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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37302-8.txt b/37302-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..699a5b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/37302-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1252 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, An Account of the Growth of Deism in England, +by William Stephens + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: An Account of the Growth of Deism in England + + +Author: William Stephens + + + +Release Date: September 3, 2011 [eBook #37302] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM +IN ENGLAND*** + + +E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +AN +ACCOUNT +OF THE +GROWTH +OF +DEISM +IN +ENGLAND. + + +_LONDON_: +Printed for the Author, MDCXCVI. + + + + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM· + + +_SIR_, + +'Tis now three Years since you and I had a serious Discourse concerning +the rise and progress of _Deism_: which is an Opinion of late Years +crept into _England_, tho not so widely spread here as in other parts of +_Europe_. I well remember we were both agreed, that there was no shadow +of Reason why any one should suspect the _Gospels_ of Forgery, since the +matter contain'd in them hath not the least favour of any worldly +Interest, or indirect Design, but all the Lines of them do only center +in the highest Improvement Humane Nature is capable of. So that in +conformity every Man may take great comfort in himself, and all Mankind +live well with one another. Besides, the Preachers of this excellent +Doctrine had at first all the Discouragements which an irreligious and +idolatrous Age could give them, (as is confessed by their Enemies) +insomuch that nothing but their own personal full Conviction of the +Truths they professed could engage them to Preach 'em; and the +intrinsick Goodness of the Law of _Christ_, was sufficient to gain mens +hearts, after _Miracles_ had born down their Prejudices, and gain'd +their serious Attention. In fine, you and I could see no reason to doubt +of the Truth of any matter of Fact contain'd in the _Gospels_, which +relate the miraculous Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of +_Jesus Christ_; but what would oblige us to deny the truth of all +History whatsoever. And from these Considerations laid together, we +concluded that the Doctrine of our Lord _Jesus Christ_ was undoubtedly +sent to us by God. + +This still made it appear more strange to us both, how _DEISM_ (which is +a denial of all reveal'd Religion) should creep in upon us where the +_Scriptures_ are made so publick, and where so many Learned Treaties are +written, which so strongly assert their Authority to be Divine. I +confess, I was as desirous to know upon what Grounds Men rejected the +_Gospel_, as you your self were, and therefore I willingly undertook the +Task you laid on me, _viz._ To collect and put together those Motives +whereby some had been induced to lay aside all _Revelation_. For which +Performance I was the fitter, because it doth not require any Learning +and strength of Wit, but only Observation, and Inquiry, which I might +easily make, because of the numerous Acquaintance I have contracted in +Town, where (you know) I spend the Winter, and in the Country, where I +bestow my Summer Visits. But all I shall do in this matter, is barely to +give you a Relation of those Prejudices, and (as I think) false +Reasonings, which have drawn some of my Acquaintance from _Revelation_ +to _DEISM_. + +1. Now, first I have observed, that some who pretend themselves +_Deists_, are Men of loose and sensual Lives; and I make no wonder that +they dislike the _Christian_ Doctrine of Self-denial, and the severe +threatnings against wilful Sinners. You may be sure they will not +alledge this Reason: But having read _Spinosa_ and _Hobbes_, and been +taught to laugh at the story of _Baalam_'s Ass, and _Sampson_'s Locks; +they proceed to ridicule the reality of all _Miracle_ and _Revelation_. +I have conversed with several of this Temper, but could never get any of +'em serious enough to debate the reality of _Revelation_: But a witty +Jest and t'other Glass puts an end to all further Consideration. These +are meer _Sceptics_, and practical _Atheists_, rather than real +_Deists_. + +2. But there are others, who, although they have not a due regard to +_Revelation_, are Men of Sobriety and Probity, who with great freedom +have let me into their Thoughts, whereby I can very clearly and fully +(as I think at least) discern the rise and progress of this their +Opinion, which is this; + +1. In the time of King _Charles_ the First, (which confineth my longest +acquaintance with Men) 'twas usual for Gentlemen to send their Sons +abroad into _Italy_, _Spain_, _France_, _Germany_, _&c._ to accomplish +themselves by Travel. But lest they should be prevail'd upon to change +their _Religion_, care was taken that their Tutor or Governour, who +travelled with 'em, should shew them the Idolatry and Superstition of +the _Roman Religion_; and also let 'em in to see that _Popery_ in all +its Branches was only a device of the _Priesthood_, to carry on a +particular Interest of their own; to encrease their Wealth, Honours, +and Power over the Lay-people; to exalt the Head of their Order above +all the Crowned Heads in the World, and equal one whole Order of their +Clergy, _viz._ the Cardinals, to the Princes of _Christendom_. Nay, +since all People were obliged to make their Confessions to, and receive +their Absolution from the _Priest_, the meanest of which Order could +create a God for the People's Worship; 'tis plain, that their Religion +was calculated for the Profit, Power and Honour of the whole Order of +the _Priesthood_ in this World, whatsoever advantages they might find by +it in the other. Now the Young Gentleman being throughly convinced of +this Holy Cheat, returneth to Old _England_; where he meets with very +zealous Contests about Religion (as was pretended) between the _Church_ +of _England_, headed by Arch-Bishop _Laud_ on the one part, and the +_Presbyterian Kirk_ on the other; and having carefully read the Debate +(as it appeared in the Prints) on both sides, with those very Eyes which +he had so lately cleared up in _Italy_ or _France_, he could not forbear +to see that both these _Protestant_ Parties, under the pretence of +Religion, were only grasping at _Power_, and that the Controversy at +bottom, was not who's Religion was best, but only what Sect of the +_Clergy_ should make the best Market of the _meer Lay-men_. And as this +Young Gentleman had before resolved with himself not to become a +Property to the _Popish Priesthood_, no longer now will he be such to +the _Protestant Clergy_ of any Denomination, since both pursue the same +Ends. He perceiveth that our _Protestant High-Priests_ do all of them +rival the Sovereign Power; the _Bishop_'s House like that of the _King_, +must be called his _Palace_, he must still keep up his claim to the +_Miter_ and _Crosier_, to vie with the _Crown_ and _Scepter_; and as +the Stile of the King's Courts is _Anno Regni nostri_, i.e. In the Year +of our Reign: So that of the Bishop's Court is _Anno Consecrationis +nostrę_, i.e. In the Year of our Consecration; the Year of the King's +Reign being unknown in the Bishop's Court: The King speaking to the +People doth usually call 'em his Loving Subjects; the _Bishop_ doth not +make himself so familiar, but stileth the People of his _Diocese_ barely +his Subjects, _Jurisdictioni nostrę subditos_: The King is _Inthroned_, +and the Arch-Bishop _Inthronized_; both derive their Power from a +_Divine Right_; but the Bishop is the higher Power, because by the +Principles of Episcopacy he can Excommunicate the King, _i.e._ forbid +him the very Conversation of his Subjects, and thereby render them +uncapable to make good their Oath of Allegiance, in yielding their Aid +and Assistance. + +Nor do's he find that the _Presbytery_ claims any inferior Powers; each +Party alledge _Scriptures_ and _Fathers_ on their side; and for ought I +can see, (says this Gentleman) they are all in the right. Through an +excess of Prejudice thus occasion'd, he makes a further step towards +_Deism_, and Reasons after this manner: 'Tis not impossible (continues +he) that the ancient _Clergy_ might be possess'd with the same Spirit of +Pride, which has prevail'd over the modern. If those Writings, which +they call _Holy Scriptures_ are of their side, as they all say they are, +I make no doubt but they were of their own inventing; and if _Jesus +Christ_ their Patron, laid the Foundation of those Powers, which both +_Popish_ and _Protestant Clergy_ claim to themselves from under him, I +think the old _Romans_ did him right in punishing him with the death of +a Slave. After this manner I have heard it said of late, by another of +the same Constitution, that as the Church of _Rome_ was a modelled +Faction against all other Christians, so was the Church of _England_, by +Law Established, against all other Protestants, who were by Law excluded +from every Office of Profit and Trust; who were made subject to the +Piques and Malice of every Church-man, and became a constant Revenue to +Apparitors and Spiritual Catch-poles. And though at present there be a +_Toleration_ by Law granted, yet 'tis full opposed by the Spirit of the +Church, as appears by Sermons preached at Visitations, and the constant +ordinary Discourses of the _Clergy_, in which the Church of _England_ is +always represented, as at this time, in greater danger than ever it was; +though I should think the danger had been as great in King _James_'s +Time: And notwithstanding the Toleration (said he) no Man can enjoy a +place of Profit or Trust, though he be ever so dutiful a Subject, and +ever so able or honest a Man, unless he hath a Conscience by Law +Established: By which Church-device Men are deprived of the Privileges +of their Country to which they are born, and for the discharge whereof +they never did in any respect incapacitate themselves; and hereby it +comes to pass, that the Nation cannot act vigorously in its own defence, +being debarr'd the Use of one Moiety of it self; and notwithstanding +this, they have the Confidence to tell us Lay-men, that we ought to love +our Neighbours as our selves. Now if this be the way of the +_Christians_, (concluded he) let my Soul be with the _Philosophers_. + +2. And this brings to my Thoughts what another _Deist_ said jestingly to +me, _viz._ That since I was a Christian, 'twas lucky for me that I was +of the Bishop's Church; for though you were ever so Loyal (said he) to +the King, yet if you did not pay as dutiful an Allegiance to the +Bishops, you could not hold the Place you now enjoy; for as certain as +the _Cross_ is above the _Crown_, so sure a thing is it, that the +_Bishop_ will be above the _King_; which he undertook would appear to me +if I looked back to King _Charles_'s Restoration, or King _William_'s +Revolution. The _Presbyterians_, though they quarrelled with _Charles_ +the First, yet became the loving Subjects of _Charles_ the Second; +joined with the _Episcopalians_ in assisting him to the Throne, and made +no scruple of Swearing their Allegiance to him, and owning his +Supremacy. But after all this, the King was not able to support these +his Loving Subjects against the Power of the Bishops, who in two Years +time outed 'em of their Livelihoods, and after that, drove 'em five +Miles distance from all Market-Towns; and at last the Acts made against +_Papists_ were extended to them. But since King _William_'s Revolution +the Case is alter'd; for the _Jacobite Clergy_, though turn'd out of +their Livings by Law, for refusing Allegiance to the King, yet from the +Allegiance they bare to the Bishops, they find such Favour from their +Lordships, that if the Livings they lose are in the Bishops gift, he +shall present any Friend which the dispossessed _Jacobite_ shall +recommend; now what can be more by them desired, than to enjoy the +Profits of their Livings, and put in what Curate they please? And after +all, that they may enjoy the full Profits of their Livings, and pay +their Curates another way, these _Jacobites_ may hold their Conventicles +where they please, nay, Preach publickly and seditiously in an open +Church near _Cheap-side, London_, without the least offence to the +Spiritual Power. And is it not plain (said this Gentleman) from all +this, that on this side the Water as well as on the other, the Clergies +Zeal for their Communion, Church and Religion, is only meant to support +their own Party, Dominion and Empire? + +3. Now the oldest _Deists_ of my Acquaintance having conceiv'd so great +a Prejudice against the Christian Faith, from the Behaviour of the +Clergy, and having levened their Disciples therewith, it has fal'n out +unhappily, that the late Revolution has by another way also confirmed +them in this their Prejudice. + +For the late happy Revolution, (which came on too soon, and was cut off +too short) though it was not so highly beneficial to us, as was by some +expected, was yet of very great Importance. But as there is nothing in +this World ever so good, but what hath some appending disadvantage; so +by meer Accident this Revolution, which has saved not only the Church of +_England_, but (as I hope) the whole Protestant Interest throughout the +World, has wonderfully encreased Mens Prejudices against the _Clergy_, +and so by false Consequence (such as Men through Resentment will make) +against the Truth of Religion it self. The old _Deists_ tell those of +their Pupils, who never travelled abroad, that there is now no need of +going over the Water to discover that the name _Church_ signifieth only +a _Self-interested Party_, and that the _Clergy_ have no Godliness but +Gain. Have you not (say they) for many Years together heard them Preach +up the _Divine Right_, and indefeizable Authority of Kings, together +with _Passive Obedience_, as the chief distinguishing Doctrines whereby +their Church approved it self _Apostolick_ beyond all other Churches? +Nay, were not the Doctrines of _Loyalty to the King_, insisted upon +more than _Faith in Christ_? and yet when their particular Interest +required it, their Doctrine of _Non-Resistance_ was qualify'd by +_Non-Assistance_, the whole Stream of Loyalty was turn'd from the King +to the Church, the indefeizable Right was superseded by a miraculous +Conquest without Blood, the Oath of Allegiance to the _Divinely Rightful +King James_ has its force allay'd by another Oath of the same Importance +made to the _de facto_ King _William_ and Queen _Mary_, and all this is +Sanctify'd by the name of the Church, _i.e._ their own Party and +Interest, for the sake whereof it is done. This is indeed keeping to the +Text--_Rem rem quocunque modo rem_. + + * * * * * + +And the wretched Defence they make for this their Apostacy (say the +_Deists_) maketh the matter worse. For notwithstanding King _James_ is, +as they will have it, Conquer'd; and his Throne, which was declared +vacant, is legally filled by one who by Act of Parliament is declared +our Rightful King; yet after all this Dr. S---- will reserve a Right to +King _James_, though through Success and Settlement he will allow a +Right also to King _William_. And this Notion the Clergy generally +adhere to, because thereby they kill two or three Birds with one stone. +1_st._ They preserve to themselves their ancient Right of giving Titles +to Sovereignty. For though both King and Parliament have disclaimed and +damned the Conquest, yet the Clergy still insist upon it. 2_ly._ They +make fair Weather with King _James_, by keeping his Title alive, and by +still asserting his Right, open him a Door to recover his Possession +again. For what honest Christian can oppose a Rightful King in regaining +the Possession of his Throne, which is kept from him by a Successful +Usurper? and 3_ly._ They think they have obliged King _William_ +sufficiently by the formality of an Oath, and owning him in his +Possession. Put all this together and 'twill prove, that + + _When all the Argument is out, + 'Tis Interest still resolves the doubt._ + +Thus (cry they) you plainly see, that your Church is nothing but a +Party, to which whosoever joineth, himself shall find his Account +thereby, notwithstanding any