humane
           Souls
           is
           impossible
           .
           And
           yet
           That
           they
           must
           say
           ,
           or
           else
           their
           Objection
           is
           vain
           ,
           The
           improbability
           and
           doubtfulness
           of
           any
           thing
           is
           not
           a
           sufficient
           Ground
           for
           a
           Positive
           Conclusion
           .
           They
           must
           talk
           no
           less
           than
           of
           perfect
           Knowledge
           in
           the
           Matter
           ,
           or
           they
           talk
           very
           impertinently
           .
           I
           know
           not
           whether
           they
           do
           so
           or
           no
           ;
           But
           I
           am
           sure
           their
           Confidence
           is
           as
           great
           as
           if
           they
           did
           .
           What
           Presumption
           !
        
         
           Methinks
           those
           that
           on
           all
           occasions
           extoll
           so
           much
           the
           Ancients
           ,
           who
           were
           unacquainted
           
           with
           Revelation
           ,
           should
           not
           think
           a
           thing
           so
           very
           impossible
           which
           They
           all
           believed
           (
           at
           least
           )
           to
           be
           highly
           probable
           .
           For
           this
           I
           could
           easily
           bring
           numerous
           Authorities
           :
           But
           they
           are
           so
           commonly
           known
           ,
           that
           I
           count
           it
           needless
           .
           Only
           one
           ,
           tho'
           Modern
           ,
           may
           not
           be
           improper
           ;
           Because
           it
           asserts
           (
           as
           I
           do
           )
           the
           general
           authority
           of
           the
           Ancients
           ;
           And
           more
           especially
           because
           of
           the
           Character
           of
           the
           Person
           who
           writes
           it
           .
           'T
           is
           the
           Lord
           Herbert
           of
           Cherbury
           ,
           whom
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           we
           may
           reckon
           a
           Deist
           ,
           of
           our
           own
           number
           .
           In
           his
           Treatise
           ,
           
             De
             Religione
             Gentilium
          
           ,
           Chap.
           15.
           under
           the
           Title
           ,
           Spes
           ;
           After
           a
           large
           Quotation
           out
           of
           Plato
           to
           the
           same
           
           purpose
           ,
           he
           adds
           these
           words
           .
           *
           
             As
             therefore
             the
             Gentiles
             worshipped
             the
             same
             God
             ,
             and
             had
             the
             same
             esteem
             of
             Virtue
             ,
             that
             we
             have
             ;
             So
             't
             is
             certain
             that
             the
             same
             Hope
             of
             Immortality
             was
             common
             both
             to
             them
             and
             us
             .
             Cicero
             ,
          
           l.
           2.
           de
           Leg.
           
             says
             expresly
             ,
             The
             Souls
             of
             all
             men
             are
             immortal
             ,
             but
             those
             of
             the
             steddily
             Good
             are
             Divine
             :
          
           And
           ,
           lib.
           de
           Senect
           .
           
             Death
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             grieved
             at
             ,
             since
             Immortality
             follows
             it
             .
             So
             that
          
           (
           says
           the
           Lord
           Herbert
           again
           )
           
             amongst
             many
             religious
             Doctrines
             
             of
             the
             Gentiles
             ,
             This
             seems
             to
             have
             been
             esteemed
             by
             them
             as
             a
             solid
             uncontestable
             Axiome
             ,
          
           viz.
           
             That
             by
             the
             practice
             of
             Virtue
             ,
             Men
             attain
             to
             the
             hope
             of
             Immortality
             .
          
           Thus
           I
           say
           ,
           if
           either
           Reason
           or
           Authority
           have
           any
           weight
           ,
           we
           must
           needs
           conclude
           ,
           that
           intolerable
           Presumption
           lies
           at
           the
           Root
           of
           this
           Objection
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           we
           consider
           yet
           another
           ,
           to
           the
           same
           purpose
           ,
           we
           shall
           still
           find
           the
           same
           thing
           .
           When
           they
           tell
           us
           ,
           
             That
             it
             is
             suitable
             to
             the
             Perfections
             of
             the
             Deity
             ,
             to
             have
             made
             all
             things
             at
             first
             so
             compleat
             ,
             as
             never
             to
             need
             his
             interposition
             afterwards
             ;
             And
             that
             it
             is
             below
             his
             Dignity
             ,
             or
             
             that
             it
             would
          
           *
           
             disturb
             his
             present
             Felicity
             ,
             to
             intermeddle
             with
             our
             Affairs
          
           ;
           What
           does
           this
           signifie
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           think
           themselves
           capable
           of
           determining
           whatsoever
           may
           be
           suitable
           to
           Infinite
           Perfection
           ?
           If
           in
           any
           thing
           they
           plainly
           saw
           a
           Necessity
           ,
           well
           and
           good
           :
           But
           from
           their
           loose
           and
           groundless
           imaginations
           ,
           to
           draw
           such
           a
           Conclusion
           ,
           argues
           extream
           Arrogance
           .
           Does
           it
           argue
           a
           Perfection
           in
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           ,
           to
           have
           excluded
           himself
           (
           by
           the
           perfection
           of
           
           his
           Workmanship
           )
           from
           any
           possibility
           of
           ever
           more
           intermeddling
           with
           it
           ?
           Can
           they
           be
           certain
           of
           this
           ?
           I
           think
           not
           .
           And
           if
           it
           be
           possible
           for
           him
           to
           intermeddle
           ,
           whensoever
           he
           sees
           convenient
           ,
           how
           will
           they
           prove
           he
           does
           not
           ?
           
             O
             ,
             it
             would
             discompose
             him
             ,
             and
             disturb
             his
             perfect
             Happiness
             .
          
           At
           this
           rate
           ,
           he
           must
           be
           of
           a
           very
           delicate
           Constitution
           .
           His
           Head
           ,
           perhaps
           ,
           would
           ake
           ,
           if
           he
           applied
           his
           Mind
           to
           such
           perplexing
           Cares
           .
           Ridiculous
           !
           Yet
           ,
           admit
           it
           :
           What
           hinders
           but
           he
           may
           be
           discharged
           of
           much
           of
           that
           trouble
           ,
           by
           the
           Ministry
           of
           Myriads
           of
           intellectual
           Beings
           ,
           who
           may
           have
           ways
           of
           influencing
           us
           imperceptibly
           ,
           
           which
           we
           conceive
           not
           ?
           Is
           this
           also
           impossible
           ?
           They
           must
           either
           shew
           their
           Presumption
           (
           as
           I
           said
           before
           )
           in
           pronouncing
           it
           so
           ;
           Or
           own
           their
           Temerity
           ,
           in
           raising
           Objections
           without
           knowledge
           .
        
         
           As
           impossible
           as
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Providence
           may
           seem
           to
           them
           ,
           This
           also
           is
           what
           all
           the
           wise
           and
           virtuous
           Heathens
           constantly
           believed
           ;
           And
           upon
           which
           (
           as
           I
           have
           shewn
           already
           )
           they
           founded
           both
           their
           Morality
           and
           Politicks
           .
           Yet
           since
           I
           am
           saln
           again
           upon
           the
           Subject
           ,
           I
           have
           a
           Mind
           to
           add
           one
           Passage
           more
           out
           of
           Cicero
           ,
           and
           to
           join
           with
           That
           the
           Authority
           of
           Socrates
           ,
           and
           
           of
           Antoninus
           ;
           Two
           Names
           that
           (
           if
           any
           )
           deserve
           high
           Veneration
           .
           Concerning
           
             Socrates
             ,
             Xenophon
          
           his
           Disciple
           ,
           tells
           us
           ,
           in
           the
           First
           Book
           of
           his
           Memoirs
           ,
           that
           
             He
             called
             those
             Mad-men
             ,
             who
             could
             imagine
             that
             all
             humane
             affairs
             depended
             intirely
             upon
             our
             Conduct
             ,
             without
             any
             interposition
             of
             Divine
             Providence
             .
          
           This
           is
           the
           Spirit
           that
           runs
           through
           all
           his
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           with
           which
           he
           tinctured
           every
           thing
           .
           Xenophon
           has
           given
           us
           several
           Argumentations
           of
           his
           ,
           expresly
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           which
           are
           much
           too
           long
           to
           be
           here
           transcribed
           .
           And
           these
           remarkable
           Words
           ,
           in
           his
           Fourth
           Book
           ,
           shew
           us
           the
           improvement
           he
           made
           of
           it
           for
           
           the
           benefit
           of
           Humane
           Life
           .
           
