I believe there can hardly be framed a better and more confiftent defence of an established church, nor particularly of our most excellent fpiritual conftitution. I dare fay, this scheme will be found a fufficient fecurity for all that is valuable to our clergy; and will answer all the ends of religion to a civil government. It is not hereby proposed to fupport or advance any intereft of true religion, a true church, or the falvation of men: Nor is any civil intereft intended, but the strength of the governing part, and the quiet fubmiffion of the people, each enforced by the power and riches of the clergy.

I muft not, however, conceal two confiderable objections that I have met with against this performance. The firft is, that here is no fort of provifion for the support and encouragement of true religion; but all pretenfions are left to shift as they can amidst the interefts and paffions of fociety. No obligations are laid on the confcience by any of these religious laws; fince they are mere policies of state, and attend equally the profeffors of truth or error. And thus this religion (as it is called) by law establish'd, is a mere creature of the state, neither pagan, christian nor mahometan, but ftrictly and literally the religion of the magiftrate, or fuch ordinances as he pleases to appoint or agree to.

I think this objection may be obviated by our author's profeffed fcheme, which is not to advance truth or religion of any fort, but

the

the intereft of the government only; and therefore obedience to this establishment can be no farther a duty, than particular interest is concerned, or the manifeft good of the publick can be advanced. It is indeed mere ignorance, fuperftition and folly, in this view, to have any religious zeal about it; or to fancy that virtue or piety is at all concerned in our behaviour on this head. However, as it is not virtue or christian religion which is thus eftablished, fo neither (as our author well obferves) will virtue or true religion be in danger of corruption or destruction by the failure or overthrow of the establishment.

THE other objection is, that this reafoning, fairly attended to, will engage Governors, not only to contract with any one religion that will serve their purposes best, but with all that can any ways do them any good. And thus every church and fect that holds the main principles (which I think all do that I ever heard of) will have a right to protection at least, if not to encouragement; and may make itself worth purchafing upon fome account or other. And this will render an exclufive teft-law impertinent, or rather will require no teft but of civil affection: And thus the argument for religious eftablishments will vanish, and subside into a general and universal toleration, or protection of all religions and opinions that admit the belief of a deity, moral differences of action, and a A 3 future

:

future judgment; with fuch immunities and maintenance of thofe who fhall publickly teach the people any religion confiftent with thefe doctrines, and ufeful to the fociety, as fhall be judged proper.

THIS, indeed, will be an establishment that none can reasonably oppofe, and which every honeft man will be glad to support; and therefore this confideration may ferve as a full answer to the objection itself: That it is only an enlargement of our author's principles, and a juft confequence of all the force of his reafonings; and is no otherwise an objection, than as it goes a little farther than perhaps our author faw, or chofe to carry his argument; and is only an improvement of his scheme for the publick good, and a more univerfal benefit. I am,

ŞIR,

Tour humble Servant,

ATTICUS,

NUM B.

LX.

I A

Am fenfible, that what I am about to advance will be liable to the imputation of novelty, and that I myself may have the hard fate to be mifrepresented and abused as

a vifionary chymerical projector: but wife men are above being intimidated by undeferved names of reproach, and men of a steddy honefty despise them. I am refolved, therefore, to fupport myself under all fuch rafh and unjust cenfures, by the confciousness of my own integrity, and laudable defign to ferve the public, and open the eyes of my countrymen and fellow-proteftants; and have, moreover, this fingular comfort, that the scheme which I have fo laboriously framed and digefted, and am now going to lay before the World, muft easily recommend itself to all ftaunch and thorough-paced politicans, and to the reverend body of the clergy; fince 'tis entirely calculated to advance their power and influence, and ferve the darling cause of paffive obedience, and a blind implicit fubmiffion. Befides, as mankind are, in fome cafes, as paffionately fond of novelty, as they are apt to decry it in others, an author may very modeftly expect, that this inftance of their caprice will for once be on the right fide; and if it should take this happy turn, that, which in a general eftimate is the most probable means of his difgrace, will be the basis of his greater fame and usefulness.

I thought proper to fay fomething by way of preface to obviate this moft formidable objection, that the prejudices of my readers might be a little foftened, and their minds difpofed for a favourable reception of what

I have farther to offer; which, with the grounds and reasons of it, take as follows.

THE licentioufnefs of the prefent age, efpecially with refpect to its opinions, has been the fubject of loud and moft pathetic complaints; and many methods have been taken, if poffible, utterly to eradicate, or at leaft to put a stop to the growth of, this evil. But as they have all been hitherto found, by experience, to be but quack remedies, I prefume I may be allowed humbly to propofe a noftrum, which I am confident muft anfwer the end in view; and that is, that the exercise of thinking and reafoning be entirely abolished: which, tho' it may have fomewhat of a ludicrous aspect at first, deserves the serious confideration of all who are friends to religion, and well-wishers to the peace and profperity of their na tive country, for the following moft weighty and cogent reasons.

Ift. THAT there can be, in the nature of things, no other fure and infallible prevention of infidelity and herefy, and that variety of ftrange and unwarranted opinions, which derogate from the authority of the church, and deftroy the unity of its faith and order. If we admit of, and encourage thinking in any degree, this grievance may ftill continue, notwithstanding our most paffionate exclamations againft it: For halfthinkers may be infidels; half-thinkers are the only likely perfons to entertain mon

ftrously