divinely inspired in writing their epistles, when fuch manifeft imperfections appear in them. And upon the unwarrantable affertions and inconclufive reafonings of St. Paul. have been built thofe accurfed and falfe doctrines of abfolute unlimited paffive-obedience and non-refiance. I call thofe doctrines accurfed; because they are defigned and calculated to enflave mankind, as they require the most abfolute fubmiffion and obedience, either active or paffive, to all Governors, in all cafes, and upon the feverest of all penalties, even that of eternal damnation. How often have I heard the preacher denounce damnation, even eternal damnation, upon all who fhall prefume to refift the Prince (the oppreffor, the tyrant) in any cafe, or upon any pretence whatsoever! As if the bulk of mankind were called into being for no other purpose, than to gratify the defires, and to be at the difpofal of those who in any way, or by any means, have gotten the dominion over them; but this is a thought which is moft blafphemous. Indeed, it must be acknowledged, that the doctrines of paffive-obedience and non-resistance have not been fo much in ufe, fince the present

Royal

*

of

Royal family have wore the British crown, as in the times preceding; and this leads me to observe, that doctrines are brought into ufe, or are laid afide, as men's worldly purposes are to be ferved by either which the doctrines of paffive-obedience and non-refiftance are moft flagrant inftances. And this is a fpecimen of modern Chriftianity, whatever it may have been in former times; and fhews it's doctrines to be of a changeable nature, to be one thing to-day, and another to-morrow, just as the prejudice or intereft of the Preacher, or his Party fhall require.

I HAVE gone the farther in examining fome parts of the new teftament, in order to convince my readers that no revelation, no traditionary religion is blindly to be fubmitted to; but all must be tryed by that prior tule of

Z3

*By fince the prefeht royal family, &c. is meant fince his majefty king George the first, of the illuftrious houfe of Hanover, and his prefent majefty king George the second, have had the fupreme dominion in these kingdoms. Indeed, the doctrine of abfolute paffive-obedience and non-refiftance received a deadly wound, in and by the trial of Dr. Sacheverel, and the fentence pronounced upon him, confequent upon it; by which that doctrine was justly expofed and condemned, in, and by the two houfes of Parliament, which trial was antecedent to the acceffion of the prefent royal family to the crown of these realmns.

of right and wrong which is founded in the natural and effential difference in things; for otherwise we are in danger of being mifled by them. And tho' Mr. Chillingworth might fay *, the Bible is the religion of Proteftants, as the Bible is distinguished from oral tradition, which the Church of Rome has adopted, and made a rule in religious matters for her fons and people; yet the bible, if it be not interpreted by, and made conformable to the aforefaid rule ¿ (which in fome inftances cannot be done without force and violence) but is left to the interpretation of every whimfical Enthufiaft, who has taken it into his head that he is immediately taught of God; or to every religious Politician, who is to gather to himself wealth and power from the ignorance and weakness of his neighbours, and has art fufficient to make the Bible anfwer these purposes: I fay, that the Bible, under fuch circumftances, when taken in the gross, must needs be an unfafe guide to mankind. In this latter view of the cafe, the Bible is liable to, and has been turned into every fhape; fo that the most oppofite doctrines have

* See Mr. Chillingworth's book intitled Protestantism or fafe guide to falvation.

have been built

upon it;

it; and this has afforded a plaufible pretence, to the clergy of the church of Rome, to lock it up in an unknown tongue, and thereby conceal it from the vulgar; in order, as they pretend, to prevent the evil confequences which would otherwise attend it. But in this cafe the remedy is worfe than the disease, as it has put the people fo far under the power of the clergy, as to involve them in the moft grofs ignorance and fuperftition, and the most abject slavery, both in civil and religious matters. The locking up the Bible, as aforefaid, is, therefore, most unfafe; as it gives the Priesthood both power and opportunity to play their game upon the people. But then, if the Bible is to lie open to every perfon's view, as in reason it ought, every man ought to be ap¬ prized that there is a common principle, viz. the eternal rule of right and wrong, which principle is the natural standard for all propofitions of moral confideration to be tryed by; and that the Bible and all other writings and revelations to which a divine cha racter has been annexed ought to be fubject to, and be tryed by this rule; that whatever is confonant to it may be received and followed, and whatever is repugnant to it may

be either rejected or forcibly made to conform to it; I fay, this ought to be the cafe, if it be considered and received as a guide to our affections and actions. And tho' fome of our divines do, as it were, infult and bear down the common fenfe and reason of mankind, and reprefent the human understanding as only capable of guiding men aright in the common and ordinary affairs of life yet, I truft, the more attentive part of our fpecies will not tamely give up their rational faculties to every religious hectorer, but will ufe, and contend manfully for the free use and exercife of, that principle of discernment which God hath planted in our natures, on purpose to enable us to diftinguifh, (efpecially in matters of importance) betwixt right and wrong, truth and error, &c. and that we may direct our judgments, our affections and actions accordingly. This is the candle of the Lord, which is fet up in every man's heart. This is that true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. It is men's departing from this light, this guide, or, at least, their not attending to it, that has given occafion for all that extravagancy, that religious madness, if it may be fo called, which has, and does ftill take place in the

world.