Error, Heresy, Immorality or Disloyalty to +the present Government whatsoever; whilst any other who is conformable +to the _Rubricks_ and _Canons_, whose Learning and Morals are an Honour +to his Gown, and who is truly dutiful to his Majesty, shall be excluded +from all those benefits his Profession would entitle him to. Thus the +bold Asserters of King _James_'s Right enjoy some of the best +Preferments, and particularly Dr. S---- sits D---- of St. P---- whilst +honest Mr. _Johnson_ is starving upon Charity. + +The Church of _England_ is a meer Party, (say they again) and has a +Watch-word whereby they know one another, which they can vary upon +occasion. _Non-Resistance_ was the Word in King _Charles_'s days. For +though at that time you did conform to every tittle and ceremony, +injoin'd by Rubrick and Canon, yet if you failed in the Point of +_Non-Resistance_, you were a _Phanatick_ and _Republican_, a _Rebel_, +and what not? Now if this Doctrine be contain'd in the Book of Homilies, +as the _Jacobites_ say, 'tis a Sacred Record of the Unjustice of some of +those who concurred in the late Revolution. The _Shiboleth_ of the +Church now is King _William's de facto Title_; And no Conformity to +Homilies and Rubricks will make you owned by the present Church, if you +should acknowledge the King to be otherwise said than a meer _de +facto_. Now (say they) although we grant that Men will submit to the +Government, upon their own particular Principles, and therefore 'tis +reasonable that the King should admit the Obedience of his Subjects upon +what Grounds they please, yet we know no Reason why the Church should +set up the _de facto_, as the only Principle of Obedience: And when the +King had better Titles to his Crown, as the Consent of the People in +Parliament, and his Matrimonial Title with the Queen, yet he must be +made to pay the greatest price for the weakest and worst of all Titles; +and give Dr. _S----_ Sixteen Hundred Pounds a Year, for a _Defactoship_ +only. + +You see, Sir, that the _Deists_ want not Occasions for their Prejudices, +how far soever they are from having Reason o' their side. And pray +resolve me, why must this false Title be set up as 'twere by the King's +Consent, to worm out the only true one? Why must none be preferr'd to +Church-Dignities, but such who come in upon this Title only? And those +who own the King's Right upon the Consent of the People, be still +labouring under the Church's highest displeasure? and poor _Johnson_, a +Man against whom no Immorality was ever objected, that is an Object even +of the _Deists_ Compassion, be left to starve for the Cause? Nay, they +have gone so far upon the Strength of Dr. _S----_ Convocation-Title, in +Opposition to that of Parliament, that since the good Queen is dead, and +the Consent of the People, according to them, null and void; they have +left the King a bare Possession, without any Title at all. + +4. I am acquainted with a Gentleman, who for some Years has not gone to +Church, having taken offence at those Practices I was now writing upon. +This Man, you must know, had an extraordinary Veneration for the +profound Learning (so he thinks much reading and common-placing to be) +of a certain Eminent Divine, who had a fat Bishoprick bestow'd on him by +King _William_ and Queen _Mary_. But he to requite their Kindness, when +a Bill was brought before the Lords, declaring the King and Queen's +rightful and lawful Title to the Crown, not only opposed and voted +against it in the House; but when it had passed, he entred his +Protestation against it in the Journal. Nay (said this Gentleman) if +King _William_ be only King _de facto_, then the Bishop is _de facto_ +only. Truly Sir, you may believe me, that I was amaz'd at this Relation; +for (as I then said) though most Men look no further, than only to get +Mony _de facto_, and do not with much strictness inquire _quo jure_; +yet 'twas strange that any Man should protest that he had no right to +that Estate, which he openly continued in Possession of. But I was +soon answer'd by this his former Admirer, that if that Bishop had +strengthened his own Title to the Bishoprick from King _J._ I might +cease my wonder. + +I am indeed sorry to hear Stories of this Nature, especially when they +assure me of the Truth of 'em, and when I see the ill Consequences of +them. For though nothing be more certain than that the Baseness and +Falshood of Man can never disprove the Truth of God; yet when Men are +highly Scandaliz'd, and greatly deceived by those for whom they had +Esteem, and by whose Authority they in great measure governed +themselves, they will stretch their Conclusion beyond their Premisses, +and disown Religion in their Principle, because 'tis disregarded by some +great Men in their Practice. + +But though to strict Reasons, such Arguments for _Deism_ appear +ridiculous; yet from the Promotion of these _de facto_ Men, I am told, +hath arisen great disadvantage to the King, and those Subjects, whose +Principles and Practices have been always faithful to his Majesties +Interest: Since hereby it is, that it hath always been in the power of +the open and professed Enemies of the King to oppress his most dutiful +Subjects. For these _de facto_-men, and the _Jacobites_, were but lately +the same sort of People, both of the same Principle and Temper. And +though the _Jacobites_ do now rail at them, for their base Complyances +(as they term it) with the _P._ of _O_'s Revolution; yet the _de factos_ +are unwilling, for old Acquaintance sake, to pass by their Railing, and +underhand to shew 'em any kindness: And this they submit to, as being +Self-conscious, that the _Jacobites_ have a Right to reproach them; so +that they are willing to appease the anger of their old Friends by their +best Services. Now the _Jacobites_ having always an innate Hatred to the +_Whigs_, (as they now stile all those who think themselves obliged to +own the King for their rightful Sovereign) and being willing to keep up +their old Master's Right to the Crown, (to which the _Whigs_ are +irreconcileable Enemies) easily prevail upon these _de factos_ to +oppress those other sort of Men, which is an Office they are as willing +to undertake, as the _Jacobites_ can be to put it upon 'em. Thus it +cometh to pass, that according as an open professed Enemy to the +Government shall dictate, a Church-man shall strenuously exert that +Power the King has given him, to discourage and oppress his Dutiful and +Loyal Subjects. I will only (said a certain Person) make a Supposition, +to shew you how this may be; suppose the King should bestow a Bishoprick +upon a _de facto_ Doctor, and this Doctor should there find his old +Acquaintance Dr. _H._ and being a Stranger in his Diocese, should be +willing to instruct himself in the Characters of Men from the good D., +would it not fall out so, that the Clergy of that Diocese must be used +well or ill, as the most open and notorious Enemy the Government hath, +shall design? And was it not possible that the E. of _N._ might oblige +his old Friends in the same manner? Thus, though King _James_ be at last +excluded, his Subjects reign in his stead. And whether an _Oath_ of +_Abjuration_ laid upon the _Jacobites_ Proxy-men, will put an end to +this Corruption, Time must tell us. + +5. But to return to the Reasons, (or Prejudices I may rather call 'em) +which occasion _Deism_; It hath been observed to me, that where the +Notion of a Church hath been carried on with the highest Tide, there +even natural Religion is at the lowest Ebb; as in _Italy_ of old, and +lately in _France_, where gross Immoralities and Atheism are at the +greatest height. And though in our Reformation we discarded some +Idolatrous and Superstitious Doctrines and Practices, which were grown +scandalous among the People, yet still _Christ_ was made to serve that +turn, which his Holy Vicar can no longer do, _viz._ Support an Holy +Order of Men in as haughty Insolences, in as proud, ambitious and +malicious Designs, as those which King _Henry_ (though a Son of the +Church) and his Times could not bear. Now in answer to this, I bid these +_Deists_ only read the _Bible_, and see if the Spirit of that Book be +not as good as their Thoughts can reach to; or let 'em read the +Character of the Christian Religion, given by Sir _Matthew Hale_ in the +first of his Three Letters concerning Religion, where he saith, _It +teacheth and tutors the Soul to a high Reverence and Veneration of +Almighty God, a sincere and upright Walking, as in the Presence of the +invisible all-seeing God. It makes a Man truly love to Honour, to Obey +him, and therefore careful to know what his Will is: It renders the +Heart highly thankful to him, both as his Creator, Redeemer and +Benefactor: It makes a Man entirely to depend upon, to seek to him for +Guidance and Direction, and Protection, to submit to his Will with all +Patience, and Resignation of Soul: It gives the Law not only to his +Words and Actions, but to his very Thoughts and Purposes: It bringeth +Man to such a Deportment both of External and Internal Sobriety, as may +be decent in the Presence of God and his holy Angels: It crusheth and +casts down all Pride and Haughtiness, both in a Man's Heart and +Carriage, and gives him an humble frame of Soul and Life, both in the +sight of God and Men: It regulates and governs the Passions of the Mind, +and brings them into due moderation and frame: It gives a Man a right +estimate of this present World; and sets the Heart and Hopes above it, +so that he never loves it more than it deserves. It makes the Wealth and +Glory of this World, high Places and great Preferments, but of a low and +little value to him, so that he is neither covetous nor ambitious, nor +over-sollicitous concerning the advantages of it: It brings a Man to +that frame, that Righteousness, Justice, Honesty and Fidelity, is as +'twere part of his Nature; he can sooner dye than commit or purpose that +which is unjust, dishonest or unworthy a good Man: It makes him value +the love of God and Peace of Conscience above all the Wealth and Honours +in the World, and be very vigilant to keep it inviolably: Though he be +under a due Apprehension of the Love of God, yet it keeps him humble and +watchful, and free from all Presumption; so that he dares not under a +vain Confidence of the Indulgence of God, commit or purpose the least +injury to man: He performs all his Duties to God in Sincerity, Integrity +and Constancy; and while he lives on Earth, his Conversation, his Hopes, +his Treasure, and the Flower of his Expectation is in Heaven; and he +entirely endeavours to walk suitably to such a Hope. In Sum, it restores +the Image of God unto the Soul in Righteousness and true Holiness._ + +I prevail'd upon one of my Friends, a _Deist_, to read those three +Letters, because therein the Substance of the Christian Religion is +distinguish'd from the Circumstantials and Appendages; for want of which +distinction being well understood, _Deism_ has arose, as that great Man +in the fore-cited Letter hath observed. _When Men_ (says he) _see so +much Religion placed by Professors of Christianity in these things which +every intelligent Man values but as Forms, or Inventions, or Modes, or +Artifices, and yet as great weight laid upon them, as great fervour and +animosity us'd for or against them, as almost for any Points of +Christian Religion; They are apt presently to censure and throw off all +Religion, and reckon all of the same make._ Thus that Upright Judge, +whose three Letters my Friend having read, did well approve of 'em, +acknowledging, that with great Exactness he had distinguished between +Religion and Priest-craft: And he added, If you will shew me, Sir, any +Christian Church where that distinction is observed, I will become a +Member of it. I recommended the Church of _England_; he presently told +me that he had read the 39 Articles, and observed that 3 of them were +wholly design'd to uphold the Power of the Clergy over the People. And +then he had me only compare the _Design_, which has been, and still is, +carrying on under the Name of the Church of _England_, with the Design +of the Christian Religion, as 'tis described by Sir _Matthew Hale_; and +I should find the one in all its parts a Contradiction to the other. +'Tis plain (_said he_) the Clergy do not allow of Sir _Matthew_'s +Notions, nor will they suffer us to take any thing for Religion, that is +distinguished from their particular Interest. To what end have so many +Persecutions and Penal Laws been set a foot by the Clergy in +Christendom? was it to bring Men to any one Point of that full +Description of Christian Religion, which you cited from Sir _Matthew +Hale_? or only to bring them to that short Article of their Clergy +Religion, _i.e._ to submit to their Power? Did not the Honourable Sir +_R. H._ lately write a Treatise, wherein with great Learning and +accurate Judgment he distinguished betwixt Religion and Priest-craft? +and was he not treated for it with a true Priestly Insolence and Malice +in the Pulpit at _White-hall_, by _A._ one of their Majesties Chaplains, +and represented as a Scorner and an Atheist, because he scorns to submit +to any Religion but what is of Christ's Institution? Suppose a Man +should govern himself by the Law of _Christ_, and go no further, is +there any Christian Church which would own such an one for a Member? If +you will be a Son of the Church of _England_ you must hold Kings and +Bishops to be _jure divino_, the Apostolical Doctrine of _Passive +Obedience_; you must not be indifferent to their Ceremonies, though +declar'd but indifferent things; and the Reason is, because you must +have a profound Respect for the Power of the Bishops, by which these +Ceremonies were ordain'd: And besides this, you must shew a perfect +Abhorrence of all who do not submit to the Spiritual Royalties of their +Diocesan Bishops; for your Churchmanship will not appear by any Mark so +well, as by the Hatred you bear to all Dissenters, in Conjunction with a +deep aversion to all the ancient Rights and just Liberties of your +Native Country. In fine, (_said he_) when your Clergy Preach the Law of +_Christ_ without turning it to any By-end, or false Interest, you shall +meet me at Church. You know the Clergy love Precedency of the Laity; Let +them turn Christians first, and I can follow. + +6. I have known some, who have alledged as a Reason why they have +forsaken the Christian Faith, the impossibility of Believing. Many +Doctrines (_say these_) are made necessary to Salvation, which 'tis +impossible to believe, because they are in their nature Absurdities. I +replied, That these things were _Mysteries_, and so above our +Understanding. But he asked me to what end could an unintelligible +Doctrine be revealed? not to instruct, but to puzzle and amuse. What can +be the effect of an unintelligible _Mystery_ upon our Minds, but only +Amusement? That which is only above Reason must be above a rational +Belief, and must I be Saved by an irrational Belief? If a Proposition be +inconsistent with it self, I cannot but believe it to be false: 'Twas +once to serve a Turn against the _Papists_ your Church held all +Doctrines necessary to save Souls, were plainly revealed in Scripture; +How could you say plainly revealed unless you understood the Revelation? +Besides, I cannot think that the belief of any unprofitable Doctrines, +_i.e._ such as admit of no Application to Moral Duties, can be a saving +Faith so much as in part; nor can I imagine that Faith tends to save a +Soul, because what we believe is only _True_, (for so the belief of +_Euclids Elements_ might have a saving Effect upon Souls) but because +our Belief is _Good_, it has a practical Effect, and tends to make us +better Men. Besides, you all agree the Belief of your Trinity is +absolutely necessary to Salvation, and yet widely differ in _what_ we +must believe concerning it; whether three Minds or Modes, or Properties, +or internal Relations, or Oeconomies, or Manifestations, or external +Denominations; or else no more than a Holy Three, or Three Somewhats; or +otherwise only one of these Three to be God in the highest Sense, and +each of the other two to be a God without Self-subsistence and +Independence. I am confident, if I should be perswaded that an +Explanation of the _Trinity_ were necessary to save my Soul, and see the +Learned