             What
             Man
             in
             his
             Wits
          
           (
           says
           he
           )
           
             can
             ,
             any
             other
             way
             ,
             hope
             for
             greater
             Advantages
             ,
             than
             from
             the
             Gods
             ;
             in
             whose
             power
             it
             is
             to
             bestow
             on
             us
             the
             greatest
             ?
             But
             he
             only
             has
             Right
             to
             expect
             such
             things
             from
             them
             who
             pleases
             them
             :
             And
             He
             chiefly
             pleases
             them
             who
             most
             perfectly
             obeys
             them
             .
             Thus
          
           (
           says
           
             Xenophon
             )
             whilst
             he
             both
             taught
             and
             practised
             these
             things
             ,
             he
             made
             his
             Hearers
             more
             Pious
             and
             Moderate
             :
          
           And
           ,
           consequently
           (
           all
           Men
           must
           own
           )
           more
           fit
           for
           the
           Duties
           of
           Society
           .
           I
           wish
           We
           ,
           in
           following
           his
           Example
           ,
           could
           work
           the
           same
           Effect
           upon
           our
           Nominal
           Brethren
           .
           The
           Passage
           of
           Cicero
           
           that
           I
           think
           worthy
           to
           be
           observed
           ,
           is
           this
           .
           *
           
             Who
             can
             be
             so
             void
             of
             all
             Understanding
          
           (
           says
           he
           )
           
             as
             Either
             ,
             when
             he
             looks
             up
             into
             the
             Heavens
             ,
             does
             not
             conclude
             that
             there
             are
             Gods
             ;
             But
             imagines
             those
             things
             ,
             which
             are
             contrived
             with
             so
             great
             Wisdom
             that
             scarce
             any
             Man
             is
             able
             with
             all
             his
             Art
             to
             attain
             to
             a
             knowledge
             of
             the
             Regular
             Vicissitudes
             of
             their
             Motions
             ,
             to
             be
             all
             the
             Products
             of
             
             blind
             Chance
             ;
             Or
             when
             he
             does
             perceive
             that
             there
             are
             Gods
             ,
             does
             not
             understand
             that
             the
             very
             Origin
             ,
             Growth
             ,
             and
             Support
             of
             this
             Mighty
             Empire
             are
             to
             be
             ascribed
             to
             their
             Providence
             and
             Protection
             ?
          
           He
           goes
           on
           ,
           strenuously
           asserting
           that
           ,
           
             However
             they
             might
             flatter
             themselves
             ,
             All
             their
             Successes
             ,
             even
             the
             Conquest
             of
             the
             whole
             World
             ,
             were
             not
             to
             be
             attributed
             either
             to
             their
             Number
             or
             Strength
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           
             Nor
             even
             to
             their
             Understanding
             and
             Wisdom
             ;
             except
             it
             were
             in
             this
             one
             Point
             ,
             that
             they
             excelled
             all
             other
             Nations
             in
             Piety
             and
             Religion
             ,
             and
             in
             a
             sensible
             Conviction
             of
             the
             Superintendency
             of
             the
             Immortal
             Gods
             ,
             and
             of
             their
             own
             intire
             Dependance
             upon
             them
             .
          
           But
           
           I
           will
           conclude
           these
           Authorities
           ,
           with
           that
           of
           Antoninus
           .
           He
           positively
           affirms
           
             (
             l.
          
           2.
           
           §
           .
           8.
           )
           both
           
             that
             there
             are
             Gods
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             do
             concern
             themselves
             in
             the
             Administration
             of
             Humane
             Affairs
             :
          
           And
           upon
           that
           ground
           ,
           every
           where
           ,
           maintains
           that
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           
             Pray'd
             to
             ,
             and
             Worshipped
          
           .
           And
           accordingly
           
             (
             l.
          
           3.
           
           §
           .
           11.
           )
           in
           addressing
           his
           Reflections
           to
           himself
           (
           as
           his
           stile
           runs
           )
           He
           has
           these
           excellent
           words
           :
           
             Prepare
             and
             furnish
             thy self
             with
             Rules
             ,
             that
             may
             be
             useful
             to
             thee
             in
             the
             Intelligence
             both
             of
             Divine
             and
             Humane
             things
             :
             And
             in
             all
             thy
             Transactions
             ,
             even
             the
             least
             ,
             remember
             the
             Connexion
             that
             is
             between
             those
             two
             .
             For
             neither
             can
             any
             Humane
             Affair
             
             be
             performed
             as
             it
             ought
             ,
             unless
             respect
             be
             had
             to
             the
             Gods
             ,
             in
             the
             doing
             of
             it
             :
             Nor
             the
             Contrary
             .
          
           By
           which
           Contrary
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Currant
           stream
           of
           his
           Philosophy
           ,
           it
           is
           probable
           he
           intended
           to
           intimate
           ;
           That
           as
           all
           Humane
           Affairs
           must
           be
           allow'd
           to
           be
           very
           irregular
           ,
           where
           respect
           was
           not
           had
           to
           the
           Gods
           in
           the
           Conduct
           of
           them
           ;
           So
           all
           religious
           performances
           towards
           the
           Gods
           ought
           to
           be
           accounted
           as
           improper
           ,
           which
           did
           not
           tend
           to
           the
           advantage
           of
           Humane
           Society
           .
           I
           say
           ,
           this
           I
           conclude
           from
           the
           Currant
           Stream
           of
           his
           Philosophy
           ;
           Because
           he
           professes
           often
           
             (
             l.
          
           9.
           
           §
           .
           17.
           and
           l.
           10.
           
           §
           .
           6.
           )
           
             that
             he
             had
             no
             other
             sense
             of
             Duty
             ,
             nor
             even
             of
             any
             
             particular
             happiness
             to
             himself
             ,
             than
             in
             the
             Tendency
             of
             every
             thing
             he
             either
             said
             or
             did
             ,
             to
             the
             Welfare
             of
             that
             General
             Community
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             unto
             which
             every
             particular
             Man
             is
             inseparably
             united
             ,
             as
             a
             constituent
             part
             of
             the
             great
             Whole
             .
          
           And
           therefore
           also
           
             (
             l.
          
           2.
           
           §
           .
           14.
           )
           he
           calls
           that
           Man
           an
           
             impostumous
             Boil
          
           ,
           and
           Excrescence
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           who
           was
           capable
           of
           the
           consideration
           of
           any
           separate
           Int'rest
           .
           Which
           the
           Propagators
           of
           Opinions
           so
           ruinous
           to
           Society
           ,
           as
           those
           I
           write
           against
           ,
           would
           do
           well
           to
           take
           notice
           of
           .
        
         
           T
           is
           true
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           Epicurus
           (
           in
           his
           Doctrine
           of
           Providence
           )
           was
           of
           another
           Opinion
           .
           His
           business
           was
           to
           destroy
           all
           sense
           of
           any
           Dependance
           upon
           the
           
           Gods
           ,
           in
           any
           case
           whatsoever
           .
           But
           I
           beg
           these
           Gentlemen's
           Pardon
           ,
           if
           I
           did
           not
           reckon
           upon
           him
           ,
           when
           I
           mentioned
           all
           the
           wise
           and
           virtuous
           Heathens
           as
           agreeing
           in
           this
           Belief
           .
           Not
           that
           I
           would
           detract
           from
           his
           Reputation
           of
           personal
           Moderation
           and
           Temperance
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Excellency
           that
           is
           reported
           of
           him
           .
           But
           the
           voluptuous
           and
           dissolute
           Lives
           of
           the
           main
           Body
           of
           his
           Followers
           ,
           proving
           evidently
           the
           tendency
           of
           his
           Principles
           ,
           makes
           me
           look
           upon
           him
           (
           if
           you
           please
           )
           as
           a
           Virtuous
           Monster
           ;
           If
           he
           were
           so
           ,
           in
           consequence
           of
           a
           Belief
           which
           did
           ,
           and
           naturally
           must
           ,
           make
           the
           Generality
           of
           Men
           ,
           who
           imbrace
           it
           ,
           extreamly
           vicious
           .
        
         
         
           Now
           ,
           if
           the
           manifest
           Immodesty
           of
           those
           Objections
           ,
           (
           founded
           upon
           vain
           Presumption
           ,
           and
           contrary
           to
           the
           weight
           of
           all
           virtuous
           Authority
           )
           be
           not
           sufficient
           to
           check
           the
           Spreaders
           of
           them
           in
           our
           days
           ;
           Yet
           ,
           methinks
           ,
           the
           ill
           Consequences
           that
           attend
           such
           like
           Doctrines
           ,
           should
           not
           only
           do
           it
           ,
           but
           also
           make
           them
           a
           little
           doubtful
           of
           their
           Truth
           .
           And
           if
           they
           were
           once
           got
           so
           far
           as
           to
           admit
           the
           Mischief
           of
           those
           Consequences
           ,
           and
           thereupon
           to
           hesitate
           upon
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Notions
           which
           produced
           them
           ,
           I
           cannot
           yet
           think
           so
           ill
           of
           my
           Countrymen
           ,
           as
           to
           suppose
           they
           would
           continue
           their
           Industry
           in
           making
           Proselytes
           .
           The
           Consequences
           I
           have
           represented
           already
           :
           
