Page images
PDF
EPUB

Now, because it is a point of difficulty to chuse an exact middle between two ill extremes, it may be worth enquiring in the prefent cafe, which of thefe a wife and good man would rather feem to avoid taking therefore their own good and ill characters with due abatements and allowances for partiality and paffion, I fhould think that in order to preserve the conftitution entire in church and state, whoever hath a true value for both, would be fure to void the extremes of whig for the fake of the former, and the extremes of tory on account of the latter.

I have now faid all, that I could think convenient upon fo nice a fubject, and find I have the ambition common with other reafoners, to wifh at least that both parties may think me in the right, which would be of fome use to those who have any virtue left, but are blindly drawn into the extravagances of either, upon false representations, to ferve the ambition or malice of defigning men, without any prospect of their own. But if that is not to be hoped for, my next wish fhould be, that both might think me in L 3.

the

the wrong which I would understand as an ample justification of myself, and a fure ground to believe, that I have proceeded at least with impartiality, and perhaps with truth.

AN

AN

ARGUMENT

To prove that the ABOLISHING of

CHRISTIANIT Y

IN

ENGLAND

may, as things now ftand, be attended with fome inconveniencies, and perhaps not produce thofe many good effects proposed thereby.

I

Written in the Year 1708.

Am very fenfible, what a weakness and prefumption it is, to reason against the general humour and difpofition of the world. I remember it was with great juftice, and a due regard to the freedom, both of the publick and the prefs, forbidden upon several penalties to write, or discourse, or lay wagers against the union, even before it was confirmed by parlia ment; because that was looked upon as a defign to oppose the current of the people, which befides the folly of it, is L 4

a mani

a manifest breach of the fundamental law, that makes this majority of opinion the voice of God. In like manner, and for the very fame reasons, it may perhaps be neither fafe nor prudent to argue against the abolishing of christianity at a juncture, when all partics appear fo unanimously determined upon the point, as we cannot but allow from their actions, their difcourses, and their writings. However, I know not how, whether from the affectation of fingularity, or the preverseness of human nature, but fo it unhappily falls out, that I cannot be entirely of this opinion. Nay, though I were fure an order

were iffued for my immediate profecution

by the attorney-general, I fhould ftill confefs, that in the present posture of our affairs at home or abroad I do not yet fee the abfolute neceflity of extirpating the chriftian religion from among us.

This perhaps may appear too great a paradox even for our wife and paradoxical age to endure; therefore I fhall handle it with all tenderness, and with the utmoft deference to that great and pro

found

found majority, which is of another fen

timent.

And yet the curious may please to observe, how much the genius of a nation is liable to alter in half an age: I have heard it affirmed for certain by fome very old people, that the contrary opinion was even in their memories as much in vogue as the other is now; and that a project for the abolishing of chriftianity would then have appeared as fingular, and been thought as abfurd, as it would be at this time to write or difcourfe in its defence.

Therefore I freely own, that all appearances are against me. The fyftem of the gofpel, after the fate of other systems, is generally antiquated and exploded, and the mafs or body of the common people, among whom it seems to have had its latest credit, are now grown as much afhamed of it as their betters; opinions, like fashions, always defcending from thofe of quality to the middle fort, and thence to the vulgar, where at length they are dropped and vanish.

But

« PreviousContinue »