so widely differing and hotly disputing what it is I must +believe concerning it, I should certainly run mad through despair of +finding out the Truth: But since these Doctors cannot agree which Party +of 'em shall captivate my Belief in Obedience to his Faith, I will +reserve it to be the Hand-maid of Truth; whenever she appears she shall +command it. + +7. I remember one Gentleman objected to the Christian Faith, that it +made Men insolent, quarrelsom and ill-natur'd. From whence I concluded, +(as I told him) that he had never read over the _Gospels_; truly he +could not say that he had read 'em carefully, but yet that in reading +the History of what had passed in Christendom, he observed that most of +the Quarrels in which this part of the World had been engaged, arose +from Contentions among the Christian _Priesthood_. Church-History is +chiefly a Relation of Church-mens Wrangles, and D. _Cave_ in a late Book +of his had denominated every Century from some eminent Quarrel which +arose among the Clergy. But besides this, what was the Holy War, what +all the holy Massacres and Croisados which filled _Europe_ with Blood, +but the Inventions of Holy Church? And what is holy Inquisition, but a +perpetual Series of Murthers carry'd on in barbarous Forms of Law +against the common Sense of Mankind? Does History account for any +Barbarities so great as those committed by the Popes? Any Cruelties so +savage as those of the Holy Inquisition? Any Murthers so solemn, and +religiously brutal as the Acts of Faith? Any Pragmaticalness so +insufferable as that of the Jesuits? is not their Humanity extinguished +by their Christian Religion? such is their Malice that no Man can eat +Bread where they have to do, unless he submit his Faith to their +guidance, witness the present _French_ Persecution. Nor can any +Sovereign Prince keep his Word or Oath, though he had only sworn to +maintain those Laws by which he Reigns as King, any longer than this +Spiritual Fatherhood will give him leave, as _Lewis_ XIV. of _France_, +and _James_ II. of _England_ do witness. Let these Inhumanities be +considered, as supported and carried on by the name of Catholick Church, +and (if the Devils believe) you may as decently say Church of _Hell_ as +Church of _Rome_. + +And as Devotion, continu'd our _Deist_, to holy Church is the center +upon which all things turn on the other side the Water, so is it the +same thing here. Do not our Priesthood of _England_ make as high +Pretences to dispose of all Offices and Trusts in the Kingdom, to those +of their own Faction, as those of _Rome_? Have they not long since got +their Bill of Exclusion to be passed into a Law, whereby no Man can +enjoy a Place of Profit or Trust in the State, but whom they qualify at +their Altars? where Men were capacitated to be Bumbails, keep +Gaming-houses and sell Ale. What was it but the Insolence of the +Priesthood that brought about Father _Laud_'s and Father _Peter_'s +Revolutions? Besides (said he) do you not observe what a keen Edge +Christian Faith puts upon the ill-nature of Divines, when they are +disputing about matters of Religion? 'Tis common for Philosophers, +Lawyers, Physicians, _&c._ to differ about matters which concern their +Professions, and write one against another: But you will find some +Temper and Decorum observed in their Writings. But let the Controversy +be about any Branch of Christian Faith; and then see the _Odium +Theologorum_, the Malice of Divines in the late Writings of two of your +Church Doctors against each other; at least this shews that Christian +Faith doth not improve the Temper of such Men who are of mean Birth, and +narrow Education. And I cannot but observe, that your _Protestant_ +Malice is under a worse Management than the _Popish_; they only thirst +for the Blood of Protestants, but you are for sucking one anothers +Blood; as when for the Service of King _Charles_ the II. (who was Head +of your Church) and his Popish Brother, the Blood of the best +Protestants in _England_, (and some of them of your own Church) was to +be spilt, the Court Blood-suckers, _viz._ Attorney general, and Judges, +besides Juries and Evidence, were all of 'em chosen Men out of your own +Church; and the _Posse_ of the Clergy was raised to hold their Heads to +the Block, by Preaching the Doctrine of _Passive Obedience_. + +But in requital, it must be confessed, that your Clergy require the King +to do their Persecuting Journey-work with the same Insolence as the +Popish Priesthood use; For must not the Sovereign Monarch of _England_, +_Scotland_, _France_ and _Ireland_, by his Authority Royal, execute the +Decrees and Anathema's of the Arch-deacons and Bishops Chancellors, by +Imprisoning his loyal and useful Subjects, for not conforming to their +Ceremonies? If a King will submit to this Drudgery, he shall have the +_vox Cleri_ of his side, and be as great as Noise and fulsom Flattery +can make him; but in the mean time is really King but of one Moiety of +his People, whilst the danger which the other half apprehend from the +Secular Arm directed by Spiritual Power of Necessity, weaneth their +Hearts from the Government. Thus _Charles_ the II. who for two Years +after his Return, reigned in the Hearts of all his People, was by the +Act of Uniformity reduced to be King of the Church-party; and at last, +whilst the _Popish_ and _Protestant_ Priesthood zealously contended +whose Property he should be, (like the Truth among Controversial +Divines) he was lost in the Scuffle. + +He instanced in likewise the late King _James_, who (said he) had it in +his power to be universally beloved and obey'd, beyond any King of +_England_ this Age has produced. His Right to the Crown was owned by +all; his Wilfulness had passed upon the Church of _England_ Party for +Magnanimous Resolution, which struck such an Awe upon them, that they +were coming to a Temper, and would have consented to a Toleration of +Protestant Dissenters, and _Roman_ Catholicks too, provided their +Maintenance might be continued to them. Thus the Heart of all _England_ +had been set upon the King; but the Popish Priesthood would be content +with nothing less than delivering the whole Nation to Satan, and their +King must execute the dreadful Anathema, though 'twas manifest that he +must thereby lessen himself to the size of one of the 7 Kings of _Kent_; +for he could be Sovereign of no more than the Two hundredth part of the +People. For King _Charles_ in numbering the People, had found that the +Proportion between _Papist_ and _Protestant_ was as 1 to 200: whereas +had his own Priesthood been so favourable to him, as to have excused him +from executing that Satanical Power, which by a Right purely Divine was +vested in Sacred Majesty, his Reign might have been happy, and his +Memory precious. What an unhappy Effect had the Spirit of Father _Laud_ +upon King _Charles_ the First? And what hath brought _Lewis_ the XIV. to +the present Diminution of his Glory, but that haughty Insolence and +unnatural Cruelty in Persecuting his own Subjects, which Father _la +Chaise_ has inspired him with? What Figure will this Grand Monarch make +in Story? His Name will pollute the Annals of this Age, and his cowardly +Conquests be the Scorn of Posterity. Now from all that he had said, he +concluded, that for Luck-sake, as well as to preserve his good Nature, +he would be cautious of being (at least) a zealous Christian. + +8. 'Twas not long since I met one of my old Acquaintance, who told me +that he had lately cast off these Prejudices he had conceived against +the Christian Faith, by the Assistance of a Book called, _The Five +Letters of Inspiration._ By the last of those Letters he was convinced +of the reality of reveal'd Religion, from the Intrinsick value and +Excellency thereof; and he was fully confirmed in his Judgment by a late +Book called, _The Reasonableness of Christianity, as delivered in the +Scripture_. Upon this, he had read over the _Old-Testament_ once, and +the _New_ several times, with great attention of Mind. Indeed he always +thought the Moral part of the _Bible_ very good; but then he also +thought, that by the strength of his own Reason, he could have written +as good a Moral himself. But by the last of these Books he was +convinced, that he was indebted to _Revelation_ more than he thought of, +and considering how long the Ceremonial Law had obtain'd among the +_Jews_, and what a profound respect they paid to the Scribes, Pharisees, +and Spiritual Guides and Rulers; he plainly saw that there was need +enough of Miracle to bear down their Prejudices, to make 'em leave their +Ceremonies, and listen to that excellent Moral which Christ gave 'em; +nay, he was convinced that no Miracles were strong enough to prevail +over the Priest, or a Priest-ridden People, to become Proselytes to the +Doctrine of universal Love and Charity; for (said he) if a Teacher +should now be sent from Heaven with this Message, that all the +Protestant Parties in _England_ should be reconciled and live well with +one another, making nothing necessary to their religious Communion, but +what Christ had appointed, and such Circumstances as Time and Place, and +what in the nature of the thing was needful, and if this Teacher's +Mission were confirm'd by Miracle, it would have (as he thought) no +better effect upon our several Sects of Clergy, and those who are +bigotted to their Parties, than it had upon the _Pharisees_ and their +Disciples of old. + +Having heard him speak so sharply against the Clergy after his old way, +I could not but tell him that I perceived he was but almost a +Christian; for he who loveth the Institution of Christ, cannot but +respect those who are the Ministers thereof; at least, I hoped that he +would pay a respect to the Clergy of the Church of _England_, which was +the best Reformed Church in the World; and therefore I expected that he +was already a Member of our Church: He reply'd, that he should always be +ready to pay his respect to every good Man of what Order or Degree +soever; he should always be willing to hear a good Minister Preach the +Gospel of Jesus Christ to him, and exhort him to the sincere Practice of +it. That he was ready to contribute his share to the Maintenance of such +Ministers, and to join with that Church-of-_England_ Congregation near +to which he liv'd, in publick Worship; but yet he could not condemn the +Worship of other Congregations, nor exclude himself from joyning with +them as occasion should serve him. So that as to Church-membership he +could be a Member of any Church, which would own him upon the terms of +Faith and Practice, contained in the Book he mentioned, concerning the +Reasonableness of the _Christian Religion_, &c. But still he conceiv'd, +that Church-Communion in holy Offices was designed only to raise his +Devotion towards God, not towards the Clergy, which made him admire the +unparallell'd Impudence of the _Roman_ Priesthood, who measure the +Religion of all Christians by their Devotion to the See of _Rome_, i.e. +indeed to themselves; and he doubted whether any Church were +sufficiently Reformed from Popery, which made any Doctrines of Faith +necessary to Salvation that were not declared so in the Gospels, and +where the Clergy would always distinguish between Church and State, and +give the Precedency to themselves. But yet he would join with any Church +as far as it promoted the Honour of God, and separate from it, wherein +on pretence of Religion, he saw, that it aimed at a By-end of its own. + +Here I urged him again to joyn to our Church, which had no other design +but God's Glory. To this he said, that he should be glad that the Church +of _England_ would own him, though he could not be of their Party: He +would willingly pass as a Church-man for his Credit-sake; for (said he) +though a Man doth ever so firmly believe Jesus Christ to be the Messiah +whom God had of old promised, and in due time sent to give us a perfect +Rule of Life, in order to make us truly religious here, and ever happy +hereafter; and though a Man should shew forth his Faith by an agreeable +course of Life, in doing Justice, loving Mercy, and an humble walking +with God; yet if he were not owned as a Member of some Church, he would +by all Churches be accounted, if not an Atheist, yet a Sceptic, a Man of +no settled Principle, but own who has his Religion to choose. For if you +look over the State of Religion as it standeth in Christendom, there is +no Church whatsoever which will accept you as a Member of its Communion, +but upon some particular terms of Belief, or Practice, which Christ +never appointed, and it may be such as an honest and a wise Christian +cannot consent to. I am not more able to give up my Reason to the Church +of _England_, than to give up my Senses to the Church of _Rome_; it +looks like a Trick in all Churches to take away the use of Mens Reason, +that they may render us Vassals and Slaves to all their Dictates and +Commands. But what greater slavery than to force on Men a Belief of such +things as necessary to Salvation, of which 'tis not possible to form any +Idea? Though I am satisfied there is no such thing as a change of Bread +into the Flesh of Christ, yet I can form an Idea, that such a thing may +be, that the same Power which changed Earth into a Man, may change Bread +into Flesh: But I can frame to my self no Idea of what your Church +Teacheth in the Sacrament, that the Body and Blood of Christ are +_verily and indeed taken and received of the faithful_: And when I ask +how can this be understood by a Protestant, who believeth that there is +no other Body but that of Bread? I am told that the Church meaneth it in +a Spiritual Sense. Now I have try'd, and find it impossible for me to +form to my self an Idea of a Body verily and indeed in a Spiritual +Sense. + +And therefore I must say 'tis an unwise and a hard Thing for any Church +to impose absurd or unintelligible Notions (especially such +Speculations, which tend to make no body the better) as necessary to +Salvation; for Wise Men, and such who will take Courage to examine what +they Believe, will not submit to such an Usurpation; and weak Men are +kept all their Life long in Fears and Doubts of their Eternal State, as +being always uncertain whether they firmly believe such Doctrines, or +no. + +Besides this (said he) your Church will require me to believe other +Absurdities as bad as these, as that Kings and Bishops have a Divine +Right to that Power, which they exercise over us, whereas with my own +Eyes I saw our Great and Gracious King accept the Crown of _England_, as +the Gift of the People. And I see as plainly, that Bishops are an Order +of Men of their own (not of Christ's) making. I was told that our +Bishops Order was founded in that of the 12 Apostles, and the Presbyters +Order in the 70 Disciples: Upon this I resolved to see if the 12 and the +70 were different Orders, or no, and read over the 10th Chap. of +_Matthew_, the 3d and 6th of _Mark_, and the 9th of _Luke_, in which +places the Power which Christ gave to the 12 is set forth, which +amounteth to this, _viz._ a Charge to Preach the Gospel, a Power to work +Miracles in casting out Devils, healing the Sick, _&c._ And I also read +in the 10th Chapter of _Luke_, that the 70 were sent forth for the same +Reason, and with the same express Power as were the 12, _viz._ To preach +the Gospel, heal the Sick, and cast out Devils, _vers._ 2.9.17. And he +telleth the 70 at the 16th Verse, _That he who heareth them, heareth +him; and he who despiseth them, despiseth him_, as he had said to the +12, in _Matthew_ 10.40. Indeed they were only added to the number of the +12, _Because_ (as 'tis said there) _the Harvest was great, and the +Labourers few_, i.e. because Multitudes followed Christ, and were +disposed to become Christians, therefore he encreased the number of his +Apostles, or Teaching Disciples. I can find no Footsteps of any +Jurisdiction given to the 12 over the 70, or indeed over any body else; +and in the 18th Chapter of _Matthew_, where Christ speaketh of binding +and loosing, 'tis manifest from the first Verse, that his discourse was +made to his Disciples. So in the 20th of _John_, the Holy-Ghost and +Power of remitting and retaining Sins, was given to the Disciples which +met together after Christ's death, _vers._ 19. in which meeting, there +might be some of the 70 as