fchemes erected in their ftead that are altogether monftrous and irrational, and require the most extravagant credulity to embrace them. I would fain ask one of these bigotted Infidels, fuppofing all the great points of Atheism, as the cafual or eternal formation of the world, the materility of a thinking fubftance, the mortality of the Soul, the fortuitous organization of the Body, the motions and gravitation of matter, with the like particulars, were laid together and formed into a kind of Creed, according to the opinions of the most celebrated Atheists; I fay, fuppofing fuch a Creed as this were formed, and impofed upon any one people in the world, whether it would not require an infinitely greater measure of faith, than any fet of articles which they fo violently oppose. Let me therefore

advife this generation of Wranglers, for their own and for the public good, to act at least fo confiftently with themfelves, as not to burn with Zeal for Irreligion, and with Bigotry for Nonfenfe.

C

Calum

Calum ipfum petimus ftultitia.

Hør.

PON my return to my lodgings last night I found a letter from my worthy friend the Clergyman, whom I have given fome account of in my former papers. He tells me in it that he was particularly pleafed with the latter part of my yesterday's fpeculation; and at the fame time inclofed the following Effay, which he defires me to publifh as the fequel of that difcourfe. It confifts partly of uncommon reflexions, and partly of fuch as have been already ufed, but now fet in a stronger light.

A Believer may be excufed by the moft hardened Atheist for endeavouring to make him a Convert, because he does it with an eye to both their interefts. The Atheist is inexcufable who • tries to gain over a Believer, because he • does not propofe the doing himself or Believer any good by fuch a conver• fion.

The profpect of a future State is the fecret comfort and refreshment of my foul,

foul, it is that which makes nature look gay about me; it doubles all my pleafures, and fupports me under all my • afflictions. I can look at difappointments and misfortunes, pain and ficknefs, death itself, and what is worfe than death the lofs of those who are dearest to me, with indifference, fo long as I keep in view the pleafures of eternity, and the state of being in which there ⚫ will be no fears nor apprehenfions, pains nor forrows, fickness nor feparation. Why will any man be fo impertinently 'officious, as to tell me all this is only fancy and delufion? Is there any merit in being the meffenger of ill news? If it is a dream let me enjoy it, fince it makes me both the happier and the • better man.

I must confefs I do not know how to truft a man who believes neither • heaven nor hell, or in other words, a • future State of rewards and punish

ments. Not only natural felf-love, but • reafon directs us to promote our own intereft above all things. It can never be for the intereft of a Believer to do me a mischief, because he is fure upon the balance of accounts to find him'felf

felf a lofer by it. On the contrary, if •he confiders his own welfare in his be

haviour towards me, it will lead him to do me all the good he can, and at the fame time reftrain him from doing me an injury. An unbeliever does not act like a reasonable creature, if he favours me contrary to his present intereft, or does not diftrefs me when it turns to his prefent advantage. Honour and good-nature may indeed tie * up his hands; but as thefe would be very much strengthened by reafon and principle, fo without them they are only ⚫ instincts, or wavering unsettled notions, ⚫ which rest on no foundation.

Infidelity has been attacked with fo good fuccefs of late years, that it is driven out of all its out-works.

The • Atheist has not found his post tenable, and is therefore retired into Deifm, and a disbelief of revealed Religion only. • But the truth of it is, the greatest num⚫ber of this fet of men, are those who,

for want of a virtuous education, or • examining the grounds of Religion, know fo very little of the matter in question, that their Infidelity is but ⚫ another term for their ignorance.

• As

4

As folly and inconfideratenefs are the foundations of Infidelity, the great pillars and fupports of it are either a vanity of appearing wifer than the reft "of mankind, or an oftentation of courage in defpifing the terrors of another world, which have fo great an • influence on what they call weaker • minds; or an averfion to a belief that muft cut them off from many of those pleasures they propofe to themselves, and fill them with remorfe for many of ⚫ those they have already tafted.

The great received articles of the • Chriftian Religion have been fo clearly proved, from the authority of that Divine Revelation in which they are delivered, that it is impoffible for those who have ears to hear and eyes to fee, 4 not to be convinced of them. But were it poffible for any thing in the • Chriftian faith to be erroneous, I can. find no ill confequences in adhering to it. The great points, of the Incarna⚫tion and Sufferings of our Saviour, ⚫ produce naturally fuch habits of virtue. ' in the mind of man, that I fay, fuppofing it were poffible for us to be miftaken in them, the infidel himself must.

at