1ft Argument to prove this, taken from the
Suppos'd Neceffity of Mens having a right
Opinion in thofe Points.
2d Argument fhows, That the fole Duty of
Man with respect to having any Opinions
whatfoever, lies in Free-Thinking. 33
3d Argument Shows there is no remedy for the
great Evil of Superftition, but thinking
freely on thefe Points.
35
4th Argument is taken from the infinite number
of Pretenders to Revelations.
5th Argument is taken from the Establishment
of a Society in England, for propagating
the Gospel in foreign Parts.
6th Argument is taken from the Defign of the
Gospel, and the Preaching of our Saviour
and his Apoftles.
7th Argument is taken from the Conduct of the
Clergy, in feveral Inftances.
First Instance of their Conduct is their Divi
fions about the Nature and Attributes of
God. 47. About Scriptures, and the Au
thority of Scriptures. 52. And about the
Senfe of Scriptures.
56
Second Inftance of their Conduct is their owning
the Doctrines of the Church to be contra-
dictory to one another and to Reason. 76
Third Inftance, their Acknowledgment of Abu-
fes, &c. in the Church.
Fourth Inftance, their profeffing they will not
tell the Truth, and making it matter of Re-
proach in any of the Clergy to tell the Truth.
Fifth Inftance, their charging the most rational
Chriftians with Atheism, &c.
Sixth Inftance, their rendring the Canon of
Scripture uncertain.
Seventh Inftance, their afferting and rendring
the Text of Scripture precarious.
Eighth Inftance, their publishing the Argu-
ments of Infidels.
Ninth Inftance, their publishing the only an-
tient Syftem of Atheism in English. ibid.
Tenth Inftance, their Ufe of Pious Frauds
in publishing and tranflating Books.
The Conclufion from these Inftances of their
Conduct.
Objections to Free-Thinking answer'd.
1ft Objection, That Men have not a fufficient
Capacity to think freely about any Specu-
lations, anfwer'd.
2d Objection, That Free-Thinking will pro-
duce Divifions in Opinion,and Disorders in
Society, answer'd.
3d Objection, That by Free-Thinking Men
may poffibly become Atheists, anfwer'd. 104
4th Objection, That Priefts are fet apart to
think freely for the Laity, and are to be
rely'd on as Lawyers and Physicians, an-
Swer'd.
107
5th Objection, That it is neceffary to the
Peace of Society to impofe fome Specula-
tions, answer'd.
6th Objection, That Free-Thinkers are irra-
tional, infamous, and wicked People, an
fwer'd by fhewing,
(1.) That Free-Thinkers must have most Un-
derstanding, and that they must neceffarily be
the most virtuous People.
(2.) That they have in fact been the most un-
derftanding and virtuous People in all Ages,
prov'd by instancing in,
1. Socrates. 121 11. Solomon. 150
2. Plato.
126 12. The Jewish Pro-
Other Errata are left to the Reader's Candour,
and he is defir'd to correct these following.
P. 24. 1. 4. for ftir read ftri&.
P. 38. 1. 26. for good Good read good God.
1. 28. for Sanction read Penalty.
P. 40. 1.18. dele If a Man be under an Obligation to liften
to any Revelation at all.
P.46. 1. 23. for 6thly read 7thly.
P. 135. for there was no read whether there was.
POLOGYS for felf-evident Truths can never have any effect on those who have fo little Sense as to deny them. They are the Foundation of all Reasoning, and the only juft Bottom on which Men can proceed in convincing one another of the Truth: and by confequence whoever is capable of denying them, is not in a condition to be inform'd. Mere ignorant Men, or Men deftitute of those Principles of Knowledg, may perhaps be capable of Information: Their Ignorance does not exclude them from affenting to a self-evi. dent Truth when they firft hear it, nor from admitting any Confequences deducible from it. But Men who deny what is felf
evident, are not only deftitute of the Princi-
ples of Knowledg, but muft in virtue of fuch
their Denial have Principles inconfiftent with
them, and confiftent with the greatest Ab-
furdities. And under that distemper'd State
of Mind, it remains only for them to take
up with fome diforder'd Fancies of their
own; or, which is much more common,
with the Dictates of artificial defigning Men
or crack-brain'd Enthufiafts: for as none
elfe prefume to be Guides to others in Mat-
ters of Speculation, fo none who think they
ought to be guided in thofe Matters make
choice of any but fuch for their Guides.
And if they ever depart from the Sentiments
they have once imbib'd, and from being ob-
ftinate in one Set of Opinions become obftinate
in another; their Change muft ftill be foun-
ded on the fame Motives, and their Opinions
be as abfurd as at firft. For as Truth will
never serve the Purposes of Knaves, so it
will never fuit the Understandings of Fools;
and the latter will ever be as well pleas'd in
being deceiv'd, as the former in deceiving.
It is therefore without the leaft hopes of
doing any good, but purely to comply with
your Requeft, that I fend you this Apology
for Free-Thinking; which, as it is one of
thofe Subjects too evident to be made plainer,
and which ought to be admitted on the firft
Propofal, fo all that can be faid in its be-
half must be built on Topicks lefs evident
than the thing it felf.
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