           
             The
             Ruin
             of
             Societies
          
           .
           Now
           suppose
           the
           Disquisition
           into
           the
           Truth
           of
           these
           Matters
           were
           intricate
           ;
           (
           for
           that
           is
           the
           most
           that
           can
           be
           said
           in
           favour
           of
           the
           Incredulous
           )
           Which
           way
           ought
           we
           to
           incline
           ?
           He
           must
           have
           little
           Humanity
           in
           him
           that
           does
           not
           find
           even
           his
           Judgment
           sway'd
           by
           the
           Welfare
           of
           all
           Mankind
           .
           For
           my
           part
           ,
           who
           do
           believe
           a
           God
           and
           Providence
           ,
           I
           cannot
           conceive
           it
           consistent
           with
           his
           Goodness
           ,
           to
           have
           put
           us
           into
           such
           Circumstances
           ,
           that
           any
           Opinion
           which
           is
           absolutely
           necessary
           to
           our
           Being
           or
           Well-being
           (
           so
           that
           we
           could
           not
           possibly
           either
           be
           at
           all
           ,
           or
           enjoy
           any
           competent
           happiness
           without
           it
           )
           should
           not
           be
           True
           ;
           Or
           that
           the
           contrary
           
           should
           .
           This
           would
           be
           to
           suppose
           the
           Scheme
           of
           the
           Universe
           very
           ill
           drawn
           ,
           and
           the
           Parts
           of
           it
           ill
           suited
           to
           each
           other
           ;
           If
           any
           real
           and
           necessary
           Effect
           were
           made
           dependent
           upon
           an
           imaginary
           and
           false
           Cause
           .
           For
           Instance
           :
           If
           our
           Being
           ,
           (
           the
           Sustenance
           of
           our
           Life
           )
           or
           the
           End
           of
           our
           Being
           ,
           (
           Happiness
           ,
           in
           any
           moderate
           degree
           )
           could
           not
           be
           attained
           without
           this
           or
           that
           particular
           Perswasion
           ,
           which
           should
           move
           us
           to
           act
           in
           this
           or
           that
           particular
           manner
           ;
           It
           would
           seem
           to
           me
           (
           I
           confess
           )
           very
           absurd
           ,
           and
           inconsistent
           with
           my
           Idea
           of
           a
           God
           ,
           that
           such
           Opinion
           or
           Perswasion
           should
           have
           no
           real
           Ground
           in
           the
           Nature
           of
           Things
           ,
           but
           depend
           only
           upon
           
           our
           lucky
           hitting
           on
           so
           useful
           an
           Errour
           .
           That
           is
           as
           much
           as
           to
           say
           :
           If
           the
           Belief
           of
           God's
           Superintendency
           be
           absolutely
           necessary
           to
           our
           attaining
           any
           competent
           Degree
           of
           Happiness
           (
           which
           he
           has
           evidently
           designed
           us
           for
           )
           it
           seems
           to
           me
           very
           absurd
           ,
           to
           think
           that
           such
           a
           Belief
           can
           possibly
           be
           groundless
           and
           false
           .
           This
           would
           give
           me
           a
           strange
           Idea
           both
           of
           God
           and
           of
           my self
           .
           If
           every
           thing
           that
           I
           can
           observe
           in
           my
           own
           Nature
           ,
           shews
           me
           that
           I
           am
           designed
           for
           Society
           ;
           And
           if
           Society
           can
           not
           possibly
           be
           maintained
           without
           those
           Principles
           that
           I
           have
           been
           pleading
           for
           ;
           I
           must
           needs
           think
           it
           a
           very
           fantastical
           Contrivance
           in
           my
           Nature
           ,
           if
           the
           Author
           of
           
           it
           should
           have
           no
           way
           to
           lead
           me
           into
           the
           Belief
           of
           them
           ,
           but
           by
           Delusion
           :
           Especially
           if
           that
           Delusion
           be
           such
           ,
           (
           which
           is
           the
           Case
           in
           the
           System
           of
           those
           I
           now
           dispute
           against
           )
           as
           I
           my self
           may
           be
           able
           to
           detect
           ,
           and
           thereby
           frustrate
           the
           End
           of
           him
           that
           made
           me
           .
           This
           (
           I
           must
           needs
           say
           )
           would
           make
           so
           strange
           a
           jumble
           in
           my
           Brains
           ,
           that
           ,
           rather
           than
           admit
           it
           ,
           I
           should
           fly
           to
           direct
           Scepticism
           ,
           and
           believe
           nothing
           at
           all
           .
           Yet
           nevertheless
           ,
           I
           confess
           ,
           All
           this
           does
           not
           amount
           to
           a
           Demonstration
           ,
           to
           those
           who
           do
           not
           believe
           a
           God
           ,
           or
           not
           such
           a
           God
           as
           I
           do
           ;
           Tho'
           to
           me
           it
           be
           not
           much
           less
           .
           At
           least
           ,
           I
           must
           profess
           that
           ,
           admitting
           the
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           (
           in
           
           respect
           of
           the
           Consequences
           of
           Irreligion
           )
           as
           I
           have
           endeavoured
           to
           prove
           it
           ;
           The
           grounds
           of
           Religion
           do
           ,
           by
           this
           very
           Argument
           ,
           appear
           to
           me
           so
           probable
           ,
           that
           tho'
           I
           had
           no
           other
           ,
           I
           should
           not
           scruple
           to
           venture
           my
           All
           upon
           them
           .
           Nature
           her self
           repugns
           at
           the
           Thought
           of
           the
           Contrary
           .
           Who
           is
           it
           ,
           that
           would
           not
           abhor
           any
           thing
           that
           tends
           to
           the
           Ruin
           of
           his
           whole
           Species
           ?
           Methinks
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           it
           should
           create
           in
           all
           Men's
           Minds
           a
           prejudice
           strong
           enough
           to
           resist
           even
           very
           specious
           Arguments
           ;
           But
           surely
           ,
           to
           hinder
           the
           Belief
           of
           so
           ill
           a
           thing
           ,
           without
           any
           Argument
           at
           all
           .
           And
           ,
           as
           even
           now
           ,
           I
           called
           him
           a
           Monster
           of
           Virtue
           ,
           who
           could
           be
           virtuous
           in
           spight
           
           of
           the
           strongest
           vicious
           Principles
           ;
           So
           I
           would
           fain
           know
           by
           what
           Stile
           those
           Men
           will
           decipher
           their
           own
           Inhumanity
           ,
           who
           can
           (
           without
           any
           reluctance
           )
           entertain
           and
           take
           Delight
           in
           propagating
           Opinions
           which
           strike
           at
           the
           Foundation
           of
           all
           Humane
           Happiness
           .
        
         
           Let
           this
           suffice
           to
           be
           said
           concerning
           the
           Nominal
           Deists
           .
           I
           would
           now
           add
           a
           few
           words
           to
           you
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           that
           are
           Real
           ones
           ;
           And
           to
           my self
           ,
           in
           that
           number
           .
           We
           do
           believe
           ,
           That
           
             there
             is
             an
             infinitely
             Powerful
             ,
             Wise
             ,
             and
             Good
             God
             ;
             Who
             superintends
             the
             Actions
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             in
             order
             to
             retribute
             unto
             every
             one
             ,
             either
             here
             or
             hereafter
             ,
             according
             to
             their
             Deserts
             .
          
           Let
           no
           body
           boggle
           at
           this
           Creed
           :
           For
           if
           
           we
           do
           not
           stick
           to
           it
           ,
           I
           have
           proved
           already
           that
           we
           ruin
           the
           Foundation
           of
           all
           Humane
           Happiness
           ,
           and
           are
           in
           effect
           no
           better
           than
           meer
           Atheists
           :
           And
           ,
           in
           the
           end
           of
           the
           Consequence
           shall
           become
           Canibals
           .
           If
           we
           do
           stick
           to
           it
           ,
           let
           us
           consider
           what
           further
           it
           leads
           us
           to
           .
           The
           Retribution
           that
           we
           have
           concluded
           to
           be
           necessary
           ,
           is
           not
           made
           with
           any
           manner
           of
           exactness
           in
           this
           Life
           :
           And
           therefore
           it
           is
           to
           be
           expected
           in
           another
           .
           This
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           is
           a
           common
           Argument
           :
           But
           admitting
           the
           Premises
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           see
           how
           it
           can
           be
           resisted
           .
           Those
           that
           will
           oppose
           it
           ,
           must
           begin
           with
           denying
           the
           Superintendency
           of
           God
           ;
           And
           thereby
           declare
           themselves
           Enemies
           of
           
