World before there was Orthodoxy in it; which hard, equivocal, priestly Word has done more Mischief to Mankind, than all the Tyrants that ever plagued the Earth. This is worthy the Confideration of the Laity. Yes, Gentlemen, Orthodoxy has made many Tyrants, and exceeded all. What can be faid to this Fact?

I allow, that Priefts often contend for good Works; but, without a Paradox, the good Works they contend for, are, for the most Part, not only not Morality, but, on the contrary, are often very wicked and finful. The Endowing of Churches and Monasteries is, for Example, with them a great good Work; and yet it has generally prov'd a mischievous Liberality, which evidently hurt Religion and Human Society, and frequently destroyed Both. I call upon you, Gentlemen, to shew where and when the Christian Religion ever thriv'd or gain'd by Riches? I, on my Side, can shew that they have been always Poyson to it. Riches first made Priefts Rampant, and such Priefts foon defaced and ruin'd Religion; but ftill more or less effectually, as their Revenues and Power were greater or smaller. Christianity flourished most when it had neither worldly Priests nor worldly Endowments. Will you deny this? In short, their preaching good Works has been generally preaching themselves, who were the chief Gainers by them. And as to those good Works which did not promise any Advantage to the Clergy, they either always oppos'd them, or never encourag'd them We cannot forget your Behaviour at the Beginning of our present CharitySchools, how you every where oppofed them, till you had got the Ма

nagement of them into your own Hands; Hands; and now you as violently promote them out of other Mens Pockets. Whether your Government of those Schools promotes the Welfare of the Common-wealth, (if you can bear that Word) appears abundantly from the bitter and disaffected Spirit found in them.

By Morality, therefore, is meant a Thing quite different from fuch good Works. Morality is Natural Religion, which prompts us to do Good to all Men, and to all Men alike, without Regard to their Speculations, no more than to their Cloaths, or to the Colour of their Hair, which is as much in their Power as their Faith is. Morality is a focial Virtue, or rather the Mother of all focial Virtues: It wishes and promotes unlimited and universal Happiness to the whole World: It regards not a Chriftian more than a few or an Indian, any further than as he is

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a better Citizen; and not fo much, if he is not.

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7

Barbeyrac, in his excellent Preface to his Tranflation of Puffendorf de Fure Nature & Gentium, has shewn us, by a fine Detail of Paflages, how the Pagan, the Jewish, and too many Chriftian Priests, have all ever agreed in concealing, disguifing, mangling, ca lumniating, and oppofing the eternal Principles of Morality or Natural Reti gion. The Religion of these holy Hire lings confifted either in a long Rout of Ceremonies, as tedious as ridiculous; or in certain abstruse Points, which could never be known, and were not worth knowing; and always in great Pomp and Pride; and in Dominion, where they could get it. It was either a Religi on of the Body, or a Religion of the Imagination, or a Religion of Shew, Profit and Terror. In fine, the blessed Clubs

of Ecclefiafticks of all Religions, in whatever else they differ'd, yet always accorded in this, that the Religion they contriv'd, agreed neither with Heaven nor Earth, neither with Reason nor good Humour, but only fitted themselves and their own Views.

Mr. Barbeyrac, in his Preface, has given us a diverting Specimen of the Absurdities and Ravings of those Reverend old Gentlemen, whom we call the Fathers. And in all the Instances he brings, it is hard, if not impoffible to fay, whether the Uncharitableness, Roguery, or Stupidity of these old Saints, appears uppermoft...

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This Preface is every way so excellent, that I have prevail'd upon a Friend of mine, a Gentleman of Gray's-Inn, to tranflate it into English, for the Instruction of the Laity. A Reverend Divine or Two

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