Surely they must be deftitute of paffion themselves, and unacquainted with the force it hath on the minds of others, who can imagine that the mere beauty of fortitude, temperance, and juftice, is fufficient to fuftain the mind of man in a fevere course of self-denial against all the temptations of prefent profit and fenfuality.

It is my opinion the Free-thinkers should be treated as a fet of poor ignorant creatures, that have not fenfe to difcover the excellency of religion; it being evident thofe men are no witches, nor likely to be guilty of any deep design, who proclaim aloud to the world, that they have lefs motives of honesty than the reft of their fellow-fubjects; who have all the inducements to the exercise of any virtue which a Free-thinker can poffibly have, and befides, the expectation of never-ending happiness or misery as the confequence of their choice.

Are not men actuated by their paffions; and are not hope and fear the most powerful of our paffions; and are there any objects which can roufe and awaken our hopes and fears, like thofe profpects that warm and penetrate the heart of a ChriK ftian,

ftian, but are not regarded by a Freethinker?

It is not only a clear point, that a Christian breaks through ftronger engagements whenever he furrenders him-felf to commit a criminal action, and is ftung with a fharper remorfe after it, than a Free-thinker; but it fhould even feem that a man who believes no future state, would act a foolish part in being thoroughly honeft. For what reafon is there why fuch a one fhould poftpone his own private intereft or pleasure to the doing his duty? If a Chriftian foregoes fome present advantage for the fake of his confcience, he acts accountably, because it is with the view of gaining fome greater future good. But he that, having no fuch view, fhould yet confcientiously deny himself a prefent good in any incident where he may fave appearances, is altogether as ftupid as he that would truft him at fuch a juncture,

It will perhaps be faid, that virtue is her own reward, that a natural gratification attends good actions, which is alone fufficient to excite men to the performance of them. But although there is nothing more lovely than virtue, and

the

the practice of it is the fureft way to folid natural happiness, even in this life; yet titles, eftates, and fantastical pleasures, are more ardently fought after by most men, than the natural gratifications of a reasonable mind; and it cannot be denied, that virtue and innocence are not always the readieft methods to attain that fort of happiness. Befides, the fumes of paffion must be allayed, and reason must burn brighter than ordinary, to enable men to fee and relifh all the native beauties and delights of a virtuous life. And tho' we should grant our Free-thinkers to be a fet of refined fpirits, capable only of being enamoured of virtue, yet what would become of the bulk of mankind, who have grofs understandings, but liver ly fenfes and ftrong paffions? What a deluge of luft and fraud, and violence would in a little time overflow the whole nation, if these wife advocates for morality were univerfally hearkened to? Laftly, opportunities do fometimes offer in which a man may wickedly make his fortune, or indulge a pleafure, without fear of temporal damage, either in reputation, health, or fortune. In fuch cases what restraint do they lie under who have

no regards beyond the grave? the inward compunctions of a wicked, as well as the joys of an upright mind, being grafted on the fenfe of another state.

The thought, that our Existence terminates with this life, doth naturally check the foul in any generous purfuit, contract her views, and fix them on temporary and selfish ends. It dethrones the reafon, extinguishes all noble and heroic fentiments, and fubjects the mind to the flavery of every prefent paffion. The wife Heathens of antiquity were not ignorant of this; hence they endeavoured by fables and conjectures, and the glimmerings of nature, to poffefs the minds of men with the belief of a future ftate, which has been fince brought to light by the Gospel, and is now most inconfiftently decry'd by a few weak men, who would have us. believe that they promote Virtue by turning Religion into ridicule.

Mens

Mens agitat molem

Virg.

T

AO one who regards things with a philofophical eye, and hath a Sout capable of being delighted with the sense that truth and knowledge prevail among men, it must be a grateful reflexion to think that the fublimest truths, which among the Heathens only here and there one of brighter parts and more leifure than ordinary could attain to, are now grown familiar to the meaneft inhabitants of thefe nations.

Whence came this furprifing change, that regions formerly inhabited by igno rant and favage people fhould now outfhine ancient Greece, and the other eastern countries, fo renowned of old, in the moft elevated notions of theology and morality? Is it the effect of our own parts and industry? Have our common mechanics more refined understandings than the ancient Philofophers? It is owing to the God of truth, who came down from heaven, and condescended to be himself our Teacher. It is as we are Chriftians, that we profefs more excelK 3 lent