           Mankind
           .
           But
           let
           us
           go
           on
           .
           If
           God
           superintend
           the
           Actions
           of
           Men
           ,
           he
           does
           it
           by
           some
           Rule
           .
           That
           Rule
           must
           of
           necessity
           be
           Uniform
           .
           That
           is
           ;
           All
           Men
           in
           the
           same
           Circumstances
           must
           be
           obliged
           to
           the
           same
           thing
           ,
           under
           the
           same
           Penalty
           .
           For
           Partiality
           ,
           Favour
           ,
           and
           Dispensation
           ,
           to
           one
           person
           more
           than
           another
           ,
           are
           wholly
           inconsistent
           with
           our
           Ideas
           of
           his
           Perfections
           .
           But
           when
           Circumstances
           alter
           ,
           tho'
           the
           Rule
           it-self
           be
           always
           the
           same
           ,
           God's
           Judgment
           of
           particular
           Actions
           alters
           accordingly
           .
           It
           may
           then
           be
           enquired
           ,
           how
           shall
           we
           do
           to
           know
           what
           this
           Uniform
           Rule
           is
           ?
           I
           answer
           ;
           It
           must
           of
           necessity
           be
           suitable
           to
           the
           Relation
           that
           is
           between
           him
           and
           us
           .
           If
           that
           
           will
           not
           teach
           us
           what
           it
           is
           ,
           I
           shall
           be
           at
           a
           loss
           where
           to
           look
           for
           it
           .
           But
           let
           us
           consider
           what
           appears
           most
           obvious
           in
           the
           General
           Relation
           wherein
           God
           stands
           to
           Men
           ;
           Or
           Men
           to
           God.
           Whether
           we
           call
           him
           Creator
           ,
           Benefactor
           ,
           Governour
           ,
           or
           whatever
           it
           be
           ,
           it
           is
           one
           and
           the
           same
           thing
           to
           All
           :
           He
           is
           not
           the
           God
           of
           this
           or
           that
           particular
           Country
           only
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           whole
           World.
           This
           General
           Relation
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           implies
           a
           General
           Care.
           His
           Design
           must
           of
           necessity
           be
           the
           Good
           of
           the
           whole
           .
           And
           as
           we
           are
           Instruments
           in
           his
           hand
           ,
           it
           must
           certainly
           be
           in
           order
           to
           that
           End.
           Whatsoever
           tends
           to
           the
           Good
           of
           the
           whole
           ,
           is
           therefore
           (
           in
           every
           change
           of
           Circumstance
           )
           the
           
           Constant
           ,
           Uniform
           ,
           and
           Unalterable
           Duty
           that
           God
           requires
           from
           every
           Man
           ;
           And
           according
           to
           which
           he
           will
           judge
           every
           Man.
           Thus
           we
           both
           find
           what
           our
           Duty
           is
           ;
           And
           that
           his
           Animadversion
           ,
           to
           be
           expected
           in
           a
           Future
           State
           ,
           gives
           it
           the
           Strength
           of
           a
           Law.
           
        
         
           I
           say
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           let
           us
           that
           believe
           and
           see
           these
           things
           ,
           be
           careful
           to
           conform
           our
           Lives
           according
           thereunto
           .
           This
           is
           no
           small
           Advance
           .
           If
           we
           keep
           fast
           hold
           of
           this
           Thread
           ,
           there
           can
           happen
           very
           few
           Difficulties
           that
           it
           will
           not
           guide
           us
           through
           .
           The
           Awe
           of
           a
           super-intending
           God
           ,
           if
           attended
           to
           ,
           will
           make
           us
           Sincere
           .
           For
           where
           is
           the
           Man
           ,
           that
           whilst
           he
           is
           under
           that
           Sense
           ,
           dares
           transgress
           
           the
           Laws
           that
           he
           understands
           himself
           to
           be
           in
           this
           manner
           obliged
           to
           observe
           ?
           And
           if
           we
           are
           Sincere
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           Man
           of
           moderate
           Capacity
           ,
           but
           by
           asking
           himself
           the
           Question
           ,
           on
           occasion
           of
           any
           thing
           that
           he
           is
           going
           about
           
             (
             Which
             way
             would
             it
             be
             for
             the
             Advantage
             of
             all
             Mankind
             ,
             that
             all
             Men
             in
             this
             Circumstance
             ,
             should
             act
             ?
             )
          
           will
           be
           able
           to
           see
           ,
           which
           way
           lies
           the
           General
           Int'rest
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           And
           in
           that
           ,
           His
           own
           particular
           Duty
           .
        
         
           This
           would
           furnish
           Matter
           for
           a
           large
           Discourse
           :
           But
           that
           I
           fear
           it
           would
           be
           called
           Preaching
           .
           Yet
           what
           is
           obvious
           ,
           and
           necessary
           ,
           must
           not
           be
           omitted
           .
           Let
           us
           open
           our
           Eyes
           ,
           and
           consider
           what
           a
           World
           we
           should
           
           have
           ,
           if
           all
           Men
           were
           thorowly
           sensible
           but
           of
           this
           one
           thing
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           now
           Illustrated
           .
           This
           one
           Law
           ,
           if
           every
           Man
           carried
           it
           in
           his
           Breast
           ,
           would
           very
           much
           supersede
           the
           Use
           of
           all
           other
           .
           But
           without
           that
           which
           is
           the
           Ground
           of
           This
           ,
           all
           other
           Laws
           are
           of
           very
           little
           significancy
           .
           What
           the
           state
           of
           the
           World
           would
           be
           ,
           in
           that
           case
           ,
           we
           have
           seen
           already
           .
           Let
           us
           not
           therefore
           delude
           our selves
           ,
           or
           others
           ,
           with
           Talk
           of
           Reformation
           .
           Till
           this
           Principle
           be
           spread
           ,
           has
           taken
           root
           ,
           and
           is
           got
           in
           Vogue
           ,
           't
           is
           altogether
           in
           vain
           to
           go
           about
           it
           .
           This
           ,
           and
           this
           alone
           ,
           will
           reach
           the
           Decay
           of
           Trade
           and
           Wealth
           ,
           (
           not
           to
           mention
           the
           higher
           effects
           of
           it
           )
           and
           reform
           the
           Miscarriages
           that
           are
           
           complained
           of
           in
           Publick
           Affairs
           ,
           and
           Establish
           the
           Government
           of
           this
           Nation
           .
           I
           speak
           of
           Government
           ,
           because
           I
           believe
           many
           of
           us
           do
           (
           I
           am
           sure
           all
           should
           )
           heartily
           love
           our
           Country
           ;
           The
           Welfare
           of
           which
           depends
           intirely
           upon
           the
           Constitution
           and
           Administration
           of
           our
           Government
           .
           What
           Reformation
           ;
           What
           Patchings
           of
           our
           shattered
           Frame
           ,
           can
           we
           expect
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           
             What
             will
             any
             Patchings
          
           *
           
             signifie
             ,
             whilst
             our
             Manners
             are
             thus
             corrupted
             ?
          
           Till
           a
           Principle
           of
           True
           Virtue
           begin
           to
           take
           Root
           in
           Men's
           Minds
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           more
           Chimerical
           than
           the
           Expectation
           of
           any
           
           manner
           of
           Publick
           Good.
           And
           I
           think
           I
           may
           well
           add
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           hardly
           any
           Cant
           more
           fulsom
           ,
           than
           the
           Talk
           of
           Virtue
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           not
           a
           Principle
           that
           all
           Men
           must
           own
           capable
           to
           produce
           it
           .
           For
           our
           Country's
           sake
           therefore
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           let
           us
           make
           it
           our
           first
           Business
           ,
           to
           establish
           this
           Principle
           in
           the
           Minds
           of
           all
           our
           Acquaintance
           .
           We
           may
           do
           it
           in
           a
           thousand
           Ways
           ,
           more
           effectual
           than
           the
           Pedantick
           forms
           of
           Pulpit-speeches
           ;
           And
           which
           will
           disbebecome
           no
           body
           .
           This
           were
           an
           excellent
           means
           indeed
           of
           tricking
           the
           Priests
           out
           of
           their
           Trade
           (
           which
           we
           so
           much
           exclaim
           against
           )
           and
           would
           leave
           them
           no
           ground
           of
           Complaint
           .
           When
           we
           have
           done
           this
           ,
           (
           and
           
           not
           till
           then
           )
           we
           may
           set
           up
           for
           Patriots
           ;
           And
           with
           Assurance
           of
           Success
           .
           One
           that
           was
           no
           more
           Bigot
           than
           the
           best
           of
           us
           ,
           saw
           many
           Ages
           ago
           ,
           and
           told
           his
           Countrymen
           ,
           the
           Romans
           ,
           that
           all
           their
           *
           
             Successes
             were
             to
             be
             attributed
             to
             their
             Religious
             Reverence
             of
             the
             Gods
             ,
             and
             their
             Miscarriages
             ,
             to
             the
             neglect
             and
             decay
             of
             it
             .
          
           And
           whether
           we
           seek
           the
           reason
           of
           this
           Observation
           in
           the
           Natural
           Efficacy
           of
           the
           grand
           Principle
           of
           Religion
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           Blessing
           of
           Providence
           that
           attends
           the
           observance
           of
           it
           ,
           we
           shall
           find
           it
           both
           ways
           strong
           .
           Let
           us
           then
           make
           it
           our
           Business
           
           to
           ‖
           
             Propagate
             the
             Establishment
             of
             True
             Religion
          
           ;
           And
           we
           shall
           by
           that
           means
           ,
           not
           only
           
             root
             up
             the
             Weeds
             of
             Superstition
          
           (
           wherever
           we
           meet
           with
           any
           such
           )
           but
           lay
           a
           solid
           Foundation
           of
           Prosperity
           to
           our
           Country
           ,
           for
           which
           Posterity
           will
           pronounce
           us
           Blessed
           .
        