well as some of the 12: 'Tis certain the 70 +received the Holy-Ghost, and if Baptism be a Key of Admission into the +Church, they had it: If binding or loosing be declaring wherein we are +bound in duty, and wherein we may use our liberty; if remitting and +retaining Sins be declaring what Iniquity God will forgive, and what he +will not; the 70 shared this Power with the 12. As for delivering up to +Satan, and inflicting Diseases; since 'twas a miraculous Power, which we +read not that Christ appropriated to the 12, we have no reason to think +'twas detained from the 70. If then Christ appointed but one Order, +_viz._ that of Teachers, the Order of Rulers dignified themselves above, +and distinguished themselves from their Brethren, yet I am willing to +submit to those Powers, which the Laws of _England_ have given to the +Bishops, though what they claim by Divine Right, I esteem as an +Usurpation. + +Moreover (says he) although I am become a Christian, I have not ceased +to be an _English-man_, and for that reason cannot be in party with the +Bishops, who by their false-prerogative Doctrines, and other shameful +Assistances, so lately betray'd the Charters and Liberties, Rights and +Privileges of their Country, were setting up an absolute irresistible +Power in K. _Charles_ II. which being demised to K. _James_, endangered +not only the Liberty and Property, but Body and Soul of the Nation. Nor +can I so soon forget how their long debates, about admitting the _P._ of +_Orange_, our Good and Great King, to the Sovereignty, was the occasion +of spilling so much Protestant Blood in _Ireland_; nor the late +Protestation of some of the chief of their Party against his Majesties +Right to the Crown; nor how careful they have been since, that (as it +now falls out) he should have no pretence to any rightful Title. If any +Clergy-man was so honest as to Preach up his Right, as justly grounded +on the Consent of the People, (as Mr. _Johnson_ for instance) he must +lie under pain of the Church's highest displeasure, though otherwise +ever so Orthodox and Conformable; so that since the beloved Title of +Conquest is burnt by the Parliament, and the Matrimonial Title is (to +the great grief of all good Men) dead and buried with the Queen; it +remaineth according to Holy Church, that he hath no Title at all, but +only bare Possession; and this they mean when they call him _de facto_. + +But I cannot find that they will allow him to be King of the Clergy so +much as _de facto_. Alas! his Livings, whereby alone he is capable to +oblige them to call to mind their now forgotten Loyalty, which of late +years they preached up, as the summ of the Law and the Prophets; Alas! +these good Things are taken out of his hands by the Conquering Bishops, +that the Clergy may have a separate Interest from the State on this side +the Water, and be led to pay an intire Allegiance to the holy Order. +When _Hen._ VIII. came to know that his Bishops swore Allegiance to the +_Pope_, he began to think of some ways and means how to make himself +King of his Clergy, which he saw could not be done but by casting out +the _Pope_'s Power; and hence sprung that King's Reformation of his +Politicks, rather than Religion. And if our good King were sensible of +the Reasons why an _English_ Papacy is settled in a Committee of Six, +_viz._ to fix the Obedience of the Clergy on themselves exclusively, +(for no Man can serve two Masters) I doubt not but he would think fit to +demand what is so much wanted, _viz._ the Allegiance of the Clergy to +their King; if he dissolves this Committee he may ask and have, for +where their Treasure is, there their Hearts will be also. For +these Reasons (said he) I shall be cautious how I enter into +Church-membership, since I plainly see that every Party of Christians +embodied, organized, clergy'd and modelled into a National Church, +casteth an awe upon the Sovereign Power, and suffereth it not to provide +equally for the Common Good of the Subject; but will appropriate the +_salus publica_, and influence the Government to serve its own +particular, its own private Ends. + +Thus, Sir, I have given you an account of those Prejudices, which have +brought forth _Deism_. But yet these very Prejudices without a strong +assistance of Passion, could never have wrought upon Men to cast off +Revelation; for you see the same Prejudices remain in the _Deist_ turn'd +Christian. Whosoever therefore, upon the fore-mentioned Reasons turneth +_Deist_, cannot be excused, tho' I could heartily wish all these +Pretences could be taken away from 'em. I am far from begrudging the +Bishops and Clergy that small Maintenance, which by Law is settled upon +them; and, I hope, they have no other aim in discharging their Offices, +but to save our Souls, by imprinting on our Hearts the Reason, the +Excellency and Advantages of the Law of Christ. I hope also, that they +comport themselves to the Common Interest of their Native Country, and +of the Protestant Religion throughout the World. Truly I could wish that +Notional Divinity were laid aside for Practical; and that unintelligible +Mysteries were not insisted on, as matters of necessary Belief. He, who +lately wrote his Thoughts of the Causes and Occasions of Atheism, might +have consider'd, that he, who cloggeth the Notion of God with +Absurdities, mis-leadeth Men beyond _Deism_. I pray God give me his +Grace, by which I may sincerely conform my self to the Law of Christ, +and I will never concern my self with the Speculative Drs. in Divinity. +And I heartily join with our Church in that Petition, _Give grace, O +heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by their +Life and Doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and +duly Administer thy holy Sacraments_. By this they would bring Souls to +Heaven, gain the Love of all good People, secure their own Temporal +Interests, stop the Mouths of their Adversaries, and compel the Deists +to become Christians. + + _I am, Sir,_ + _Your Affectionate_, &c. + +_FINIS._ + + * * * * * + +If your Curiosity should lead you to be an Ear-witness of such +Discourses I have here Written to you, when I come to Town, which +will be as soon as the Parliament Sits, I will endeavour to give +you that Satisfaction. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM IN +ENGLAND*** + + +******* This file should be named 37302-8.txt or 37302-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/7/3/0/37302 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: An Account of the Growth of Deism in England</p> +<p>Author: William Stephens</p> +<p>Release Date: September 3, 2011 [eBook #37302]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM IN ENGLAND***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[1]</span></p> +<div class="c4"> +<table border="2" width="240"> +<tr> +<td> +<h4><span class="c1">AN</span></h4> +<h2><span class="c1">ACCOUNT</span></h2> +<h4><span class="c1">OF THE</span></h4> +<h3><span class="c1">GROWTH</span></h3> +<h4><span class="c1">OF</span></h4> +<h1><span class="c2">DEISM</span></h1> +<h4><span class="c1">IN</span></h4> +<h3><span class="c1">ENGLAND.</span></h3> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<p class="c3"><em>LONDON</em>:</p> +<p class="c3">Printed for the Author, MDCXCVI.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[2]</span></p> +<hr class="c5" /> +<p><span class="pagenum">[3]</span></p> +<h4>AN</h4> +<h2>ACCOUNT</h2> +<h4>OF THE</h4> +<h3>GROWTH</h3> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h1>DEISM·</h1> +<p><em>SIR</em>,</p> +<p>'Tis now three Years since you and I had a serious Discourse concerning the +rise and progress of <em>Deism</em>: which is an Opinion of late Years crept +into <em>England</em>, tho not so widely spread here as in other parts of <em> +Europe</em>. I well remember we were both agreed, that there was no shadow of +Reason why any one should suspect the <em>Gospels</em> of Forgery, since the +matter contain'd in them hath not the least favour of any worldly Interest, or +indirect Design, but all the Lines of them do only center in the highest +Improvement Humane Nature is capable of. So that in conformity <span class="pagenum">[4]</span>every Man may take great comfort in himself, and all Mankind live +well with one another. Besides, the Preachers of this excellent Doctrine had at +first all the Discouragements which an irreligious and idolatrous Age could give +them, (as is confessed by their Enemies) insomuch that nothing but their own +personal full Conviction of the Truths they professed could engage them to +Preach 'em; and the intrinsick Goodness of the Law of <em>Christ</em>, was +sufficient to gain mens hearts, after <em>Miracles</em> had born down their +Prejudices, and gain'd their serious Attention. In fine, you and I could see no +reason to doubt of the Truth of any matter of Fact contain'd in the <em>Gospels</em>, +which relate the miraculous Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of <em> +Jesus Christ</em>; but what would oblige us to deny the truth of all History +whatsoever. And from these Considerations laid together, we concluded that the +Doctrine of our Lord <em>Jesus Christ</em> was undoubtedly sent to us by God.</p> +<p>This still made it appear more strange to us both, how <em>DEISM</em> (which +is a denial of all reveal'd Religion) should creep in upon us where the <em> +Scriptures</em> are made so publick, and where so many Learned Treaties are +written, which so strongly assert their Authority to be Divine. I confess, I was +as desirous to know upon what Grounds Men rejected the <em>Gospel</em>, as you +your self were, and therefore I willingly undertook the Task you laid on me, <em> +viz.</em> To collect and put together those Motives whereby some had been +induced to lay aside all <em>Revelation</em>. For which Performance I was the +fitter, because it doth not require any Learning and strength of Wit, but only +Observation, and Inquiry, which I might easily make, because of the numerous +Acquaintance I have contracted in Town, where (you know) I spend the Winter, and +in the Country, where I bestow my Summer Visits. But all I shall <span class="pagenum">[5]</span>do in this matter, is barely to give you a Relation of those +Prejudices, and (as I think) false Reasonings, which have drawn some of my +Acquaintance from <em>Revelation</em> to <em>DEISM</em>.</p> +<p>1. Now, first I have observed, that some who pretend themselves <em>Deists</em>, +are Men of loose and sensual Lives; and I make no wonder that they dislike the <em> +Christian</em> Doctrine of Self-denial, and the severe threatnings against +wilful Sinners. You may be sure they will not alledge this Reason: But having +read <em>Spinosa</em> and <em>Hobbes</em>, and been taught to laugh at the story +of <em>Baalam</em>'s Ass, and <em>Sampson</em>'s Locks; they proceed to ridicule +the reality of all <em>Miracle</em> and <em>Revelation</em>. I have conversed +with several of this Temper, but could never get any of 'em serious enough to +debate the reality of <em>Revelation</em>: But a witty Jest and t'other Glass +puts an end to all further Consideration. These are meer <em>Sceptics</em>, and +practical <em>Atheists</em>, rather than real <em>Deists</em>.</p> +<p>2. But there are others, who, although they have not a due regard to <em> +Revelation</em>, are Men of Sobriety and Probity, who with great freedom have +let me into their Thoughts, whereby I can very clearly and fully (as I think at +least) discern the rise and progress of this their Opinion, which is this;</p> +<p>1. In the time of King <em>Charles</em> the First, (which confineth my +longest acquaintance with Men) 'twas usual for Gentlemen to send their Sons +abroad into <em>Italy</em>, <em>Spain</em>, <em>France</em>, <em>Germany</em>, <em> +&c.</em> to accomplish themselves by Travel. But lest they should be prevail'd +upon to change their <em>Religion</em>, care was taken that their Tutor or +Governour, who travelled with 'em, should shew them the Idolatry and +Superstition of the <em>Roman Religion</em>; and also let 'em in to see that <em> +Popery</em> in all its Branches was only a device of the <em>Priesthood</em>, to +carry on a particular Interest of their own; to encrease their Wealth,<span class="pagenum">[6]</span> +Honours, and Power over the Lay-people; to exalt the Head of their Order above +all the Crowned Heads in the World, and equal one whole Order of their Clergy, <em> +viz.</em> the Cardinals, to the Princes of <em>Christendom</em>. Nay, since all +People were obliged to make their Confessions to, and receive their Absolution +from the <em>Priest</em>, the meanest of which Order could create a God for the +People's Worship; 'tis plain, that their Religion was calculated for the Profit, +Power and Honour of the whole Order of the <em>Priesthood</em> in this World, +whatsoever advantages they might find by it in the other. Now the Young +Gentleman being throughly convinced of this Holy Cheat, returneth to Old <em> +England</em>; where he meets with very zealous Contests about Religion (as was +pretended) between the <em>Church</em> of <em>England</em>, headed by +Arch-Bishop <em>Laud</em> on the one part, and the <em>Presbyterian Kirk</em> on +the other; and having carefully read the Debate (as it appeared in the Prints) +on both sides, with those very Eyes which he had so lately cleared up in <em> +Italy</em> or <em>France</em>, he could not forbear to see that both these <em> +Protestant</em> Parties, under the pretence of Religion, were only grasping at <em> +Power</em>, and that the Controversy at bottom, was not who's Religion was best, +but only what Sect of the <em>Clergy</em> should make the best Market of the <em> +meer Lay-men</em>. And as this Young Gentleman had before resolved with himself +not to become a Property to the <em>Popish Priesthood</em>, no longer now will +he be such to the <em>Protestant Clergy</em> of any Denomination, since both +pursue the same Ends. He perceiveth that our <em>Protestant High-Priests</em> do +all of them rival the Sovereign Power; the <em>Bishop</em>'s House like that of +the <em>King</em>, must be called his <em>Palace</em>, he must still keep up his +claim to the <em>Miter</em> and <em>Crosier</em>, to vie with the <em>Crown</em> +and <em>Scepter</em>; and as the<span class="pagenum">[7]</span> +Stile of the King's Courts is <em>Anno Regni nostri</em>, i.e. In the Year of +our Reign: So that of the Bishop's Court is <em>Anno Consecrationis nostræ</em>, +i.e. In the Year of our Consecration; the Year of the King's Reign being unknown +in the Bishop's Court: The King speaking to the People doth usually call 'em his +Loving Subjects; the <em>Bishop</em> doth not make himself so familiar, but +stileth the People of his <em>Diocese</em> barely his Subjects, <em> +Jurisdictioni nostræ subditos</em>: The King is <em>Inthroned</em>, and the +Arch-Bishop <em>Inthronized</em>; both derive their Power from a <em>Divine +Right</em>; but the Bishop is the higher Power, because by the Principles of +Episcopacy he can Excommunicate the King, <em>i.e.</em> forbid him the very +Conversation of his Subjects, and thereby render them uncapable to make good +their Oath of Allegiance, in yielding their Aid and Assistance.