moft difgraceful and violent things for love of the Truth. Yet if we make a juft Computation, and take in the Primitive Martyrs with the Prophets and Apoftles themselves, the profefs'd Defenders of Truth, only for Truth's fake, will be found to be a small handful with refpect to the numerous Partizans of Error.

And fuch is the deplorable Condition of our Age, that a Man dares not openly and directly own what he thinks of Divine Matters, tho it be never so true and beneficial, if it but very flightly differs from what is received by any Party, or that is eftablish'd by Law; but he is either forced to keep perpetual Silence, or to propofe his Sentiments to the World, by way of Paradox, under a borrow'd or fictitious Name. To mention the least part of the Inconve niences they expofe themselves to, who

have the Courage to act more aboveboard, is too melancholy a Theme, and vifible enough to be lamented by all that are truly generous and vertuous.

The Pravity of moft Mens Difpofitions, and the Ambition of particular Perfons makes this Matter feem lefs ftrange in Politick and Secular Affairs; and yet a Man may not only make new Difcoveries and Improvements in Law or Phyfick, and in the other Arts and Sciences impunibly, but alfo for fo doing be defervedly encourag'd and rewarded. But wonderful! That the facred Name of Religion which founds nothing but Sanctity, Peace, and Integrity, fhould be fo universally abus'd to patronize Ambition, Impiety, and Contention! And that what is our highest Intereft perfectly to underStand, bould for Reasons afterwards to be laid open) both be mainA 3 tain'd

i

tai'd to be obscure, and very induftrionfly made fo! Nay, it is come to this, that Truth meets no where with Stronger Oppofition, than from many of thofe that raise the loudest Cry about it, and would be taken for no less than the only Difpenfers of the Favours and Oracles of Heaven. If any has the Firmness to touch the minutest thing that brings them Gain or Credit, he's prefently purfu'd with the Hue and Cry of Herefy: And, if he values their Cenfures, compell'd to make honourable Amends; or if he proves contumacious, he falls a Sacrifice, at least in bis Reputation, to their implacable Hatred.

Nor is he like, we may be fure, to receive fairer Quarter from the declar'd Antagonists of Religion, whose Principles, as they trample upon all Equity and Truth, fo they oblige Pem to hate and moleft the ftrenuous Affer

tors

tors of thefe and all other Vertues. But of fuch depreffing Confiderations enough! Notwithstanding which, I have ventur'd to publish this Difcourfe, defigning thereby to rectify, as much as I'm able, the narrow bigotted Tenets of the One, and the most impious Maxims of the Other.

No Atheift or Infidel of any kind can juftly be angry with me for meaJuring Swords with them, and attacking them only with the Weapons they prescribe me. The true Chriftian can no more be offended, when he finds me imploy Reafon, not to enervate or perplex, but to confirm and elucidate Revelation; unless he is apprehenfive I should render it too clear to my felf, or too familiar to others, which are Abfurdities no Body Will own. I hope to make it appear, that the Ufe of Reafon is not fo dangerous in Religion as it is commonly A 4 repre

reprefented, and that too by fuch as mightily extol it, when it seems to favour 'em, yet vouchsafe it not a hearing when it makes against them, but oppofe its own Authority to it felf. These are high Privileges indeed, and the fureft Means of having always the better of the Difpute that could poffibly be devis'd.

That the mistaken Unbeliever may not Jay I ferve a Hypothefis in the Defence of my Faith, like fome who first imagine or receive an Opinion, and then study Proofs to efstablish it, I solemnly declare the thing is much otherwife; and that I hold nothing as an Article of my Religion, but what the highest Evidence forc'd me to embrace. For being educated, from my Cradle, in the groffeft Superftition and Idolatry, God was pleas'd to make my own Reafon, and fuch as made ufe of theirs, the happy Inftruments

of