         
           Now
           if
           what
           I
           have
           offered
           ,
           towards
           the
           Establishment
           of
           a
           General
           Rule
           of
           Conduct
           ,
           be
           of
           any
           use
           ;
           I
           would
           very
           earnestly
           *
           beg
           of
           those
           that
           are
           more
           able
           than
           my self
           ,
           to
           improve
           it
           further
           ;
           and
           to
           give
           us
           a
           System
           of
           particular
           Duties
           that
           Rise
           naturally
           from
           
           the
           Fountain
           of
           True
           Deism
           .
           Grotius
           indeed
           ,
           and
           Pufendorf
           ,
           and
           many
           other
           Moralists
           and
           Politicians
           ,
           have
           done
           something
           towards
           it
           ;
           but
           either
           so
           brokenly
           ,
           or
           so
           diffusedly
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           hard
           for
           a
           Reader
           to
           perceive
           always
           the
           Thread
           of
           Consequences
           which
           ought
           to
           run
           through
           the
           whole
           .
           Something
           more
           easie
           and
           more
           evident
           is
           yet
           wanting
           .
           It
           has
           been
           hinted
           by
           a
           *
           Worthy
           Gentleman
           ,
           that
           
             Morality
             is
             capable
             of
             Demonstration
          
           .
           And
           all
           that
           have
           read
           that
           Work
           of
           his
           ,
           will
           allow
           that
           none
           can
           be
           more
           capable
           of
           doing
           it
           than
           himself
           .
           If
           I
           had
           the
           honour
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           of
           his
           Acquaintance
           ,
           
           I
           would
           certainly
           sollicit
           him
           to
           perform
           what
           he
           proposes
           .
           But
           since
           we
           see
           it
           not
           yet
           done
           ,
           and
           must
           therefore
           suppose
           that
           some
           other
           thing
           of
           no
           less
           moment
           imploys
           his
           Thoughts
           (
           for
           he
           has
           both
           there
           ,
           and
           *
           else
           where
           ,
           express'd
           too
           true
           a
           Concern
           for
           the
           Welfare
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           to
           leave
           us
           any
           mistrust
           that
           he
           would
           otherwise
           omit
           it
           )
           I
           cannot
           refrain
           from
           offering
           to
           all
           Men's
           consideration
           the
           Usefulness
           of
           the
           Design
           ;
           That
           so
           whoever
           finds
           his
           Strength
           equal
           to
           the
           Task
           ,
           may
           take
           it
           upon
           him
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           the
           Difficulty
           of
           this
           Work
           be
           any
           Obstacle
           to
           others
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           to
           me
           ;
           And
           if
           my
           
           General
           Rule
           be
           too
           succinct
           ,
           for
           the
           Variety
           of
           Cases
           that
           occur
           in
           Humane
           Affairs
           ;
           Then
           I
           am
           sure
           we
           must
           all
           conclude
           that
           the
           generality
           of
           Mankind
           stand
           in
           great
           need
           of
           some
           further
           Assistance
           ,
           than
           that
           general
           Capacity
           which
           they
           are
           naturally
           endowed
           with
           :
           And
           that
           wheresoever
           that
           Assistance
           can
           be
           found
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           below
           the
           most
           elevated
           Capacity
           to
           make
           use
           of
           it
           .
           Now
           this
           ,
           at
           least
           ,
           is
           pretended
           ,
           amongst
           Christians
           ,
           to
           have
           been
           done
           by
           the
           Revelation
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           .
           The
           Precepts
           of
           the
           Gospel
           are
           plain
           ,
           suited
           to
           the
           meanest
           Capacities
           :
           And
           ,
           if
           the
           History
           of
           it
           be
           true
           ,
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           it
           can
           not
           be
           questioned
           .
           
           Those
           two
           things
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           joined
           together
           ,
           ease
           us
           at
           once
           of
           the
           trouble
           of
           enquiring
           into
           the
           Foundation
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           into
           the
           Particularities
           of
           it
           .
           For
           admitting
           them
           ;
           We
           have
           a
           fair
           Transcript
           ,
           in
           our
           hands
           ,
           of
           the
           most
           essential
           Points
           of
           that
           Law
           ,
           and
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Law-giver
           stampt
           upon
           it
           .
           This
           therefore
           ,
           besides
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Deism
           that
           we
           agree
           in
           ,
           it
           highly
           concerns
           us
           to
           enquire
           into
           .
           For
           if
           the
           pretences
           of
           Christianity
           be
           well
           grounded
           ,
           it
           can
           not
           be
           an
           indifferent
           or
           frivolous
           Matter
           .
        
         
           The
           general
           Advice
           that
           I
           will
           presume
           to
           offer
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           is
           only
           this
           .
           Let
           us
           
           be
           very
           careful
           not
           to
           block
           up
           our
           own
           way
           to
           the
           Discovery
           of
           any
           useful
           Truth
           ,
           by
           that
           sort
           of
           Presumption
           which
           I
           have
           but
           even
           now
           *
           condemned
           in
           those
           whose
           Brotherhood
           I
           would
           disclaim
           .
           I
           hope
           none
           that
           really
           believes
           a
           God
           ,
           will
           offer
           to
           say
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           him
           to
           communicate
           the
           knowledge
           of
           his
           Will
           to
           his
           Creatures
           ,
           by
           any
           other
           way
           than
           that
           which
           we
           are
           ordinarily
           acquainted
           withal
           :
           Or
           that
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           Him
           to
           impower
           any
           one
           ,
           whom
           he
           thinks
           fit
           to
           fill
           with
           any
           extraordinary
           either
           Degree
           or
           Kind
           of
           Knowledge
           ,
           to
           work
           things
           so
           wonderful
           as
           may
           
           justly
           be
           esteemed
           an
           adequate
           proof
           of
           his
           extraordinary
           Mission
           .
           To
           pronounce
           either
           of
           these
           ,
           dogmatically
           ,
           impossible
           ,
           implies
           a
           presumption
           of
           so
           comprehensive
           and
           universal
           a
           knowledge
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           sure
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           any
           Man
           to
           attain
           to
           .
           Impossible
           for
           God!
           Is
           the
           thing
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           Scheme
           of
           the
           Universe
           ?
           Who
           knows
           it
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           not
           ;
           Or
           that
           we
           are
           ignorant
           ;
           Who
           dares
           say
           it
           ?
           But
           if
           we
           can
           not
           reasonably
           pronounce
           all
           manner
           of
           extraordinary
           Revelation
           of
           God's
           Will
           to
           be
           impossible
           ;
           And
           can
           not
           deny
           some
           extraordinary
           Help
           (
           considering
           the
           many
           frailties
           of
           Humane
           Nature
           )
           to
           be
           highly
           useful
           ;
           We
           are
           certainly
           bound
           to
           examine
           
           without
           prejudice
           ,
           and
           very
           impartially
           ,
           any
           thing
           that
           has
           but
           a
           plausible
           pretence
           to
           that
           Extraordinary
           Character
           .
        
         
           It
           will
           not
           be
           denied
           ,
           I
           suppose
           ,
           but
           Christianity
           has
           the
           fairest
           Pretensions
           to
           this
           ,
           of
           any
           Religion
           now
           in
           the
           World.
           Yet
           even
           here
           ,
           immediately
           ,
           we
           renconter
           a
           Cloud
           of
           Objections
           :
           Superstitious
           Practices
           ;
           Absurd
           and
           unconceivable
           Tenets
           ;
           Disputes
           ;
           Uncertainties
           ;
           and
           Endless
           Difficulties
           .
           What
           shall
           we
           do
           ?
           Think
           not
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           going
           to
           advise
           you
           to
           enter
           into
           all
           the
           Controversial
           Disquisitions
           that
           amuze
           our
           several
           Sects
           .
           No
           :
           If
           you
           are
           desirous
           to
           know
           the
           Truth
           ,
           avoid
           them
           all
           ,
           and
           enquire
           without
           prejudice
           into
           
           the
           Root
           of
           the
           Matter
           .
           The
           Root
           I
           call
           the
           plain
           History
           of
           Matter
           of
           Fact.
           See
           what
           Proofs
           there
           are
           ,
           for
           or
           against
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           is
           recorded
           to
           have
           been
           said
           and
           done
           by
           Jesus
           Christ
           .
           If
           you
           can
           not
           deny
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           History
           (
           which
           I
           suppose
           is
           hardly
           possible
           )
           then
           observe
           the
           Tendency
           of
           his
           Doctrines
           and
           Precepts
           ;
           And
           if
           you
           find
           them
           all
           intirely
           conducing
           to
           the
           Welfare
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           (
           which
           is
           the
           same
           End
           with
           that
           of
           the
           Natural
           Law
           of
           God
           )
           Believe
           them
           not
           the
           less
           ;
           (
           I
           beseech
           you
           )
           But
           think
           your selves
           a
           little
           the
           more
           obliged
           to
           obey
           them
           ,
           because
           (
           which
           you
           must
           own
           ,
           if
           the
           History
           be
           true
           )
           he
           was
           immediately
           