</p> +<p>Nor do's he find that the <em>Presbytery</em> claims any inferior Powers; +each Party alledge <em>Scriptures</em> and <em>Fathers</em> on their side; and +for ought I can see, (says this Gentleman) they are all in the right. Through an +excess of Prejudice thus occasion'd, he makes a further step towards <em>Deism</em>, +and Reasons after this manner: 'Tis not impossible (continues he) that the +ancient <em>Clergy</em> might be possess'd with the same Spirit of Pride, which +has prevail'd over the modern. If those Writings, which they call <em>Holy +Scriptures</em> are of their side, as they all say they are, I make no doubt but +they were of their own inventing; and if <em>Jesus Christ</em> their Patron, +laid the Foundation of those Powers, which both <em>Popish</em> and <em> +Protestant Clergy</em> claim to themselves from under him, I think the old <em> +Romans</em> did him right in punishing him with the death of a Slave. After this +manner I have heard it said of late, by another of the same Constitution, that +as the Church of <em>Rome</em> was a<span class="pagenum">[8]</span> +modelled Faction against all other Christians, so was the Church of <em>England</em>, +by Law Established, against all other Protestants, who were by Law excluded from +every Office of Profit and Trust; who were made subject to the Piques and Malice +of every Church-man, and became a constant Revenue to Apparitors and Spiritual +Catch-poles. And though at present there be a <em>Toleration</em> by Law +granted, yet 'tis full opposed by the Spirit of the Church, as appears by +Sermons preached at Visitations, and the constant ordinary Discourses of the <em> +Clergy</em>, in which the Church of <em>England</em> is always represented, as +at this time, in greater danger than ever it was; though I should think the +danger had been as great in King <em>James</em>'s Time: And notwithstanding the +Toleration (said he) no Man can enjoy a place of Profit or Trust, though he be +ever so dutiful a Subject, and ever so able or honest a Man, unless he hath a +Conscience by Law Established: By which Church-device Men are deprived of the +Privileges of their Country to which they are born, and for the discharge +whereof they never did in any respect incapacitate themselves; and hereby it +comes to pass, that the Nation cannot act vigorously in its own defence, being +debarr'd the Use of one Moiety of it self; and notwithstanding this, they have +the Confidence to tell us Lay-men, that we ought to love our Neighbours as our +selves. Now if this be the way of the <em>Christians</em>, (concluded he) let my +Soul be with the <em>Philosophers</em>.</p> +<p>2. And this brings to my Thoughts what another <em>Deist</em> said jestingly +to me, <em>viz.</em> That since I was a Christian, 'twas lucky for me that I was +of the Bishop's Church; for though you were ever so Loyal (said he) to the King, +yet if you did not pay as dutiful an Allegiance to the Bishops, you could not +hold the Place you<span class="pagenum">[9]</span> +now enjoy; for as certain as the <em>Cross</em> is above the <em>Crown</em>, so +sure a thing is it, that the <em>Bishop</em> will be above the <em>King</em>; +which he undertook would appear to me if I looked back to King <em>Charles</em>'s +Restoration, or King <em>William</em>'s Revolution. The <em>Presbyterians</em>, +though they quarrelled with <em>Charles</em> the First, yet became the loving +Subjects of <em>Charles</em> the Second; joined with the <em>Episcopalians</em> +in assisting him to the Throne, and made no scruple of Swearing their Allegiance +to him, and owning his Supremacy. But after all this, the King was not able to +support these his Loving Subjects against the Power of the Bishops, who in two +Years time outed 'em of their Livelihoods, and after that, drove 'em five Miles +distance from all Market-Towns; and at last the Acts made against <em>Papists</em> +were extended to them. But since King <em>William</em>'s Revolution the Case is +alter'd; for the <em>Jacobite Clergy</em>, though turn'd out of their Livings by +Law, for refusing Allegiance to the King, yet from the Allegiance they bare to +the Bishops, they find such Favour from their Lordships, that if the Livings +they lose are in the Bishops gift, he shall present any Friend which the +dispossessed <em>Jacobite</em> shall recommend; now what can be more by them +desired, than to enjoy the Profits of their Livings, and put in what Curate they +please? And after all, that they may enjoy the full Profits of their Livings, +and pay their Curates another way, these <em>Jacobites</em> may hold their +Conventicles where they please, nay, Preach publickly and seditiously in an open +Church near <em>Cheap-side, London</em>, without the least offence to the +Spiritual Power. And is it not plain (said this Gentleman) from all this, that +on this side the Water as well as on the other, the Clergies' Zeal for their +Communion,<span class="pagenum">[10]</span> +Church and Religion, is only meant to support their own Party, Dominion and +Empire?</p> +<p>3. Now the oldest <em>Deists</em> of my Acquaintance having conceiv'd so +great a Prejudice against the Christian Faith, from the Behaviour of the Clergy, +and having levened their Disciples therewith, it has fal'n out unhappily, that +the late Revolution has by another way also confirmed them in this their +Prejudice.</p> +<p>For the late happy Revolution, (which came on too soon, and was cut off too +short) though it was not so highly beneficial to us, as was by some expected, +was yet of very great Importance. But as there is nothing in this World ever so +good, but what hath some appending disadvantage; so by meer Accident this +Revolution, which has saved not only the Church of <em>England</em>, but (as I +hope) the whole Protestant Interest throughout the World, has wonderfully +encreased Mens Prejudices against the <em>Clergy</em>, and so by false +Consequence (such as Men through Resentment will make) against the Truth of +Religion it self. The old <em>Deists</em> tell those of their Pupils, who never +travelled abroad, that there is now no need of going over the Water to discover +that the name <em>Church</em> signifieth only a <em>Self-interested Party</em>, +and that the <em>Clergy</em> have no Godliness but Gain. Have you not (say they) +for many Years together heard them Preach up the <em>Divine Right</em>, and +indefeizable Authority of Kings, together with <em>Passive Obedience</em>, as +the chief distinguishing Doctrines whereby their Church approved it self <em> +Apostolick</em> beyond all other Churches? Nay, were not the Doctrines of <em> +Loyalty to the King</em>, insisted upon more than <em>Faith in Christ</em>? and +yet when their particular Interest required it, their Doctrine of <em> +Non-Resistance</em><span class="pagenum">[11]</span> +was qualify'd by <em>Non-Assistance</em>, the whole Stream of Loyalty was turn'd +from the King to the Church, the indefeizable Right was superseded by a +miraculous Conquest without Blood, the Oath of Allegiance to the <em>Divinely +Rightful King James</em> has its force allay'd by another Oath of the same +Importance made to the <em>de facto</em> King <em>William</em> and Queen <em> +Mary</em>, and all this is Sanctify'd by the name of the Church, <em>i.e.</em> +their own Party and Interest, for the sake whereof it is done. This is indeed +keeping to the Text-<em>Rem rem quocunque modo rem</em>.</p> + +<hr class="c7" /> + +<p>And the wretched Defence they make for this their Apostacy (say the <em> +Deists</em>) maketh the matter worse. For notwithstanding King <em>James</em> +is, as they will have it, Conquer'd; and his Throne, which was declared vacant, +is legally filled by one who by Act of Parliament is declared our Rightful King; +yet after all this Dr. S—— will reserve a Right to King <em>James</em>, though +through Success and Settlement he will allow a Right also to King <em>William</em>. +And this Notion the Clergy generally adhere to, because thereby they kill two or +three Birds with one stone. 1<em>st.</em> They preserve to themselves their +ancient Right of giving Titles to Sovereignty. For though both King and +Parliament have disclaimed and damned the Conquest, yet the Clergy still insist +upon it. 2<em>ly.</em> They make fair Weather with King <em>James</em>, by +keeping his Title alive, and by still asserting his Right, open him a Door to +recover his Possession again. For what honest Christian can oppose a Rightful +King in regaining the Possession of his Throne, which is kept from him by a +Successful Usurper? and 3<em>ly.</em> They think they have obliged King <em> +William</em> sufficiently by the formality of<span class="pagenum">[12]</span> +an Oath, and owning him in his Possession. Put all this together and 'twill +prove, that</p> + +<p class="blockquot"><em>When all the Argument is out,<br /> + 'Tis Interest still resolves the doubt.</em></p> + +<p>Thus (cry they) you plainly see, that your Church is nothing but a Party, to +which whosoever joineth, himself shall find his Account thereby, notwithstanding +any Error, Heresy, Immorality or Disloyalty to the present Government +whatsoever; whilst any other who is conformable to the <em>Rubricks</em> and <em> +Canons</em>, whose Learning and Morals are an Honour to his Gown, and who is +truly dutiful to his Majesty, shall be excluded from all those benefits his +Profession would entitle him to. Thus the bold Asserters of King <em>James</em>'s +Right enjoy some of the best Preferments, and particularly Dr. S—— sits D—— of +St. P—— whilst honest Mr. <em>Johnson</em> is starving upon Charity.</p> +<p>The Church of <em>England</em> is a meer Party, (say they again) and has a +Watch-word whereby they know one another, which they can vary upon occasion. <em> +Non-Resistance</em> was the Word in King <em>Charles</em>'s days. For though at +that time you did conform to every tittle and ceremony, injoin'd by Rubrick and +Canon, yet if you failed in the Point of <em>Non-Resistance</em>, you were a <em> +Phanatick</em> and <em>Republican</em>, a <em>Rebel</em>, and what not? Now if +this Doctrine be contain'd in the Book of Homilies, as the <em>Jacobites</em> +say, 'tis a Sacred Record of the Unjustice of some of those who concurred in the +late Revolution. The <em>Shiboleth</em> of the Church now is King <em>William's +de facto Title</em>; And no Conformity to Homilies and Rubricks will make you +owned by the present Church, if you should acknowledge the<span class="pagenum">[13]</span> +King to be otherwise said than a meer <em>de facto</em>. Now (say they) although +we grant that Men will submit to the Government, upon their own particular +Principles, and therefore 'tis reasonable that the King should admit the +Obedience of his Subjects upon what Grounds they please, yet we know no Reason +why the Church should set up the <em>de facto</em>, as the only Principle of +Obedience: And when the King had better Titles to his Crown, as the Consent of +the People in Parliament, and his Matrimonial Title with the Queen, yet he must +be made to pay the greatest price for the weakest and worst of all Titles; and +give Dr. <em>S</em>—— Sixteen Hundred Pounds a Year, for a <em>Defactoship</em> +only.</p> +<p>You see, Sir, that the <em>Deists</em> want not Occasions for their +Prejudices, how far soever they are from having Reason o' their side. And pray +resolve me, why must this false Title be set up as 'twere by the King's Consent, +to worm out the only true one? Why must none be preferr'd to Church-Dignities, +but such who come in upon this Title only? And those who own the King's Right +upon the Consent of the People, be still labouring under the Church's highest +displeasure? and poor <em>Johnson</em>, a Man against whom no Immorality was +ever objected, that is an Object even of the <em>Deists</em> Compassion, be left +to starve for the Cause? Nay, they have gone so far upon the Strength of Dr. <em> +S</em>—— Convocation-Title, in Opposition to that of Parliament, that since the +good Queen is dead, and the Consent of the People, according to them, null and +void; they have left the King a bare Possession, without any Title at all.</p> +<p>4. I am acquainted with a Gentleman, who for some Years has not gone to +Church, having taken offence at those Practices I was now writing upon. This +Man,<span class="pagenum">[14]</span> you +must know, had an extraordinary Veneration for the profound Learning (so he +thinks much reading and common-placing to be) of a certain Eminent Divine, who +had a fat Bishoprick bestow'd on him by King <em>William</em> and Queen <em>Mary</em>. +But he to requite their Kindness, when a Bill was brought before the Lords, +declaring the King and Queen's rightful and lawful Title to the Crown, not only +opposed and voted against it in the House; but when it had passed, he entred his +Protestation against it in the Journal. Nay (said this Gentleman) if King <em> +William</em> be only King <em>de facto</em>, then the Bishop is <em>de facto</em> +only. Truly Sir, you may believe me, that I was amaz'd at this Relation; for (as +I then said) though most Men look no further, than only to get Mony <em>de facto</em>, +and do not with much strictness inquire <em>quo jure</em>; yet 'twas strange +that any Man should protest that he had no right to that Estate, which he openly +continued in Possession of. But I was soon answer'd by this his former Admirer, +that if that Bishop had strengthened his own Title to the Bishoprick from King <em> +J.</em> I might cease my wonder.</p> +<p>I am indeed sorry to hear Stories of this Nature, especially when they assure +me of the Truth of 'em, and when I see the ill Consequences of them. For though +nothing be more certain than that the Baseness and Falshood of Man can never +disprove the Truth of God; yet when Men are highly Scandaliz'd, and greatly +deceived by those for whom they had Esteem, and by whose Authority they in great +measure governed themselves, they will stretch their Conclusion beyond their +Premisses, and disown Religion in their Principle, because 'tis disregarded by +some great Men in their Practice.</p> +<p>But though to strict Reasons, such Arguments for <em>Deism</em> appear +ridiculous; yet from the Promotion of these <em>de facto</em> Men, I am told, +hath arisen great disadvantage to the King, and those Subjects, whose Principles +and<span class="pagenum">[15]</span> +Practices have been always faithful to his Majesties Interest: Since hereby it +is, that it hath always been in the power of the open and professed Enemies of +the King to oppress his most dutiful Subjects. For these <em>de facto</em>-men, +and the <em>Jacobites</em>, were but lately the same sort of People, both of the +same Principle and Temper. And though the <em>Jacobites</em> do now rail at +them, for their base Complyances (as they term it) with the <em>P.</em> of <em>O</em>'s +Revolution; yet the <em>de factos</em> are unwilling, for old Acquaintance sake, +to pass by their Railing, and underhand to shew 'em any kindness: And this they +submit to, as being Self-conscious, that the <em>Jacobites</em> have a Right to +reproach them; so that they are willing to appease the anger of their old +Friends by their best Services. Now the <em>Jacobites</em> having always an +innate Hatred to the <em>Whigs</em>, (as they now stile all those who think +themselves obliged to own the King for their rightful Sovereign) and being +willing to keep up their old Master's Right to the Crown, (to which the <em> +Whigs</em> are irreconcileable Enemies) easily prevail upon these <em>de factos</em> +to oppress those other sort of Men, which is an Office they are as willing to +undertake, as the <em>Jacobites</em> can be to put it upon 'em. Thus it cometh +to pass, that according as an open professed Enemy to the Government shall +dictate, a Church-man shall strenuously exert that Power the King has given him, +to discourage and oppress his Dutiful and Loyal Subjects. I will only (said a +certain Person) make a Supposition, to shew you how this may be; suppose the +King should bestow a Bishoprick upon a <em>de facto</em> Doctor, and this Doctor +should there find his old Acquaintance Dr. <em>H.</em> and being a Stranger in +his Diocese, should be willing to instruct himself in the Characters of Men from +the good D., would it not fall out so, that the Clergy of that Diocese must be +used well or ill, as the<span class="pagenum">[16]</span> +most open and notorious Enemy the Government hath, shall design? And was it not +possible that the E. of <em>N.</em> might oblige his old Friends in the same +manner? Thus, though King <em>James</em> be at last excluded, his Subjects reign +in his stead. And whether an <em>Oath</em> of <em>Abjuration</em> laid upon the <em> +Jacobites</em> Proxy-men, will put an end to this Corruption, Time must tell us.</p> +<p>5. But to return to the Reasons, (or Prejudices I may rather call 'em) which +occasion <em>Deism</em>; It hath been observed to me, that where the Notion of a +Church hath been carried on with the highest Tide, there even natural Religion +is at the lowest Ebb; as in <em>Italy</em> of old, and lately in <em>France</em>, +where gross Immoralities and Atheism are at the greatest height. And though in +our Reformation we discarded some Idolatrous and Superstitious Doctrines and +Practices, which were grown scandalous among the People, yet still <em>Christ</em> +was made to serve that turn, which his Holy Vicar can no longer do, <em>viz.