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Ambition it is to find fault? But though the Jurisdiction of Criticks be very large and abfolute; yet I have taken care not to come under it, but have purpofely avoided infifting upon any Authorities which have fallen under their Difputes, unless it be, perhaps, in fpeaking of the Sibyls; but there I have the Confent of the beft Criticks, befides evident Reason, on my fide, fo far as I am concern'd for them.

4. A Pretence to Miracles and Prophecies, without Reafon or Ground for it, in behalf of fome particular Errors, has weaken'd the Belief of the True Miracles and Prophecies: and whilst laborious Endeavours have been used to fhew, that the Chriftian Religion cannot be true, unlefs thofe Doctrines be true, which have no Foundation in it; the quite contrary has happen'd to what in Charity we must fuppofe thefe Authors defign'd: for inftead of owning their Religion to be true, Men, who are convinced of the Weakness of their Pretences, have taken them at their word, and have been forward to grant them, that there is no Religion true, and therefore not theirs.

5. I fhall fhew at large, in due time, That the many Differences and Difputes in Religion, are no Prejudice to the Truth and Certainty of it; but they are, notwithstanding, a great Scandal and Temptation, and a great Hindrance to the Salvation of Men, efpecially as they are commonly managed; whilft by all imaginable Arts and Means, Men of different Parties and Opinions ftrive to run down their Adverfaries.

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Those who are concern'd, would do well, I fhould think, to confider what mischief may enfue, through the imprudent and unchriftian management of Difputes, even in a right cause, which has no need of fuch methods; and therefore they are the lefs excufable, who use them iu defence of such a Caufe. If we would convince or perfuade Men in any other thing, we never are wont to think it a proper Expedient, to use them ill, and give them hard Words: And is rough Ufage proper only for the Propagation of the Doctrines of the Gofpel, and of a Religion of Peace, and Meekness, and Charity?

I know what Examples may be produced to countenance this Practice; but thofe great Authors have Excellencies enough for our Imitation, we need not imitate their Faults. Our Bleffed Saviour, indeed, himself, and his Apoftles, did not always forbear fevere Language; but then they spoke with a Divine Power and Authority, and knew how to fpeak to the Hearts, as well as to the Ears of Men, and fully perceiv'd when this was the laft and only Remedy to be used; they could strike dead with their Words, and were infallible in the ufe of fuch Expreffions as were proper for the prefent occafion, either to comfort or to terrify Sinners, or awaken them to Repentance. There is no doubt, but a feasonable Reproof or Rebuke, though it be very fevere, may be not only confiftent with Charity, but may also be the Effect of it; and if ever we may speak with the Power

Power and Authority, as well as in the meekness and gentleness of Chrift, we must do it when the Truth of the Chriftian Religion is call'd in queftion, and that by Chriftians. We live in an Age in which Men think they have done a great thing, and enough for them to value themselves upon, if they can but ftart a bold Objection against the Scriptures, though it have never fo little Senfe in it. We have fufficient Warrant to treat these Men as they deferve: for the Apostles were commanded (according to a Custom in ufe among the Jews) to fake off the duft of their feet, againit fuch as rejected their Doctrine: and the leaft we can fay to them, is to let them know, that if they will not believe, we are forry for it, but cannot help it, and that they will have the worst of it. Mr. Hobbes himfelf will allow, that an Atheist ought to be banifh'd as a publick Mifchief, and scarce any Terms can be too fevere for those who openly apoftatize from the Religion in which they have been baptized, and blafpheme that Holy Name by which they are called. We must not fo debafe the Gospel of Chrift, as to feem to beg their Approbation, which, I'm fure, we have little need of, in the prefent cafe. I am far from thinking any thing fmall or inconfiderable, in which the Honour of God, and the Truth of Religion is concern'd; but certainly a great Distinction is to be made between them from whom we differ in particular Points, tho' of great moment and confequence, and those who reject the Whole. Our chief Zeal and Strength

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Strength fhould be employ'd against the Com mon Enemies, who delight in our Quarrels, and fport themselves with the mutual Wounds we fo freely give one another.

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6. We have a fort of Men amongst us, who from hence have taken occafion to make it their whole Bufinefs both by their Difcourfes and Writings, to laugh all Religion and Morality out of the World: which has made our very Wit to degenerate, though this be the only thing for which these Men seem to value themfelves; and our Poems, with all their foft Numbers, and flowing Style, to be far from deferving Commendation: for this way of Writing is as much against the Rules of Poetry, as a gainst those of Vertue; and they can never anfwer it to their own Art, whatever they may do to their Confciences; but ought to be cenfured for being ill Poets, as well as ill Men. A fine Saying, a foft or bold Expreffion, or a pretty Character! Is this all we have in exchange for our Reafon and Religion, which these Men have fo laboriously decry'd? Some of the best Poets of our Age have been fo fenfible of the Dishonour hereby done to God, the Differvice to Mankind, and the Difgrace to fo Noble an Art, that they have employ'd their Genius a better way. But the extravagant Raillery againft Religion has been the more licentious, and the more frequeut, not only because it has met with Applaufe from fo many, who are none of the wifeft part of Mankind, but because it is the cafieft way of Wit, flowing fo natu

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rally from the very Temper and Inclination of corrupted Minds; and any fmart Reflexion may eafily be taken from another Subject, and apply'd here with Advantage, because it looks more extravagant and daring, and furprizes for no other Reason, but for the bold irreverent use of it. What is there in Religion, if it were untrue, that can feem ridiculous? What, in the awful Majefty of the Lord of Heaven and Earth, that can provoke the Laughter and Mockery of any but Fools and Mad-men? It is not obvious to conceive, why it fhould be thought a greater Argument of a Man's Parts, to revile his God, than his Prince; to speak Blafphemy, than it is to speak Treafon; or why the Wit fhould atone for the Crime more in the one cafe than in the other. But the truth is, a very moderate fhare of that will ferve the turn in both cafes. Produce your Cause, faith the Lord bring forth your strong Reafons, faith the God of Jacob.

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7. And indeed, from the Wit and Drollery of fome, others have taken the confidence to proceed to Arguments, but they are very far from being either ftrong or plaufible; for I never in my life obferved fo much Difingenuity, for vain an affectation of Learning, and fo groundless a pretence to Reafon, as in these Men. The Extravagancies of Cardan are known to all that ever heard of him: The Luft, and Pride, and bafe Flattery of Vaninus, is every where vifible. Aut Deus eft, aut Vaninus, is fuch an Expreffion, as no Man befides ever used

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