           sent
           from
           God
           to
           teach
           and
           give
           them
           .
           In
           this
           Examination
           ,
           the
           Use
           of
           our
           Reason
           is
           not
           only
           Lawful
           ,
           but
           Necessary
           .
           God
           has
           given
           it
           to
           us
           ,
           as
           Men
           ,
           for
           our
           Use
           :
           And
           where
           we
           apply
           it
           to
           necessary
           Uses
           ,
           not
           to
           vain
           Curiosities
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           deceive
           us
           .
           In
           that
           manner
           we
           act
           according
           to
           Nature
           ,
           and
           ought
           not
           to
           do
           otherwise
           .
           And
           if
           we
           examine
           thus
           ,
           I
           am
           perswaded
           we
           shall
           find
           that
           Christianity
           is
           the
           highest
           Improvement
           of
           Deism
           :
           So
           that
           we
           may
           embrace
           it
           ,
           without
           forsaking
           our
           first
           Principles
           .
           It
           must
           needs
           be
           so
           ,
           if
           true
           .
           For
           the
           Principles
           of
           Deism
           are
           the
           Eternal
           and
           Unalterable
           Law
           of
           God
           to
           all
           Men.
           He
           may
           give
           further
           
           Helps
           (
           as
           I
           suppose
           we
           shall
           find
           Christianity
           is
           )
           to
           some
           :
           But
           he
           can
           not
           Abrogate
           or
           Suspend
           the
           Universal
           Law
           ,
           which
           he
           has
           given
           us
           by
           Nature
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           any
           .
           My
           Counsel
           therefore
           terminates
           ,
           in
           sticking
           constantly
           close
           to
           That
           ;
           And
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           in
           making
           Use
           of
           all
           the
           Assistance
           we
           can
           find
           ,
           for
           the
           Improvement
           of
           it
           ,
           any
           where
           else
           .
           In
           this
           manner
           we
           not
           only
           avoid
           ,
           but
           answer
           all
           the
           Objections
           that
           I
           now
           hinted
           at
           ,
           or
           that
           can
           possibly
           rise
           against
           Christianity
           .
           The
           Practice
           of
           Superstitions
           is
           unsuitable
           to
           the
           true
           Idea
           of
           a
           God.
           The
           Belief
           of
           Absurdities
           is
           impopossible
           to
           the
           Nature
           of
           Man.
           And
           the
           Enquiry
           into
           
           Useless
           Niceties
           ,
           is
           a
           very
           ill
           Imployment
           of
           that
           precious
           time
           ,
           of
           which
           (
           amongst
           other
           things
           )
           God
           will
           certainly
           require
           an
           account
           at
           our
           hands
           .
        
         
           How
           !
           Will
           some
           Sectaries
           ,
           that
           may
           chance
           to
           see
           this
           Letter
           ,
           be
           apt
           to
           say
           ;
           
             Are
             no
             Systems
             ,
             no
             Articles
             ,
             no
             Creeds
             ,
             worth
             enquiring
             into
             ?
             This
             is
             to
             set
             up
             a
             New
             Christianity
             ,
             and
             to
             Undermine
             what
             is
             ordinarily
             called
             by
             that
             Name
             ,
             instead
             of
             establishing
             it
             :
             The
             very
             Fault
             that
             you
             condemned
             in
             those
             who
             ,
             under
             the
             Veil
             of
             Deism
             ,
             made
             it
             their
             Business
             to
             propagate
             the
             Principles
             of
             Atheism
             .
          
           I
           beg
           their
           Pardon
           .
           The
           Difference
           is
           great
           .
           In
           the
           first
           place
           :
           'T
           is
           to
           Deists
           I
           write
           .
           And
           if
           upon
           that
           account
           ,
           I
           
           use
           a
           Latitude
           in
           some
           Expressions
           ,
           not
           suited
           to
           the
           Genius
           of
           a
           Sectary
           ,
           't
           is
           no
           more
           than
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           thing
           requires
           .
           But
           I
           will
           answer
           them
           more
           directly
           .
           They
           may
           wrangle
           about
           Names
           as
           much
           as
           they
           please
           :
           'T
           is
           the
           thing
           only
           that
           I
           enquire
           into
           .
           Christianity
           .
           That
           Christianity
           which
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           and
           his
           Apostles
           taught
           :
           Not
           that
           which
           Sects
           and
           Parties
           have
           so
           deformed
           ,
           or
           disguised
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           at
           all
           knowable
           in
           their
           Writings
           ,
           nor
           much
           in
           their
           Practice
           .
           What!
           Shall
           I
           set
           my self
           to
           seek
           out
           a
           System
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           amongst
           their
           endless
           Disputes
           ?
           Let
           them
           first
           agree
           upon
           it
           amongst
           themselves
           .
           When
           that
           is
           done
           ,
           it
           
           will
           be
           time
           enough
           for
           me
           to
           consider
           what
           they
           say
           .
           But
           if
           ,
           in
           the
           mean
           while
           ,
           I
           can
           find
           out
           any
           particular
           wherein
           they
           all
           agree
           ,
           I
           sincerely
           promise
           them
           that
           I
           will
           stick
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           Now
           one
           particular
           ,
           I
           bless
           God
           ,
           I
           have
           lately
           found
           ,
           in
           a
           Book
           ,
           Intituled
           ,
           
             The
             Reasonableness
             of
             Christianity
             ,
             as
             delivered
             in
             the
             Scriptures
          
           ;
           And
           there
           demonstrated
           with
           an
           Evidence
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           not
           able
           to
           resist
           .
           Yet
           let
           no
           body
           imagine
           ,
           by
           this
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           the
           Old
           Acquaintance
           of
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           
             Growth
             of
             Deism
          
           ,
           who
           (
           he
           tells
           us
           )
           was
           convinced
           of
           the
           Reality
           of
           Revealed
           Religion
           ,
           by
           the
           reading
           of
           that
           Book
           ,
           and
           of
           
             The
             Five
             Letters
             concerning
             the
             Inspiration
             
             of
             the
             Holy
             Scriptures
             .
          
           For
           I
           neither
           know
           him
           ,
           nor
           He
           me
           .
           Yet
           nevertheless
           ,
           I
           own
           that
           I
           esteem
           That
           Book
           ,
           and
           the
           last
           of
           those
           Letters
           ,
           no
           less
           than
           he
           seems
           to
           do
           .
           Now
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           the
           thing
           which
           I
           find
           in
           that
           Book
           ,
           wherein
           all
           Sectaries
           agree
           ,
           is
           ,
           
             That
             Jesus
             Christ
             is
             the
             Messiah
             ,
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             the
             King
             ;
             Whom
             all
             ,
             that
             believe
             him
             to
             be
             so
             ,
             are
             obliged
             to
             obey
             .
          
           And
           the
           General
           Agreement
           of
           all
           Sects
           in
           this
           ,
           gives
           me
           ,
           I
           confess
           ,
           a
           strong
           presumption
           of
           its
           Truth
           :
           But
           the
           particular
           Evidence
           of
           it
           ,
           in
           that
           Book
           ,
           is
           irresistible
           .
           The
           Evidence
           ,
           I
           mean
           ,
           both
           that
           the
           Thing
           asserted
           is
           true
           ;
           And
           that
           (
           whatever
           else
           may
           be
           true
           and
           useful
           )
           nothing
           but
           that
           alone
           is
           
           required
           ,
           absolutely
           ,
           to
           denote
           and
           Characterise
           a
           Man
           a
           Christian
           .
        