</em> +Support an Holy Order of Men in as haughty Insolences, in as proud, ambitious +and malicious Designs, as those which King <em>Henry</em> (though a Son of the +Church) and his Times could not bear. Now in answer to this, I bid these <em> +Deists</em> only read the <em>Bible</em>, and see if the Spirit of that Book be +not as good as their Thoughts can reach to; or let 'em read the Character of the +Christian Religion, given by Sir <em>Matthew Hale</em> in the first of his Three +Letters concerning Religion, where he saith, <em>It teacheth and tutors the Soul +to a high Reverence and Veneration of Almighty God, a sincere and upright +Walking, as in the Presence of the invisible all-seeing God. It makes a Man +truly love to Honour, to Obey him, and therefore careful to know what his Will +is: It renders the Heart highly thankful to him, both as his Creator, Redeemer +and Benefactor: It makes a Man entirely to depend upon, to seek to him for +Guidance</em><span class="pagenum">[17]</span> <em> +and Direction, and Protection, to submit to his Will with all Patience, and +Resignation of Soul: It gives the Law not only to his Words and Actions, but to +his very Thoughts and Purposes: It bringeth Man to such a Deportment both of +External and Internal Sobriety, as may be decent in the Presence of God and his +holy Angels: It crusheth and casts down all Pride and Haughtiness, both in a +Man's Heart and Carriage, and gives him an humble frame of Soul and Life, both +in the sight of God and Men: It regulates and governs the Passions of the Mind, +and brings them into due moderation and frame: It gives a Man a right estimate +of this present World; and sets the Heart and Hopes above it, so that he never +loves it more than it deserves. It makes the Wealth and Glory of this World, +high Places and great Preferments, but of a low and little value to him, so that +he is neither covetous nor ambitious, nor over-sollicitous concerning the +advantages of it: It brings a Man to that frame, that Righteousness, Justice, +Honesty and Fidelity, is as 'twere part of his Nature; he can sooner dye than +commit or purpose that which is unjust, dishonest or unworthy a good Man: It +makes him value the love of God and Peace of Conscience above all the Wealth and +Honours in the World, and be very vigilant to keep it inviolably: Though he be +under a due Apprehension of the Love of God, yet it keeps him humble and +watchful, and free from all Presumption; so that he dares not under a vain +Confidence of the Indulgence of God, commit or purpose the least injury to man: +He performs all his Duties to God in Sincerity, Integrity and Constancy; and +while he lives on Earth, his Conversation, his Hopes, his Treasure, and the +Flower of his Expectation is in Heaven; and he entirely endeavours to walk +suitably to such a Hope. In Sum, it restores the Image of God unto the Soul in +Righteousness and true Holiness.</em><span class="pagenum">[18]</span></p> +<p>I prevail'd upon one of my Friends, a <em>Deist</em>, to read those three +Letters, because therein the Substance of the Christian Religion is +distinguish'd from the Circumstantials and Appendages; for want of which +distinction being well understood, <em>Deism</em> has arose, as that great Man +in the fore-cited Letter hath observed. <em>When Men</em> (says he) <em>see so +much Religion placed by Professors of Christianity in these things which every +intelligent Man values but as Forms, or Inventions, or Modes, or Artifices, and +yet as great weight laid upon them, as great fervour and animosity us'd for or +against them, as almost for any Points of Christian Religion; They are apt +presently to censure and throw off all Religion, and reckon all of the same +make.</em> Thus that Upright Judge, whose three Letters my Friend having read, +did well approve of 'em, acknowledging, that with great Exactness he had +distinguished between Religion and Priest-craft: And he added, If you will shew +me, Sir, any Christian Church where that distinction is observed, I will become +a Member of it. I recommended the Church of <em>England</em>; he presently told +me that he had read the 39 Articles, and observed that 3 of them were wholly +design'd to uphold the Power of the Clergy over the People. And then he had me +only compare the <em>Design</em>, which has been, and still is, carrying on +under the Name of the Church of <em>England</em>, with the Design of the +Christian Religion, as 'tis described by Sir <em>Matthew Hale</em>; and I should +find the one in all its parts a Contradiction to the other. 'Tis plain (<em>said +he</em>) the Clergy do not allow of Sir <em>Matthew</em>'s Notions, nor will +they suffer us to take any thing for Religion, that is distinguished from their +particular Interest. To what end have so many Persecutions and Penal Laws been +set a foot by the Clergy in Christendom? was it to bring Men to any one Point of +that full Description of Christian Religion,<span class="pagenum">[19]</span> +which you cited from Sir <em>Matthew Hale</em>? or only to bring them to that +short Article of their Clergy Religion, <em>i.e.</em> to submit to their Power? +Did not the Honourable Sir <em>R. H.</em> lately write a Treatise, wherein with +great Learning and accurate Judgment he distinguished betwixt Religion and +Priest-craft? and was he not treated for it with a true Priestly Insolence and +Malice in the Pulpit at <em>White-hall</em>, by <em>A.</em> one of their +Majesties Chaplains, and represented as a Scorner and an Atheist, because he +scorns to submit to any Religion but what is of Christ's Institution? Suppose a +Man should govern himself by the Law of <em>Christ</em>, and go no further, is +there any Christian Church which would own such an one for a Member? If you will +be a Son of the Church of <em>England</em> you must hold Kings and Bishops to be <em> +jure divino</em>, the Apostolical Doctrine of <em>Passive Obedience</em>; you +must not be indifferent to their Ceremonies, though declar'd but indifferent +things; and the Reason is, because you must have a profound Respect for the +Power of the Bishops, by which these Ceremonies were ordain'd: And besides this, +you must shew a perfect Abhorrence of all who do not submit to the Spiritual +Royalties of their Diocesan Bishops; for your Churchmanship will not appear by +any Mark so well, as by the Hatred you bear to all Dissenters, in Conjunction +with a deep aversion to all the ancient Rights and just Liberties of your Native +Country. In fine, (<em>said he</em>) when your Clergy Preach the Law of <em> +Christ</em> without turning it to any By-end, or false Interest, you shall meet +me at Church. You know the Clergy love Precedency of the Laity; Let them turn +Christians first, and I can follow.</p> +<p>6. I have known some, who have alledged as a Reason why they have forsaken +the Christian Faith, the impossibility of Believing. Many Doctrines (<em>say +these</em>) are made necessary to Salvation, which 'tis impossible to believe,<span class="pagenum">[20]</span> +because they are in their nature Absurdities. I replied, That these things were <em> +Mysteries</em>, and so above our Understanding. But he asked me to what end +could an unintelligible Doctrine be revealed? not to instruct, but to puzzle and +amuse. What can be the effect of an unintelligible <em>Mystery</em> upon our +Minds, but only Amusement? That which is only above Reason must be above a +rational Belief, and must I be Saved by an irrational Belief? If a Proposition +be inconsistent with it self, I cannot but believe it to be false: 'Twas once to +serve a Turn against the <em>Papists</em> your Church held all Doctrines +necessary to save Souls, were plainly revealed in Scripture; How could you say +plainly revealed unless you understood the Revelation? Besides, I cannot think +that the belief of any unprofitable Doctrines, <em>i.e.</em> such as admit of no +Application to Moral Duties, can be a saving Faith so much as in part; nor can I +imagine that Faith tends to save a Soul, because what we believe is only <em> +True</em>, (for so the belief of <em>Euclids Elements</em> might have a saving +Effect upon Souls) but because our Belief is <em>Good</em>, it has a practical +Effect, and tends to make us better Men. Besides, you all agree the Belief of +your Trinity is absolutely necessary to Salvation, and yet widely differ in <em> +what</em> we must believe concerning it; whether three Minds or Modes, or +Properties, or internal Relations, or Oeconomies, or Manifestations, or external +Denominations; or else no more than a Holy Three, or Three Somewhats; or +otherwise only one of these Three to be God in the highest Sense, and each of +the other two to be a God without Self-subsistence and Independence. I am +confident, if I should be perswaded that an Explanation of the <em>Trinity</em> +were necessary to save my Soul, and see the Learned so widely differing and +hotly disputing what it is I must believe concerning it, I should certainly run +mad through despair of finding<span class="pagenum">[21]</span> +out the Truth: But since these Doctors cannot agree which Party of 'em shall +captivate my Belief in Obedience to his Faith, I will reserve it to be the +Hand-maid of Truth; whenever she appears she shall command it.</p> +<p>7. I remember one Gentleman objected to the Christian Faith, that it made Men +insolent, quarrelsom and ill-natur'd. From whence I concluded, (as I told him) +that he had never read over the <em>Gospels</em>; truly he could not say that he +had read 'em carefully, but yet that in reading the History of what had passed +in Christendom, he observed that most of the Quarrels in which this part of the +World had been engaged, arose from Contentions among the Christian <em> +Priesthood</em>. Church-History is chiefly a Relation of Church-mens Wrangles, +and D. <em>Cave</em> in a late Book of his had denominated every Century from +some eminent Quarrel which arose among the Clergy. But besides this, what was +the Holy War, what all the holy Massacres and Croisados which filled <em>Europe</em> +with Blood, but the Inventions of Holy Church? And what is holy Inquisition, but +a perpetual Series of Murthers carry'd on in barbarous Forms of Law against the +common Sense of Mankind? Does History account for any Barbarities so great as +those committed by the Popes? Any Cruelties so savage as those of the Holy +Inquisition? Any Murthers so solemn, and religiously brutal as the Acts of +Faith? Any Pragmaticalness so insufferable as that of the Jesuits? is not their +Humanity extinguished by their Christian Religion? such is their Malice that no +Man can eat Bread where they have to do, unless he submit his Faith to their +guidance, witness the present <em>French</em> Persecution. Nor can any Sovereign +Prince keep his Word or Oath, though he had only sworn to maintain those Laws by +which he Reigns as King, any longer than this Spiritual Fatherhood will give him +leave,<span class="pagenum">[22]</span> as <em> +Lewis</em> XIV. of <em>France</em>, and <em>James</em> II. of <em>England</em> +do witness. Let these Inhumanities be considered, as supported and carried on by +the name of Catholick Church, and (if the Devils believe) you may as decently +say Church of <em>Hell</em> as Church of <em>Rome</em>.</p> +<p>And as Devotion, continu'd our <em>Deist</em>, to holy Church is the center +upon which all things turn on the other side the Water, so is it the same thing +here. Do not our Priesthood of <em>England</em> make as high Pretences to +dispose of all Offices and Trusts in the Kingdom, to those of their own Faction, +as those of <em>Rome</em>? Have they not long since got their Bill of Exclusion +to be passed into a Law, whereby no Man can enjoy a Place of Profit or Trust in +the State, but whom they qualify at their Altars? where Men were capacitated to +be Bumbails, keep Gaming-houses and sell Ale. What was it but the Insolence of +the Priesthood that brought about Father <em>Laud</em>'s and Father <em>Peter</em>'s +Revolutions? Besides (said he) do you not observe what a keen Edge Christian +Faith puts upon the ill-nature of Divines, when they are disputing about matters +of Religion? 'Tis common for Philosophers, Lawyers, Physicians, <em>&c.</em> to +differ about matters which concern their Professions, and write one against +another: But you will find some Temper and Decorum observed in their Writings. +But let the Controversy be about any Branch of Christian Faith; and then see the <em> +Odium Theologorum</em>, the Malice of Divines in the late Writings of two of +your Church Doctors against each other; at least this shews that Christian Faith +doth not improve the Temper of such Men who are of mean Birth, and narrow +Education. And I cannot but observe, that your <em>Protestant</em> Malice is +under a worse Management than the <em>Popish</em>; they only thirst for the +Blood of Protestants, but you are for sucking one anothers Blood; as when for +the Service<span class="pagenum">[23]</span> +of King <em>Charles</em> the II. (who was Head of your Church) and his Popish +Brother, the Blood of the best Protestants in <em>England</em>, (and some of +them of your own Church) was to be spilt, the Court Blood-suckers, <em>viz.</em> +Attorney general, and Judges, besides Juries and Evidence, were all of 'em +chosen Men out of your own Church; and the <em>Posse</em> of the Clergy was +raised to hold their Heads to the Block, by Preaching the Doctrine of <em> +Passive Obedience</em>.</p> +<p>But in requital, it must be confessed, that your Clergy require the King to +do their Persecuting Journey-work with the same Insolence as the Popish +Priesthood use; For must not the Sovereign Monarch of <em>England</em>, <em> +Scotland</em>, <em>France</em> and <em>Ireland</em>, by his Authority Royal, +execute the Decrees and Anathema's of the Arch-deacons and Bishops Chancellors, +by Imprisoning his loyal and useful Subjects, for not conforming to their +Ceremonies? If a King will submit to this Drudgery, he shall have the <em>vox +Cleri</em> of his side, and be as great as Noise and fulsom Flattery can make +him; but in the mean time is really King but of one Moiety of his People, whilst +the danger which the other half apprehend from the Secular Arm directed by +Spiritual Power of Necessity, weaneth their Hearts from the Government. Thus <em> +Charles</em> the II. who for two Years after his Return, reigned in the Hearts +of all his People, was by the Act of Uniformity reduced to be King of the +Church-party; and at last, whilst the <em>Popish</em> and <em>Protestant</em> +Priesthood zealously contended whose Property he should be, (like the Truth +among Controversial Divines) he was lost in the Scuffle.</p> +<p>He instanced in likewise the late King <em>James</em>, who (said he) had it +in his power to be universally beloved and obey'd, beyond any King of <em> +England</em> this Age has produced. His Right to the Crown was owned by all; his +Wilfulness had passed upon the Church of <em>England</em><span class="pagenum">[24]</span> +Party for Magnanimous Resolution, which struck such an Awe upon them, that they +were coming to a Temper, and would have consented to a Toleration of Protestant +Dissenters, and <em>Roman</em> Catholicks too, provided their Maintenance might +be continued to them. Thus the Heart of all <em>England</em> had been set upon +the King; but the Popish Priesthood would be content with nothing less than +delivering the whole Nation to Satan, and their King must execute the dreadful +Anathema, though 'twas manifest that he must thereby lessen himself to the size +of one of the 7 Kings of <em>Kent</em>; for he could be Sovereign of no more +than the Two hundredth part of the People. For King <em>Charles</em> in +numbering the People, had found that the Proportion between <em>Papist</em> and <em> +Protestant</em> was as 1 to 200: whereas had his own Priesthood been so +favourable to him, as to have excused him from executing that Satanical Power, +which by a Right purely Divine was vested in Sacred Majesty, his Reign might +have been happy, and his Memory precious. What an unhappy Effect had the Spirit +of Father <em>Laud</em> upon King <em>Charles</em> the First? And what hath +brought <em>Lewis</em> the XIV. to the present Diminution of his Glory, but that +haughty Insolence and unnatural Cruelty in Persecuting his own Subjects, which +Father <em>la Chaise</em> has inspired him with? What Figure will this Grand +Monarch make in Story? His Name will pollute the Annals of this Age, and his +cowardly Conquests be the Scorn of Posterity. Now from all that he had said, he +concluded, that for Luck-sake, as well as to preserve his good Nature, he would +be cautious of being (at least) a zealous Christian.