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where there is an univerfal want of Difcipline, and a Diffoluteness of Manners; there Chriftianity cannot fubfift. Miracles were indeed neceffary to gain Attention, and give Authority to it at first; but the perpetuity of them in any kind would (as we have feen) weaken that very Attention, and deftroy their own Authority. When therefore a Religion has once been fufficiently promulg'd by Divine Authority, it must thenceforth be committed to human means; left to the conduct of that Nation or Society in which it is planted, and by their care be handed down to Pofterity: it must be preserv'd and propagated in a natural way, and by the ordinary Courfe of Providence ; or else there is no avoiding the ill confequences abovementioned; namely, perpetual Enthusiasm or grofs Imposture. As a Syftem of Divine Doctrines and Rules of Life, it must be fubject to the common Methods of Inftruction; and taught as all other Science is. Youth of all kinds are to be principled, and grounded in it; and fome instructed in thofe other parts of Learning, which may fit them for a due enquiry into its original Evi dence; for understanding the true Nature, Ends, and Uses of it; and conveying the fame knowledge down to future Ages. Some Orders of Men likewise must be fet apart, and authorised to ex

By being uncapable of receiving it, I mean uncapable of receiving with effect, of retaining or applying it to any valuable purpofe; for which Men do not feem properly qualify'd, notwithstanding any natural capacity, without aid of Arts and liberal Accomplishments in fome degree. Most of the Indians are, I doubt not, capable of understanding the Principles of our Faith at the first propofal, but fcarcely qualify'd, I think, to make a right ufe, and receive the falutary effects thereof, to let it fink into the Heart and form the

Temper,

plain and inculcate it; to defend its Doctrines, as well as to infpect and to secure the practice of its Precepts.

*

From all which it appears. that ignorant, unciviliz'd, flavish and brutish Nations, are no lefs uncapable of duly receiving fuch an Inftitution, than they are of all thofe other Sciences, Arts, Improvements, which polifh and adorn the reft of Mankind, and make Life a Bleffing.

Without fome tolerable degree of Learning and Civility, men do not feem qualified to reap the Benefits of the Chriftian Inftitution; and together with thefe, they generally do receive it; the fame human means ferving to improve their Notions in Religion, which help to enlarge their Knowledge in all other Subjects; and at the fame time directing them to, and in a natural way, enabling them to arrive at, the most perfect Difpenfation of it.

One of the chief Reafons commonly affigned for the Fitnefs of the Time of Chriff's appearing in the World, was the extent of Learning, and Commerce through all the then known parts of it;* which tended very much to open Mens Minds, and qualify them to receive his Inftitution; as well as paved the way for a more general Communication of it: but as there were many at that time not able to hear it, fo on the fame account,

Temper, without fome farther pains being taken to implant worthy Principles of Civil Government and focial Life amongit them: without which, all endeavours to introduce the pureft and most perfect Syftem of Religion feem prepofterous. A fufficient proof of this may be feen in the Complete Collection of Voyages, &c. V.2. B. 1. C.3. S. 20. p. 311.

312.

* This is more fully explained in the following Difcourfes, Part 2.

neither

neither yet are they able, nor will they be, till by reafon of ufe they have their Senfes exercifed, to difcern both Good and Evil: Till their rational Faculties be enlarged and improved; their natural Genius cultivated and refined; which feems in a good measure to conftitute their respective Fitness of Time...

And as barbarous and favage Nations are unable to hear the Truth; fo vicious, debauched, immoral ones, are in like manner incapable of bringing forth the Fruits thereof. If fuch a People did receive the true Religion, they would foon drop it again, as many Nations most undoubtedly have done; at least they would lose the Spirit, Life, and Power of it; and then the bare Name,