         
           Since
           therefore
           I
           am
           forced
           to
           own
           that
           ,
           for
           my
           part
           ,
           I
           know
           no
           better
           ;
           And
           now
           despair
           of
           any
           help
           from
           particular
           Sects
           ;
           I
           hope
           I
           may
           ,
           without
           the
           Censure
           of
           those
           Sects
           ,
           resume
           the
           Advice
           I
           was
           presuming
           to
           offer
           to
           those
           to
           whom
           I
           address
           this
           Letter
           ;
           To
           Deists
           ,
           I
           mean.
           I
           would
           fain
           perswade
           them
           to
           look
           into
           the
           True
           Grounds
           of
           Christianity
           .
           What
           do
           I
           talk
           of
           perswading
           them
           to
           it
           ?
           They
           do
           it
           already
           .
           Deism
           it-self
           is
           the
           first
           Ground
           and
           Foundation
           of
           Christianity
           .
           Let
           them
           observe
           the
           Superstructure
           :
           And
           if
           any
           part
           of
           That
           be
           not
           so
           
           fitted
           as
           to
           lye
           even
           and
           smooth
           upon
           this
           Foundation
           ,
           let
           them
           ,
           in
           God's
           Name
           ,
           reject
           it
           .
           Such
           ill-hewn
           Stuff
           cannot
           be
           from
           him
           .
           His
           Works
           are
           all
           of
           a
           piece
           ;
           And
           will
           be
           always
           found
           consistent
           .
           But
           if
           all
           Genuine
           Christianity
           ,
           All
           that
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           himself
           made
           essential
           to
           it
           ,
           be
           evidently
           an
           improvement
           of
           Natural
           Religion
           (
           which
           I
           call
           Deism
           )
           built
           upon
           it
           ,
           fitted
           to
           it
           ,
           compacted
           with
           it
           ;
           So
           that
           the
           whole
           together
           makes
           one
           intire
           Body
           ,
           or
           System
           of
           Laws
           ;
           Just
           and
           Reasonable
           ,
           Worthy
           of
           the
           Supream
           Legislator
           from
           whom
           they
           proceed
           ,
           and
           all
           calculated
           and
           apparently
           contrived
           for
           the
           Benefit
           of
           Man
           ;
           Then
           ,
           methinks
           ,
           I
           should
           not
           
           need
           to
           use
           many
           words
           to
           perswade
           any
           one
           to
           embrace
           it
           .
           Neither
           is
           that
           my
           intention
           .
           I
           only
           propound
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           have
           not
           yet
           examined
           into
           the
           Matter
           ,
           would
           please
           to
           do
           it
           ,
           by
           that
           Draught
           of
           Christianity
           which
           the
           forementioned
           Book
           presents
           us
           withal
           :
           And
           let
           them
           resist
           it
           if
           they
           can
           .
           For
           if
           they
           can
           do
           it
           ,
           it
           is
           reasonable
           they
           should
           .
           Nay
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           men
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           any
           one
           to
           do
           otherwise
           ;
           That
           is
           ,
           to
           refuse
           Assent
           upon
           Conviction
           ,
           or
           to
           believe
           contrary
           to
           it
           .
           After
           that
           Examination
           ,
           I
           referr
           it
           to
           themselves
           to
           enter
           into
           more
           particular
           Enquiries
           ,
           or
           desist
           ,
           as
           they
           shall
           then
           judge
           necessary
           .
           But
           if
           ,
           contrary
           
           to
           my
           expectation
           ,
           any
           one
           of
           you
           ,
           Gentlemen
           ,
           to
           whom
           I
           have
           addressed
           this
           too
           tedious
           Letter
           ,
           disagree
           with
           me
           (
           after
           such
           Examination
           )
           in
           what
           I
           have
           now
           at
           last
           particularly
           insisted
           upon
           ;
           I
           beg
           of
           you
           ,
           by
           the
           Bonds
           of
           Humanity
           ,
           in
           which
           we
           are
           all
           united
           ,
           to
           assist
           me
           in
           shaking
           off
           what
           you
           esteem
           to
           be
           Delusion
           ;
           And
           to
           furnish
           me
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           instead
           of
           it
           ,
           with
           some
           other
           more
           perfect
           Scheme
           of
           things
           ;
           More
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Ideas
           we
           have
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           more
           conducive
           to
           the
           Happiness
           of
           Man.
           Take
           only
           those
           two
           Considerations
           along
           with
           you
           ,
           and
           in
           doing
           it
           effectually
           ,
           
           you
           will
           oblige
           ,
           not
           only
           me
           ,
           but
           all
           Mankind
           .
           I
           am
           ,
        
         
           
             Your
             affectionate
             Friend
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           Page
           36.
           line
           19.
           read
           que
           .
        
         
           P.
           104.
           l.
           8.
           r.
           vain
           .
        
         
           P.
           117.
           l.
           19.
           r.
           this
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A55820-e90
           
             *
             
               Video
               nonnullis
               videri
               Epicurum
               ,
               ne
               in
               offensionem
               Atheniensium
               caderet
               ,
               verbis
               reliquisse
               Deos
               ,
               re
               sustulisse
               .
               
                 
                   Cic.
                   de
                   Nat.
                   D.
                   L.
                
                 1.
                 
              
            
          
           
             *
             Tu
             denique
             Epicure
             ,
             Deum
             inermem
             facis
             .
             Omnia
             illi
             Tela
             ,
             omnem
             detraxisti
             Potentiam
             :
             Et
             ne
             cuiquam
             metuendus
             esset
             ,
             projecisti
             ipsum
             extra
             mundum
             .
             
               Seneca
               De
               Benef.
               l.
               4.
               c.
            
             19.
             
          
           
             *
             Quae
             pietas
             ei
             debetur
             à
             quo
             nihil
             acceperis
             ?
             Aut
             quid
             omnino
             ,
             cujus
             nullum
             meritum
             sit
             ,
             ei
             deberi
             potest
             ?
             
               Cic.
               de
               Nat.
               Deor.
               l.
            
             2.
             
             Nam
             quid
             crit
             quare
             solito
             dignemur
             honore
             Numina
             ,
             si
             demas
             velle
             juvare
             Deos
             ?
             
               Ovid.
               de
               Pont.
               Lib.
            
             2.
             
          
           
             *
             Fatis
             agimur
             :
             cedite
             Fatis
             .
             Non
             solicitae
             possunt
             curae
             mutare
             rati
             stamina
             fusi
             .
             Quicquid
             patimur
             mortale
             genus
             ,
             Quicquid
             facimus
             venit
             ex
             alto
             .
             Servatque
             suae
             decreta
             colus
             Lachesis
             ,
             dura
             revoluta
             manu
             .
             Omnia
             certo
             tramite
             vadunt
             :
             Primusque
             dies
             dedit
             extremum
             .
             Non
             illa
             Deo
             vertisse
             licet
             ,
             Quae
             nexa
             suis
             currunt
             causis
             .
             It
             cuique
             ratus
             ,
             prece
             non
             ullâ
             Mobilis
             ,
             ordo
             .
             
               Sen.
               in
               Oed.
            
             
          
           
             *
             Qui
             introducunt
             causarum
             seriem
             sempiternam
             ,
             ii
             mentem
             hominis
             voluntate
             liberâ
             spoliatam
             necessitato
             fati
             devinciunt
             .
             
               Cic.
               de
               Fato
            
             .
          
           
             *
             Fati
             ista
             Culpa
             est
             :
             Nemo
             sit
             Fato
             Nocens
             ,
             
               Senec.
               in
               Oedip.
            
             
          
           
             *
             Sunt
             enim
             Philosophi
             ,
             &
             fuerunt
             ,
             qui
             omninò
             nullam
             habere
             censerent
             humanarum
             rerum
             procurationem
             Deos.
             Quorum
             si
             vera
             sententia
             est
             ,
             quae
             potest
             esse
             Pietas
             ,
             quae
             Sanctitas
             ,
             quae
             Religio
             ?
             —
             Quibus
             sublat●s
             ,
             perturbatio
             vitae
             sequitur
             &
             magna
             confusio
             .
             Atque
             haud
             scio
             ,
             an
             pietate
             adversus
             Deos
             sublatâ
             ,
             fides
             etiam
             ,
             &
             societas
             humani
             generls
             ,
             atque
             una
             excellentissima
             virtus
             ,
             justitia
             ,
             tollatur
             .
             
               Cic.
               de
               Nat.
               Deor.
               l.
            
             1.
             
          
           
             *
             Quae
             fieri
             in
             terris
             coeloque
             tuentur
             Mortales
             ,
             pavidis
             cum
             pendent
             mentibus
             saepe
             Efficiunt
             animos
             humiles
             formidine
             divûm
             ,
             Depressos
             quae
             premunt
             ad
             terram
             .
             
               Lucr.
               l.
            
             3.
             
          
           
             †
             Jupiter
             ingentes
             qui
             das
             adimisque
             dolores
             ,
             Mater
             ait
             pueri
             menses
             jam
             quinque
             cubantis
             ,
             Frigida
             si
             puerum
             quartana
             reliquerit
             illo
             Mane
             die
             ,
             quo
             tuindicis
             jejunia
             ,
             nudus
             in
             Tiberi
             stabit
             .
             Casus
             medicusve
             levarit
             Aegrum
             ex
             praecipiti
             Mater
             delira
             necabit
             ,
             In
             gelidâ
             fixum
             ripâ
             ,
             febrimque
             reducet
             .
             Quone
             malo
             mentem
             concussa
             ?
             Timore
             Deorum
             .
             
               Hor.
               Sat.
               l.
            
             2.
             
          
           
             *
             Quo
             alio
             tuti
             sumus
             quàm
             quod
             mutuis
             juvamur
             Officiis
             ?
             —
             Fac
             nos
             singulos
             ,
             quid
             sumus
             ?
             Praeda
             animalium
             &
             Victima
             :
             ac
             vilissimus
             &
             facillimus
             sanguis
             .
             —
             Hominem
             imbecillit
             as
             cingit
             :
             Non
             unguium
             vis
             ,
             non
             dentium
             ,
             terribilem
             caeteris
             fecit
             .
             Nudum
             &
             infirmum
             Societ
             as
             sunit
             .
             
               Seneca
               de
               Ben.
               l.
               4.
               c.
            