</p> +<p>8. 'Twas not long since I met one of my old Acquaintance, who told me that he +had lately cast off these Prejudices he had conceived against the Christian +Faith, by the Assistance of a Book called, <em>The Five Letters of Inspiration.</em><span class="pagenum">[25]</span> +By the last of those Letters he was convinced of the reality of reveal'd +Religion, from the Intrinsick value and Excellency thereof; and he was fully +confirmed in his Judgment by a late Book called, <em>The Reasonableness of +Christianity, as delivered in the Scripture</em>. Upon this, he had read over +the <em>Old-Testament</em> once, and the <em>New</em> several times, with great +attention of Mind. Indeed he always thought the Moral part of the <em>Bible</em> +very good; but then he also thought, that by the strength of his own Reason, he +could have written as good a Moral himself. But by the last of these Books he +was convinced, that he was indebted to <em>Revelation</em> more than he thought +of, and considering how long the Ceremonial Law had obtain'd among the <em>Jews</em>, +and what a profound respect they paid to the Scribes, Pharisees, and Spiritual +Guides and Rulers; he plainly saw that there was need enough of Miracle to bear +down their Prejudices, to make 'em leave their Ceremonies, and listen to that +excellent Moral which Christ gave 'em; nay, he was convinced that no Miracles +were strong enough to prevail over the Priest, or a Priest-ridden People, to +become Proselytes to the Doctrine of universal Love and Charity; for (said he) +if a Teacher should now be sent from Heaven with this Message, that all the +Protestant Parties in <em>England</em> should be reconciled and live well with +one another, making nothing necessary to their religious Communion, but what +Christ had appointed, and such Circumstances as Time and Place, and what in the +nature of the thing was needful, and if this Teacher's Mission were confirm'd by +Miracle, it would have (as he thought) no better effect upon our several Sects +of Clergy, and those who are bigotted to their Parties, than it had upon the <em> +Pharisees</em> and their Disciples of old.</p> +<p>Having heard him speak so sharply against the Clergy after his old way, I +could not but tell him that I perceived<span class="pagenum">[26]</span> +he was but almost a Christian; for he who loveth the Institution of Christ, +cannot but respect those who are the Ministers thereof; at least, I hoped that +he would pay a respect to the Clergy of the Church of <em>England</em>, which +was the best Reformed Church in the World; and therefore I expected that he was +already a Member of our Church: He reply'd, that he should always be ready to +pay his respect to every good Man of what Order or Degree soever; he should +always be willing to hear a good Minister Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to +him, and exhort him to the sincere Practice of it. That he was ready to +contribute his share to the Maintenance of such Ministers, and to join with that +Church-of-<em>England</em> Congregation near to which he liv'd, in publick +Worship; but yet he could not condemn the Worship of other Congregations, nor +exclude himself from joyning with them as occasion should serve him. So that as +to Church-membership he could be a Member of any Church, which would own him +upon the terms of Faith and Practice, contained in the Book he mentioned, +concerning the Reasonableness of the <em>Christian Religion</em>, &c. But still +he conceiv'd, that Church-Communion in holy Offices was designed only to raise +his Devotion towards God, not towards the Clergy, which made him admire the +unparallell'd Impudence of the <em>Roman</em> Priesthood, who measure the +Religion of all Christians by their Devotion to the See of <em>Rome</em>, i.e. +indeed to themselves; and he doubted whether any Church were sufficiently +Reformed from Popery, which made any Doctrines of Faith necessary to Salvation +that were not declared so in the Gospels, and where the Clergy would always +distinguish between Church and State, and give the Precedency to themselves. But +yet he would join with any Church as far as it promoted the Honour of God, and +separate from it, wherein on pretence of Religion, he saw, that it aimed at a +By-end of its own.<span class="pagenum">[27]</span></p> +<p>Here I urged him again to joyn to our Church, which had no other design but +God's Glory. To this he said, that he should be glad that the Church of <em> +England</em> would own him, though he could not be of their Party: He would +willingly pass as a Church-man for his Credit-sake; for (said he) though a Man +doth ever so firmly believe Jesus Christ to be the Messiah whom God had of old +promised, and in due time sent to give us a perfect Rule of Life, in order to +make us truly religious here, and ever happy hereafter; and though a Man should +shew forth his Faith by an agreeable course of Life, in doing Justice, loving +Mercy, and an humble walking with God; yet if he were not owned as a Member of +some Church, he would by all Churches be accounted, if not an Atheist, yet a +Sceptic, a Man of no settled Principle, but own who has his Religion to choose. +For if you look over the State of Religion as it standeth in Christendom, there +is no Church whatsoever which will accept you as a Member of its Communion, but +upon some particular terms of Belief, or Practice, which Christ never appointed, +and it may be such as an honest and a wise Christian cannot consent to. I am not +more able to give up my Reason to the Church of <em>England</em>, than to give +up my Senses to the Church of <em>Rome</em>; it looks like a Trick in all +Churches to take away the use of Mens Reason, that they may render us Vassals +and Slaves to all their Dictates and Commands. But what greater slavery than to +force on Men a Belief of such things as necessary to Salvation, of which 'tis +not possible to form any Idea? Though I am satisfied there is no such thing as a +change of Bread into the Flesh of Christ, yet I can form an Idea, that such a +thing may be, that the same Power which changed Earth into a Man, may change +Bread into Flesh: But I can frame to my self no Idea of what your Church +Teacheth in the Sacrament,<span class="pagenum">[28]</span> +that the Body and Blood of Christ are <em>verily and indeed taken and received +of the faithful</em>: And when I ask how can this be understood by a Protestant, +who believeth that there is no other Body but that of Bread? I am told that the +Church meaneth it in a Spiritual Sense. Now I have try'd, and find it impossible +for me to form to my self an Idea of a Body verily and indeed in a Spiritual +Sense.</p> +<p>And therefore I must say 'tis an unwise and a hard Thing for any Church to +impose absurd or unintelligible Notions (especially such Speculations, which +tend to make no body the better) as necessary to Salvation; for Wise Men, and +such who will take Courage to examine what they Believe, will not submit to such +an Usurpation; and weak Men are kept all their Life long in Fears and Doubts of +their Eternal State, as being always uncertain whether they firmly believe such +Doctrines, or no.</p> +<p>Besides this (said he) your Church will require me to believe other +Absurdities as bad as these, as that Kings and Bishops have a Divine Right to +that Power, which they exercise over us, whereas with my own Eyes I saw our +Great and Gracious King accept the Crown of <em>England</em>, as the Gift of the +People. And I see as plainly, that Bishops are an Order of Men of their own (not +of Christ's) making. I was told that our Bishops Order was founded in that of +the 12 Apostles, and the Presbyters Order in the 70 Disciples: Upon this I +resolved to see if the 12 and the 70 were different Orders, or no, and read over +the 10th Chap. of <em>Matthew</em>, the 3d and 6th of <em>Mark</em>, and the 9th +of <em>Luke</em>, in which places the Power which Christ gave to the 12 is set +forth, which amounteth to this, <em>viz.</em> a Charge to Preach the Gospel, a +Power to work Miracles in casting out Devils, healing the Sick, <em>&c.</em> And +I also read in the 10th Chapter of <em>Luke</em>, that<span class="pagenum">[29]</span> +the 70 were sent forth for the same Reason, and with the same express Power as +were the 12, <em>viz.</em> To preach the Gospel, heal the Sick, and cast out +Devils, <em>vers.</em> 2.9.17. And he telleth the 70 at the 16th Verse, <em>That +he who heareth them, heareth him; and he who despiseth them, despiseth him</em>, +as he had said to the 12, in <em>Matthew</em> 10.40. Indeed they were only added +to the number of the 12, <em>Because</em> (as 'tis said there) <em>the Harvest +was great, and the Labourers few</em>, i.e. because Multitudes followed Christ, +and were disposed to become Christians, therefore he encreased the number of his +Apostles, or Teaching Disciples. I can find no Footsteps of any Jurisdiction +given to the 12 over the 70, or indeed over any body else; and in the 18th +Chapter of <em>Matthew</em>, where Christ speaketh of binding and loosing, 'tis +manifest from the first Verse, that his discourse was made to his Disciples. So +in the 20th of <em>John</em>, the Holy-Ghost and Power of remitting and +retaining Sins, was given to the Disciples which met together after Christ's +death, <em>vers.</em> 19. in which meeting, there might be some of the 70 as +well as some of the 12: 'Tis certain the 70 received the Holy-Ghost, and if +Baptism be a Key of Admission into the Church, they had it: If binding or +loosing be declaring wherein we are bound in duty, and wherein we may use our +liberty; if remitting and retaining Sins be declaring what Iniquity God will +forgive, and what he will not; the 70 shared this Power with the 12. As for +delivering up to Satan, and inflicting Diseases; since 'twas a miraculous Power, +which we read not that Christ appropriated to the 12, we have no reason to think +'twas detained from the 70. If then Christ appointed but one Order, <em>viz.</em> +that of Teachers, the Order of Rulers dignified themselves above, and +distinguished themselves from their Brethren, yet I am willing to submit to +those Powers, which the Laws of<span class="pagenum">[30]</span> <em> +England</em> have given to the Bishops, though what they claim by Divine Right, +I esteem as an Usurpation.</p> +<p>Moreover (says he) although I am become a Christian, I have not ceased to be +an <em>English-man</em>, and for that reason cannot be in party with the +Bishops, who by their false-prerogative Doctrines, and other shameful +Assistances, so lately betray'd the Charters and Liberties, Rights and +Privileges of their Country, were setting up an absolute irresistible Power in +K. <em>Charles</em> II. which being demised to K. <em>James</em>, endangered not +only the Liberty and Property, but Body and Soul of the Nation. Nor can I so +soon forget how their long debates, about admitting the <em>P.</em> of <em> +Orange</em>, our Good and Great King, to the Sovereignty, was the occasion of +spilling so much Protestant Blood in <em>Ireland</em>; nor the late Protestation +of some of the chief of their Party against his Majesties Right to the Crown; +nor how careful they have been since, that (as it now falls out) he should have +no pretence to any rightful Title. If any Clergy-man was so honest as to Preach +up his Right, as justly grounded on the Consent of the People, (as Mr. <em> +Johnson</em> for instance) he must lie under pain of the Church's highest +displeasure, though otherwise ever so Orthodox and Conformable; so that since +the beloved Title of Conquest is burnt by the Parliament, and the Matrimonial +Title is (to the great grief of all good Men) dead and buried with the Queen; it +remaineth according to Holy Church, that he hath no Title at all, but only bare +Possession; and this they mean when they call him <em>de facto</em>.</p> +<p>But I cannot find that they will allow him to be King of the Clergy so much +as <em>de facto</em>. Alas! his Livings, whereby alone he is capable to oblige +them to call to mind their now forgotten Loyalty, which of late years they +preached up, as the summ of the Law and the Prophets;<span class="pagenum">[31]</span> +Alas! these good Things are taken out of his hands by the Conquering Bishops, +that the Clergy may have a separate Interest from the State on this side the +Water, and be led to pay an intire Allegiance to the holy Order. When <em>Hen.</em> +VIII. came to know that his Bishops swore Allegiance to the <em>Pope</em>, he +began to think of some ways and means how to make himself King of his Clergy, +which he saw could not be done but by casting out the <em>Pope</em>'s Power; and +hence sprung that King's Reformation of his Politicks, rather than Religion. And +if our good King were sensible of the Reasons why an <em>English</em> Papacy is +settled in a Committee of Six, <em>viz.</em> to fix the Obedience of the Clergy +on themselves exclusively, (for no Man can serve two Masters) I doubt not but he +would think fit to demand what is so much wanted, <em>viz.</em> the Allegiance +of the Clergy to their King; if he dissolves this Committee he may ask and have, +for where their Treasure is, there their Hearts will be also. For these Reasons +(said he) I shall be cautious how I enter into Church-membership, since I +plainly see that every Party of Christians embodied, organized, clergy'd and +modelled into a National Church, casteth an awe upon the Sovereign Power, and +suffereth it not to provide equally for the Common Good of the Subject; but will +appropriate the <em>salus publica</em>, and influence the Government to serve +its own particular, its own private Ends.</p> +<p>Thus, Sir, I have given you an account of those Prejudices, which have +brought forth <em>Deism</em>. But yet these very Prejudices without a strong +assistance of Passion, could never have wrought upon Men to cast off Revelation; +for you see the same Prejudices remain in the <em>Deist</em> turn'd Christian. +Whosoever therefore, upon the fore-mentioned Reasons turneth <em>Deist</em>, +cannot be excused, tho' I could heartily wish all these Pretences could be taken +away from<span class="pagenum">[32]</span> 'em. +I am far from begrudging the Bishops and Clergy that small Maintenance, which by +Law is settled upon them; and, I hope, they have no other aim in discharging +their Offices, but to save our Souls, by imprinting on our Hearts the Reason, +the Excellency and Advantages of the Law of Christ. I hope also, that they +comport themselves to the Common Interest of their Native Country, and of the +Protestant Religion throughout the World. Truly I could wish that Notional +Divinity were laid aside for Practical; and that unintelligible Mysteries were +not insisted on, as matters of necessary Belief. He, who lately wrote his +Thoughts of the Causes and Occasions of Atheism, might have consider'd, that he, +who cloggeth the Notion of God with Absurdities, mis-leadeth Men beyond <em> +Deism</em>. I pray God give me his Grace, by which I may sincerely conform my +self to the Law of Christ, and I will never concern my self with the Speculative +Drs. in Divinity. And I heartily join with our Church in that Petition, <em>Give +grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by +their Life and Doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and +duly Administer thy holy Sacraments</em>. By this they would bring Souls to +Heaven, gain the Love of all good People, secure their own Temporal Interests, +stop the Mouths of their Adversaries, and compel the Deists to become +Christians.</p> +<p style="text-align: right"> +<span style="margin-right: 8em;"><em>I am, Sir,</em></span><br /> +<em>Your Affectionate</em>, &c.</p> + +<p><br /></p> +<p class="c3"><em>FINIS.