ESSAY

Towards preventing the RUIN of

GREAT-BRITAIN.

Avaritia fidem, probitatem, cæterafque artes bonas fubvertit: pro his fuperbiam, crudelitatem, deos negligere, omnia venalia habere, edocuit.

SALLUST.

li qui per largitionem magiftratus adepti funt, dederunt operam ut ita poteftatem gererent, ut illam lacunam rei familiaris explerent.

CICERO.

Omnes aut de honoribus fuis, aut de præmiis pecuniæ, aut de perfequendis inimicis agebant.

CÆSAR,

Firft Printed in London, A, D. MDCCXXI.

AN

ESSAY, &c.

WHE

HETHER the Profperity that preceded, or the Calamities that fucceed the South Sea Project have moft contributed to our undoing, is not fo clear a Point as it is that we are actually undone, and loft to all Senfe of our true Interest ; nothing less than this could render it pardonable, to have Recourse to thofe old fashioned trite Maxims concerning Religion, Industry, Frugality, and public Spirit, which are now forgotten, but if revived and put in practice, may not only prevent our final Ruin, but also render us a more happy and flourishing People than ever.

1

Religion hath in former Days been cherished and reverenced by wife Patriots and Lawgivers, as knowing it to be impoffible that a Nation fhould thrive and flourish without Virtue, or that Virtue should fubfift without Confcience, or Confcience without Religion: infomuch that an Atheift or Infidel was looked on with Abhorrence, and treated as an Enemy to his Country. But in these wiser Times, a cold Indifference for the national Religion, and indeed for all Matters of Faith and divine Worship, is thought good Senfe. It is even become fashionable to decry Religion; and that little Talent of Ridicule is applied to fuch wrong Purposes, that

a good

a good Christian can hardly keep himself in Coun

tenance.

Liberty is the greatest human Bleffing that a virtuous Man can poffefs, and is very confiftent with the Duties of a good Subject and a good Chriftian, but the prefent Age aboundeth with injudicious Patrons of Liberty, who not diftinguish ing between that and Licentioufnefs, take the fureft Method to difcredit what they would feem to propagate; for, in effect, can there be a greater Affront offered to that juft Freedom of Thought and Action, which is the Prerogative of a rational Creature, or can any Thing recommend it less to honeft Minds than under Colour thereof to obtrude Scurrility and Profaneness on the World? But it hath been always obferved of weak Men, that they know not how to avoid one Extreme without running into another.

Too many of this Sort pafs upon vulgar Readers for great Authors, and Men of profound Thought, not on account of any Superiority either in Senfe or Stile, both which they poffefs in a very moderate Degree, nor of any Difcoveries they have made in Arts and Sciences, which they seem to be little acquainted with: but purely because they flatter the Paffions of corrupt Men, who are pleased to have the Clamours of Confcience filenced, and those great Points of the Chriftian Religion made fufpected, which withheld them from many Vices of Pleasure and Intereft, or made them uneafy in the Commiffion of them.

In order to promote that laudable Design of effacing all Senfe of Religion from among us, they form themselves into Affemblies, and proceed with united Counsels and Endeavours; with what Suc cefs, and with what Merit towards the Public, the Effect too plainly fhews; I will not fay, thefe

Gentlemen

Gentlemen have formed a direct Defign to ruin their Country, or that they have the Senfe to fee half the ill Confequences, which must neceffarily flow from the fpreading of their Opinions, but the Nation feels them, and it is high time the Legiflature put a stop put a stop to them.

I am not for placing an invidious Power in the Hands of the Clergy, or complying with the nar rowness of any mistaken Zealots, who fhould in cline to perfecute Diffenters: but whatever Conduct, common Senfe, as well as Chriftian Charity obligeth us to use, towards those who differ from us in some Points of Religion, yet the public Safety requireth, that the avowed Contemners of all Religion should be severely chaftifed, and perhaps it may be no eafy matter to affign a good Reason why Blafphemy against God fhould not be inquired into, and pu nished with the fame Rigour as Treafon against the King.

For though we may attempt to patch up our Affairs, yet it will be to no Purpose, the Finger of God will unravel all our vain Projects, and make them Snares to draw us into greater Calamities, if we do not reform that scandalous Libertinism which (whatever fome fhallow Men may think) is our worst Symptom and the fureft Prognoftic of our Ruin.

Industry is the natural fure Way to Wealth; this is so true, that it is impoffible an industrious free People should want the Neceffaries and Comforts of Life, or an idle enjoy them under any Form of Government. Money is fo far useful to the Public, as it promoteth Industry, and Credit having the fame Effect, is of the fame Value with Money; but Money or Credit circulating through a Nation from hand to hand without producing Labour and Industry in the Inhabitants, is direct Gaming.

C

It