them; People, in their Sleep, will walk fecurely over Precipices, and the Ridges of Houses, where they durft not venture when awake; Lightning will melt a Sword without hurting the Scabbard.

THERE is something within us, which we all feel, that baffles and gets the better of our best Reasonings and Philofophy; and this fhews itself in Love, in Fear, in Hatred, Ambition, and almost every Act of the Mind; but in nothing so much as in Superstition: Some times we find a fecret Panic, and at other times a strange and uncommon Energy, or Feeling of a mighty Power within us; and not being able to account, by any Conduct of Reason, or other Caufes in Nature, for fuch Perceptions, we are easily perfuaded to believe them to be fupernatural. Hence great Philofophers, Poets, Legiflators, famous Conquerors, and often Madmen, have been thought in many Ages, by themfelves as well as others, to have been inspired; and even Distempers, such as Apoplexies, Epilepfies, prophetic Fits and Trances, have been deemed miraculous.

NOTHING ftrikes fo ftrongly upon our Senfes, as what caufes Surprize and Admiration: There are very few Men, who are not affected with unufual Sounds and Voices, with

the

the Groans of others in Mifery, the Solemnity of a Coronation, or any public Shew, the Pomp of a Funeral, the Farce of a Proceffion, the Power of Eloquence, the Charms of Poetry, the rich and fplendid Equipage of great Men, or the folemn Phiz and Mien of an Enthufiaft. Whoever therefore can find out the Secret of hitting luckily upon this Foible and native Imbecillity of Mankind, may govern them and lead them as he pleases. And herein has confifted the greatest Skill and Succefs of crafty Priests in all Ages: They have made use of this Power to turn us and wind us to all their Purposes, and have built and founded most of their Superftitions upon it; and confequently, have ever adapted their Worfhip rather to catch our Paffions, than convince our Minds, and enlighten our Understandings; all which is directly contrary to the Spirit of Christianity, and the Precepts of our Saviour, as fhall be fully fhewn in the next Paper.

FOR this Reason the Heathens built their Temples in Groves, in folitary, dark and defart Receffes, by or over Caverns and Grottoes, or in the Midft of echoing and refounding Rocks, that the hideous and difmal Afpect, and often hollow and hoarfe Bellowing of fuch

Places,

Places, might strike a folemn Awe, and religious Horror, into their Votaries; and fometimes help their Imaginations to hear Voices, and fee Forms, and fo intimidate and prepare them for any Stories and Impreffions, which they should think it their Intereft to make.

THE Popish Priests have admirably well aped these their Predeceffors; by building their Churches dark and difmal, with figured and painted Windows, to let in a falfe and glimmering Light; arched and contrived in fuch manner, as to refound the Voice hollow and fhrill; with many private Apartments, Cometeries for their Saints, proud Inscriptions, whif pering Places, fecret Chapels for Confeffions, faying Maffes, Dirges, Penances, &c. Like the Heathens too, they build their Temples folemn and magnificent, in antique and uncommon Figures, adorn them with Silver and Gold, rich Carpets, curious Statues, and Images ftuck about with Jewels; and their Priests appear in gaudy Veftments, and fantaftical Robes and Caps, and perform their Worship with Mufic, and affected Ceremonies; all which Pageantry and Farce is calculated and intended to act upon the Paffions, attract the Eyes, amuse, lull. and fufpend the Understanding, and draw Admiration and Reverence to those who prefide in

thefe

these haughty Fabrics, and this pompous Adoration: Their Bells too, which call the People together, are contrived to emit fuch Sounds as affect the Minds of most People with a fort of fuperftitious Melancholy.

INDEED, as the Romish Priests are more numerous, have vaftly larger Revenues, and more Leisure, so they have greatly improved upon the Heathens in this Art of deceiving; infomuch that there is scarce an Imperfection or Error of Human Nature, which is not adopted into their Scheme, and made fubfervient to their Interest. Men of sprightly Genius and Courage are caught by their Ambition, and highly honoured, flattered, and raised up by their general Voice to the highest Dignities; and then are indulged in their Paffions, and gratified with Confeffors, who are not only to overlook or pardon, but affift them in their vicious Pleasures; by which Arts those great Talents, instead of being nobly employed to free Mankind from facerdotal Ufurpations, are meanly perverted to fupport and aggrandize the Monkish Empire.

MEN of violent and impetuous Tempers are fuitably employed to execute their tyrannical Designs, and to take Vengeance of their Enemies; and the Debauched and Wicked are

made

made to buy their Peace of Heaven, by giving Money and Lands to the Priests; but none contribute fo much to advance their Syftem, as Vifionaries and Enthufiafts: There are, in al Countries, Multitudes of People, whom Ignorance, Pride, Conceit, ill Habit of Body, melancholy and fplenetic Tempers, unfortunate Circumstances, causeless and secret Fears, and a panic Difpofition of Mind, have prepared to be the Objects, as well as Inftruments, of Delusion, and they have been ever made ufe of accordingly.

SOME of these are thruft or decoyed into Religious Houses, or perfuaded to lead retired, reclufe, and auftere Lives, and to torture and punish themselves with Whippings, Penances Fafting, and to walk bare-foot, in order to aftonish the gaping Multitude, and thereby gain Reverence to the Priesthood, for their fanfied Holiness: s; whilst the governing Ecclefiaftics feast and riot in delicious Banquets, ride in State with Coaches and Six, attended by numerous Servants in coftly Liveries; and Earth and Sea is ranfacked, and Heaven itself profaned, to maintain their Luxury and Pride.

SUCH amongst them as are disposed to hear Voices, and fee Forms, fhall bear and fee enough of those, which are real ones, and afterwards VOL. II,

K

be