             18.
             
          
           
             *
             —
             Parcit
             Cognatis
             maculis
             similis
             fera
             .
             Quando
             Leoni
             Fortior
             eripuit
             vitam
             leo
             ?
             Quo
             nemore
             unquam
             Expiravit
             aper
             majoris
             dentibus
             apri
             ?
             Indica
             tigris
             agit
             rabidâ
             cum
             tigride
             pacem
             Perpetuam
             .
             Savis
             inter
             se
             convenit
             ursis
             .
             
               Juv.
               Sat.
            
             15.
             
          
           
             *
             Aspicimus
             populus
             quorum
             non
             sufficit
             irae
             Occidisse
             aliquem
             ,
             sed
             pectora
             ,
             brachia
             ,
             vultum
             Crediderint
             genuesse
             cibi
             .
             
               Juv.
               Sat.
            
             15.
             
          
           
             *
             Plut.
             Contr.
             Colot
             .
          
           
             *
             Religio
             peperit
             scelerosa
             atque
             impia
             facta
             ,
             Aulide
             ,
             quo
             pacto
             Triviaï
             virginis
             aram
             Iphianassaï
             turparunt
             sanguine
             foede
             Ductores
             Danaum
             —
             
               Lucr.
               l.
            
             1.
             
             Mos
             fuit
             in
             populis
             quos
             condidit
             advena
             Dido
             Poscere
             caede
             Deos
             veniam
             ,
             ac
             flagrantibus
             Aris
             (
             Infandum
             dictu
             !
             )
             parvos
             imponere
             Natos
             .
             
               Sil.
               Ital.
               l.
            
             4.
             
          
           
             *
             Quid
             faciet
             is
             homo
             in
             tenebris
             qui
             nihil
             timet
             nisi
             Testem
             ?
             Quid
             in
             deserto
             loco
             ,
             nactus
             quem
             multo
             auro
             spoliare
             possit
             imbecillum
             atque
             solum
             ?
             
               Cic.
               de
               Leg.
               l.
            
             1.
             
          
           
             *
             Nullum
             est
             jus
             naturale
             .
             Itaque
             omnes
             animantes
             ,
             ipsâ
             ducente
             naturâ
             ,
             commoda
             sua
             defendunt
             :
             Et
             ideo
             Justitia
             ,
             si
             alienis
             utilitatibus
             consulat
             ,
             suas
             negligat
             ,
             Stultitia
             est
             dicenda
             .
             
               Lact.
               ex
               Cic.
               de
               Rep.
               l.
            
             3
             ,
          
           
             *
             Nihil
             Opinionis
             causâ
             ,
             omnia
             Conscientia
             faciam
             ,
             Populo
             spectante
             sieri
             credam
             ,
             quicquid
             me
             conscio
             faciam
             .
             —
             Patriam
             meam
             esse
             Mundum
             sciam
             ,
             &
             prasides
             Deos
             supra
             me
             circaque
             me
             stare
             ,
             Factorum
             Dictorumque
             Censores
             .
             
               Senec.
               de
               Beata
               Vita
               ,
               c.
            
             20.
             
          
           
             †
             Magna
             vobis
             necessitas
             incumbit
             Probitatis
             ,
             cum
             degatis
             sub
             cculis
             Judicis
             omnia
             cernentis
             .
             
               Boet.
               de
               Consol
               .
               Ph.
            
             
          
           
             ‖
             —
             Hic
             murus
             aheneus
             esto
             ,
             Nil
             conscire
             sibi
             ,
             nullâ
             pallescere
             culpâ
             .
             
               Hor.
               Epist
               .
               l.
            
             1.
             
          
           
             *
             Quemadmodum
             igitur
             haut
             alius
             Deus
             ,
             haut
             alia
             virtus
             ,
             ab
             Gentilibus
             quàm
             ab
             nostris
             olim
             colebatur
             ,
             it
             a
             certè
             communis
             utrisque
             Spes
             immortalitatis
             fuit
             .
             Desertim
             
               Cicero
               2.
               de
               Leg.
            
             ait
             :
             
               Animi
               hominum
               sunt
               immortales
               ,
               sed
               fortium
               Bonorum
               divini
               .
            
             Et
             alibi
             ,
             
               in
               lib.
               de
               Senect
            
             .
             ait
             :
             
               Non
               est
               lugenda
               Mors
               ,
               quum
               Immortalitas
               consequitur
               .
            
             Vt
             ideo
             inter
             complurima
             Gentilium
             religiosa
             dogmata
             hoc
             solidum
             axioma
             obtinuisse
             videatur
             :
             
               Ex
               virtute
            
             ,
             nempe
             ,
             
               homines
               in
               Spem
               Immortalitatis
            
             venire
             .
             
               Herb.
               de
               Reg.
               Gen.
               c.
            
             15.
             
          
           
             *
             
               
                 
                   Omnis
                   enim
                   per
                   se
                   Divûm
                   natura
                   necesse
                   est
                   ,
                
                 
                   Immortali
                   aevo
                   summâ
                   cum
                   pace
                   fruatur
                   ,
                
                 
                   Semota
                   ab
                   nostris
                   rebus
                   ,
                   sejunctaque
                   longè
                   :
                
                 
                   Nam
                   privata
                   dolore
                   omni
                   ,
                   privata
                   periclis
                   ,
                
                 
                   Ipsa
                   suis
                   pollens
                   opibus
                   ,
                   nil
                   indiga
                   nostri
                   ,
                
                 
                   Nec
                   bene
                   promeritis
                   capitur
                   nec
                   tangitur
                   irâ
                   .
                
              
               
                 
                   Lucr.
                   l.
                   I.
                
                 
              
            
             
               
                 Non
                 vacat
                 exiguis
                 rebus
                 adesse
                 Ióvi
                 .
              
               
                 Ovid.
                 
              
            
          
           
             *
             Etenim
             quis
             tam
             vecors
             ,
             qui
             Aut
             cum
             suspexerit
             in
             coelum
             Deos
             esse
             non
             sentiat
             ,
             &
             ea
             ,
             quae
             tant●…
             mente
             fiunt
             ut
             vix
             quisquam
             arte
             ullâ
             ordinem
             rerum
             ac
             vicissitudinem
             persequi
             possit
             ,
             casu
             fieri
             putet
             ;
             Aut
             cum
             Deos
             esse
             intellexerit
             ,
             non
             intelligat
             eorum
             Numine
             hoc
             tantum
             Imperium
             esse
             natum
             ,
             &
             auctum
             ,
             &
             retentum
             ?
             Quàm
             volumus
             ,
             licet
             ,
             
               P.
               C.
            
             nos
             amemus
             ;
             Tamen
             nec
             numero
             Hispanos
             ,
             nec
             robore
             Gallos
             ,
             nec
             callidate
             Poenos
             ,
             nec
             artibus
             Graecos
             ,
             nec
             denique
             hoc
             ipso
             hujus
             gentis
             ac
             terra
             domestico
             nativoque
             sensu
             Italos
             ipsos
             ac
             Latines
             ,
             sed
             pietate
             ac
             religione
             ,
             atque
             hac
             unâ
             sapientiâ
             quod
             Deorum
             immortalium
             Numine
             omnia
             regi
             gubernarique
             perspeximus
             ,
             omnes
             gentes
             nationesque
             superavimus
             .
             
               Cicero
               .
               Orat.
               de
               Arusp
               .
               Resp
               .
            
          
           
             *
             Quid
             Leges
             ,
             sine
             Moribus
             ,
             vanae
             proficiunt
             ?
             
               Hor.
               Carm.
               l.
               9.
               
               Ode
            
             24.
             
          
           
             *
             Diis
             te
             minorem
             quod
             geris
             imperas
             :
             Huc
             omne
             Principium
             ,
             huc
             refer
             exitum
             .
             Dii
             multa
             neglecti
             dederunt
             Hesperiae
             mala
             luctuosae
             .
             
               Hor.
               Car.
               lib.
               3.
               
               Ode
            
             6.
             
          
           
             ‖
             Quamborem
             ,
             ut
             Religio
             propaganda
             est
             qua
             est
             juncta
             cum
             cognitione
             Natura
             ,
             sic
             Superstitionis
             stirpes
             omnes
             ●lidendae
             sunt
             .
             
               Cic.
               de
               Divin
               .
               l.
            
             2.
             
          
           
             *
             —
             Fungar
             vice
             cotis
             ,
             acutum
             Reddere
             quae
             ferrum
             valet
             exsors
             ipsa
             secandi
             .
             
               Hor.
               de
               Art.
               Po.
            
             
          
           
             *
             Looke
             ,
             concerning
             Humane
             Understanding
             ,
             
               l.
               3.
               cap.
            
             4.
             
          
           
             *
             His
             Thoughts
             concerning
             Education
             .
          
           
             *
             —
             Eheu
             ,
             Quàm
             temerè
             in
             nosmet
             legem
             sancimus
             iniquam
             !
             
               Hor.
               Sat.
               l
            
             ,
             1.