aThat the Chinese in particular, from whom some have thought that the ftrongeft Argument might be drawn against what is here fuggefted, and whofe Learning and Education have been fo induftriously cried up, are very far from deferving fo great a Character, fee Renaudot's Differtation on their Learning. Ancient Accounts of India and China, p.200. Terry's Voyage to the East Indies, fect. 12. and 21. Travels of feveral Miffioners, p.180, &c. Millar's Hiftory of the Propagation of Christianity, V.2. p. 266, &c. or Le Comte's Memoirs, paffim. I fhall give one Inftance from the laft mentioned Author in a branch of Philofophy for which they have been oft particularly celebrated. All Nations have ever been aftonished at Eclipfes, because they could not difcover the Caufe of them: there is nothing fo extravagant as the feveral Reafons fome have given for it; but one would wonder that the Chinese, who as to Aftronomy may claim Seniority over all the World befides, have reafoned as abfurdly on that point as the reft. They have fancied that in Heaven there is a prodigious great Dragon, who is a profeffed Enemy to the Sun and Moon, and ready at all times to eat them up: For this reafon, as foon as they perceive an Eclipfe, they all make a terrible rattling with Drums and Brafs Kettles, till the Monster frightned at the Noife, lets ga his Prey. Perfons of Quality, who have read our Books,

and outward Form will not be worth enquiring after nay much better would it be, if thefe were always quitted too, together with the other. Christianity cannot immediately transform Mens Minds, and totally change the general Temper and Complexion of any People; but on the contrary, it will thereby itself undergo confiderable alteration, and its own Influence and Effect in a great measure depend thereon: With the Pure it will be pure, and they that are otherwise will foon defile it; will either corrupt it with Fables and abfurd Traditions; or turn it into Licentioufnefs, and carnal Policy.

Thus did the Eastern Nations, and were overwhelmed with Mehometanifm;* and thus did a

have for these feveral Years been undeceived: but the old 'Customs (especially if the Sun lofeth his Light) are still obferved at Pekin, which, as is ufual, are both very fuperftitious and very ridiculous. While the Aftronomers are on the Towers to make their Obfervations, the chief Mandarines belonging to the Lipou fall on their Knees, in a Hall or Court of the Palace, looking attentively that way, and frequently bowing towards the Sun, to exprefs the pity "they take of him; or rather to the Dragon, to beg him not to moleft the World, by depriving it of fo necessary a Planet.' Le Comte, pag. 76. Ed. 1738. comp. p.93, &c. and Lett. 8.

From their notorious Ignorance of, and, by confequence, Contempt for the reft of the World, and great Averseness to any Communication with it, till of very late years, we may eafily account for this flow progrefs of theirs, both in the Knowledge of Nature and Reveal'd Religion, notwithstanding their having had very confiderable Means of improv. ing both in their hands for fome time; nor are they want ing in point of Genius; as may be feen in the fame excellent Author. But this will come in more largely under

the 3d Part.

* V. Part II.

great

great part of Africa. To the like Causes, in all probability, as well as the Neglect and Misbehaviour of its Propagators, and Profeffors, (which have been here but too remarkable) is it owing that true Religion makes no greater Progress in the East and West Indies. Though, it must be owned, great and good Things have been done in it of late, by Societies established for that purpofe; and none perhaps have been more diligent and difcreet than our own.

But it were beyond the limits of this Discourse, to enquire into the State of every Heathen Country, in order to see what probable reasons might be affign'd, for either their first rejecting, or not ftill retaining Christianity. Perhaps it may be enough to have given these general Hints; which though they were all founded on mere conjecture, yet till fuch an Hypothefis can be difproved from Fact, we ought rather to acquiefce in them, than confidently arraign Divine Providence, and cenfure its Ways with Man, in Matters of the laft Importance. But I hope Arguments may be drawn from them, fufficient to ftop the mouths of our Adverfaries, and filence each Gainfayer; a

b Of the former, a large Account may be feen in Millar's Hift, c.8. p. 274, 284, 291, &c. and c.9. p. 376, &c. Add Dr. Warburton's judicious Obfervation at the End of Sect. 6. p. 306, &c. of Div. Leg. 2d Ed. As to the latter, we cannot but obferve the great and general Prejudice, which must prevail in both the Indies against all Europeans, from the injurious Treatment they have often received from us, as may be feen in almost every late Account of Voyages, &c. Nor are the frequent Quarrels among Chriftians themfelves and their ill ufage of each other, in the Article of Trade efpecially, a lefs prejudice against their Profeffion.

Thefe

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