</em></p> +<hr class="c7" /> +<p>If your Curiosity should lead you to be an Ear-witness of such Discourses I +have here Written to you, when I come to Town, which will be as soon as the +Parliament Sits, I will endeavour to give you that Satisfaction.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM IN ENGLAND***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 37302-h.txt or 37302-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/7/3/0/37302">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/3/0/37302</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: An Account of the Growth of Deism in England + + +Author: William Stephens + + + +Release Date: September 3, 2011 [eBook #37302] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM +IN ENGLAND*** + + +E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +AN +ACCOUNT +OF THE +GROWTH +OF +DEISM +IN +ENGLAND. + + +_LONDON_: +Printed for the Author, MDCXCVI. + + + + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM. + + +_SIR_, + +'Tis now three Years since you and I had a serious Discourse concerning +the rise and progress of _Deism_: which is an Opinion of late Years +crept into _England_, tho not so widely spread here as in other parts of +_Europe_. I well remember we were both agreed, that there was no shadow +of Reason why any one should suspect the _Gospels_ of Forgery, since the +matter contain'd in them hath not the least favour of any worldly +Interest, or indirect Design, but all the Lines of them do only center +in the highest Improvement Humane Nature is capable of. So that in +conformity every Man may take great comfort in himself, and all Mankind +live well with one another. Besides, the Preachers of this excellent +Doctrine had at first all the Discouragements which an irreligious and +idolatrous Age could give them, (as is confessed by their Enemies) +insomuch that nothing but their own personal full Conviction of the +Truths they professed could engage them to Preach 'em; and the +intrinsick Goodness of the Law of _Christ_, was sufficient to gain mens +hearts, after _Miracles_ had born down their Prejudices, and gain'd +their serious Attention. In fine, you and I could see no reason to doubt +of the Truth of any matter of Fact contain'd in the _Gospels_, which +relate the miraculous Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of +_Jesus Christ_; but what would oblige us to deny the truth of all +History whatsoever. And from these Considerations laid together, we +concluded that the Doctrine of our Lord _Jesus Christ_ was undoubtedly +sent to us by God. + +This still made it appear more strange to us both, how _DEISM_ (which is +a denial of all reveal'd Religion) should creep in upon us where the +_Scriptures_ are made so publick, and where so many Learned Treaties are +written, which so strongly assert their Authority to be Divine. I +confess, I was as desirous to know upon what Grounds Men rejected the +_Gospel_, as you your self were, and therefore I willingly undertook the +Task you laid on me, _viz._ To collect and put together those Motives +whereby some had been induced to lay aside all _Revelation_. For which +Performance I was the fitter, because it doth not require any Learning +and strength of Wit, but only Observation, and Inquiry, which I might +easily make, because of the numerous Acquaintance I have contracted in +Town, where (you know) I spend the Winter, and in the Country, where I +bestow my Summer Visits. But all I shall do in this matter, is barely to +give you a Relation of those Prejudices, and (as I think) false +Reasonings, which have drawn some of my Acquaintance from _Revelation_ +to _DEISM_. + +1. Now, first I have observed, that some who pretend themselves +_Deists_, are Men of loose and sensual Lives; and I make no wonder that +they dislike the _Christian_ Doctrine of Self-denial, and the severe +threatnings against wilful Sinners. You may be sure they will not +alledge this Reason: But having read _Spinosa_ and _Hobbes_, and been +taught to laugh at the story of _Baalam_'s Ass, and _Sampson_'s Locks; +they proceed to ridicule the reality of all _Miracle_ and _Revelation_. +I have conversed with several of this Temper, but could never get any of +'em serious enough to debate the reality of _Revelation_: But a witty +Jest and t'other Glass puts an end to all further Consideration. These +are meer _Sceptics_, and practical _Atheists_, rather than real +_Deists_. + +2. But there are others, who, although they have not a due regard to +_Revelation_, are Men of Sobriety and Probity, who with great freedom +have let me into their Thoughts, whereby I can very clearly and fully +(as I think at least) discern the rise and progress of this their +Opinion, which is this; + +1. In the time of King _Charles_ the First, (which confineth my longest +acquaintance with Men) 'twas usual for Gentlemen to send their Sons +abroad into _Italy_, _Spain_, _France_, _Germany_, _&c._ to accomplish +themselves by Travel. But lest they should be prevail'd upon to change +their _Religion_, care was taken that their Tutor or Governour, who +travelled with 'em, should shew them the Idolatry and Superstition of +the _Roman Religion_; and also let 'em in to see that _Popery_ in all +its Branches was only a device of the _Priesthood_, to carry on a +particular Interest of their own; to encrease their Wealth, Honours, +and Power over the Lay-people; to exalt the Head of their Order above +all the Crowned Heads in the World, and equal one whole Order of their +Clergy, _viz._ the Cardinals, to the Princes of _Christendom_. Nay, +since all People were obliged to make their Confessions to, and receive +their Absolution from the _Priest_, the meanest of which Order could +create a God for the People's Worship; 'tis plain, that their Religion +was calculated for the Profit, Power and Honour of the whole Order of +the _Priesthood_ in this World, whatsoever advantages they might find by +it in the other. Now the Young Gentleman being throughly convinced of +this Holy Cheat, returneth to Old _England_; where he meets with very +zealous Contests about Religion (as was pretended) between the _Church_ +of _England_, headed by Arch-Bishop _Laud_ on the one part, and the +_Presbyterian Kirk_ on the other; and having carefully read the Debate +(as it appeared in the Prints) on both sides, with those very Eyes which +he had so lately cleared up in _Italy_ or _France_, he could not forbear +to see that both these _Protestant_ Parties, under the pretence of +Religion, were only grasping at _Power_, and that the Controversy at +bottom, was not who's Religion was best, but only what Sect of the +_Clergy_ should make the best Market of the _meer Lay-men_. And as this +Young Gentleman had before resolved with himself not to become a +Property to the _Popish Priesthood_, no longer now will he be such to +the _Protestant Clergy_ of any Denomination, since both pursue the same +Ends. He perceiveth that our _Protestant High-Priests_ do all of them +rival the Sovereign Power; the _Bishop_'s House like that of the _King_, +must be called his _Palace_, he must still keep up his claim to the +_Miter_ and _Crosier_, to vie with the _Crown_ and _Scepter_; and as +the Stile of the King's Courts is _Anno Regni nostri_, i.e. In the Year +of our Reign: So that of the Bishop's Court is _Anno Consecrationis +nostrae_, i.e. In the Year of our Consecration; the Year of the King's +Reign being unknown in the Bishop's Court: The King speaking to the +People doth usually call 'em his Loving Subjects; the _Bishop_ doth not +make himself so familiar, but stileth the People of his _Diocese_ barely +his Subjects, _Jurisdictioni nostrae subditos_: The King is _Inthroned_, +and the Arch-Bishop _Inthronized_; both derive their Power from a +_Divine Right_; but the Bishop is the higher Power, because by the +Principles of Episcopacy he can Excommunicate the King, _i.e._ forbid +him the very Conversation of his Subjects, and thereby render them +uncapable to make good their Oath of Allegiance, in yielding their Aid +and Assistance. + +Nor do's he find that the _Presbytery_ claims any inferior Powers; each +Party alledge _Scriptures_ and _Fathers_ on their side; and for ought I +can see, (says this Gentleman) they are all in the right. Through an +excess of Prejudice thus occasion'd, he makes a further step towards +_Deism_, and Reasons after this manner: 'Tis not impossible (continues +he) that the ancient _Clergy_ might be possess'd with the same Spirit of +Pride, which has prevail'd over the modern. If those Writings, which +they call _Holy Scriptures_ are of their side, as they all say they are, +I make no doubt but they were of their own inventing; and if _Jesus +Christ_ their Patron, laid the Foundation of those Powers, which both +_Popish_ and _Protestant Clergy_ claim to themselves from under him, I +think the old _Romans_ did him right in punishing him with the death of +a Slave. After this manner I have heard it said of late, by another of +the same Constitution, that as the Church of _Rome_ was a modelled +Faction against all other Christians, so was the Church of _England_, by +Law Established, against all other Protestants, who were by Law excluded +from every Office of Profit and Trust; who were made subject to the +Piques and Malice of every Church-man, and became a constant Revenue to +Apparitors and Spiritual Catch-poles. And though at present there be a +_Toleration_ by Law granted, yet 'tis full opposed by the Spirit of the +Church, as appears by Sermons preached at Visitations, and the constant +ordinary Discourses of the _Clergy_, in which the Church of _England_ is +always represented, as at this time, in greater danger than ever it was; +though I should think the danger had been as great in King _James_'s +Time: And notwithstanding the Toleration (said he) no Man can enjoy a +place of Profit or Trust, though he be ever so dutiful a Subject, and +ever so able or honest a Man, unless he hath a Conscience by Law +Established: By which Church-device Men are deprived of the Privileges +of their Country to which they are born, and for the discharge whereof +they never did in any respect incapacitate themselves; and hereby it +comes to pass, that the Nation cannot act vigorously in its own defence, +being debarr'd the Use of one Moiety of it self; and notwithstanding +this, they have the Confidence to tell us Lay-men, that we ought to love +our Neighbours as our selves. Now if this be the way of the +_Christians_, (concluded he) let my Soul be with the _Philosophers_. + +2. And this brings to my Thoughts what another _Deist_ said jestingly to +me, _viz._ That since I was a Christian, 'twas lucky for me that I was +of the Bishop's Church; for though you were ever so Loyal (said he) to +the King, yet if you did not pay as dutiful an Allegiance to the +Bishops, you could not hold the Place you now enjoy; for as certain as +the _Cross_ is above the _Crown_, so sure a thing is it, that the +_Bishop_ will be above the _King_; which he undertook would appear to me +if I looked back to King _Charles_'s Restoration, or King _William_'s +Revolution. The _Presbyterians_, though they quarrelled with _Charles_ +the First, yet became the loving Subjects of _Charles_ the Second; +joined with the _Episcopalians_ in assisting him to the Throne, and made +no scruple of Swearing their Allegiance to him, and owning his +Supremacy. But after all this, the King was not able to support these +his Loving Subjects against the Power of the Bishops, who in two Years +time outed 'em of their Livelihoods, and after that, drove 'em five +Miles distance from all Market-Towns; and at last the Acts made against +_Papists_ were extended to them. But since King _William_'s Revolution +the Case is alter'd; for the _Jacobite Clergy_, though turn'd out of +their Livings by Law, for refusing Allegiance to the King, yet from the +Allegiance they bare to the Bishops, they find such Favour from their +Lordships, that if the Livings they lose are in the Bishops gift, he +shall present any Friend which the dispossessed _Jacobite_ shall +recommend; now what can be more by them desired, than to enjoy the +Profits of their Livings, and put in what Curate they please? And after +all, that they may enjoy the full Profits of their Livings, and pay +their Curates another way, these _Jacobites_ may hold their Conventicles +where they please, nay, Preach publickly and seditiously in an open +Church near _Cheap-side, London_, without the least offence to the +Spiritual Power. And is it not plain (said this Gentleman) from all +this, that on this side the Water as well as on the other, the Clergies +Zeal for their Communion, Church and Religion, is only meant to support +their own Party, Dominion and Empire? + +3. Now the oldest _Deists_ of my Acquaintance having conceiv'd so great +a Prejudice against the Christian Faith, from the Behaviour of the +Clergy, and having levened their Disciples therewith, it has fal'n out +unhappily, that the late Revolution has by another way also confirmed +them in this their Prejudice. + +For the late happy Revolution, (which came on too soon, and was cut off +too short) though it was not so highly beneficial to us, as was by some +expected, was yet of very great Importance. But as there is nothing in +this World ever so good, but what hath some appending disadvantage; so +by meer Accident this Revolution, which has saved not only the Church of +_England_, but (as I hope) the whole Protestant Interest throughout the +World, has wonderfully encreased Mens Prejudices against the _Clergy_, +and so by false Consequence (such as Men through Resentment will make) +against the Truth of Religion it self. The old _Deists_ tell those of +their Pupils, who never travelled abroad, that there is now no need of +going over the Water to discover that the name _Church_ signifieth only +a _Self-interested Party_, and that the _Clergy_ have no Godliness but +Gain. Have you not (say they) for many Years together heard them Preach +up the _Divine Right_, and indefeizable Authority of Kings, together +with _Passive Obedience_, as the chief distinguishing Doctrines whereby +their Church approved it self _Apostolick_ beyond all other Churches? +Nay, were not the Doctrines of _Loyalty to the King_, insisted upon +more than _Faith in Christ_? and yet when their particular Interest +required it, their Doctrine of _Non-Resistance_ was qualify'd by +_Non-Assistance_, the whole Stream of Loyalty was turn'd from the King +to the Church, the indefeizable Right was superseded by a miraculous +Conquest without Blood, the Oath of Allegiance to the _Divinely Rightful +King James_ has its force allay'd by another Oath of the same Importance +made to the _de facto_ King _William_ and Queen _Mary_, and all this is +Sanctify'd by the name of the Church, _i.e._ their own Party and +Interest, for the sake whereof it is done. This is indeed keeping to the +Text--_Rem rem quocunque modo rem_. + + * * * * * + +And the wretched Defence they make for this their Apostacy (say the +_Deists_) maketh the matter worse. For notwithstanding King _James_ is, +as they will have it, Conquer'd; and his Throne, which was declared +vacant, is legally filled by one who by Act of Parliament is declared +our Rightful King; yet after all this Dr. S---- will reserve a Right to +King _James_, though through Success and Settlement he will allow a +Right also to King _William_. And this Notion the Clergy generally +adhere to, because thereby they kill two or three Birds with one stone. +1_st._ They preserve to themselves their ancient Right of giving Titles +to Sovereignty. For though both King and Parliament have disclaimed and +damned the Conquest, yet the Clergy still insist upon it. 2_ly._ They +make fair Weather with King _James_, by keeping his Title alive, and by +still asserting his Right, open him a Door to recover his Possession +again. For what honest Christian can oppose a Rightful King in regaining +the Possession of his Throne, which is kept from him by a Successful +Usurper? and 3_ly._ They think they have obliged King _William_ +sufficiently by the formality of an Oath, and owning him in his +Possession. Put all this together and 'twill prove, that + + _When all the Argument is out, + 'Tis Interest still resolves the doubt._ + +Thus (cry they) you plainly see, that your Church is nothing but a +Party, to which whosoever joineth, himself shall find his Account +thereby, notwithstanding any Error, Heresy, Immorality or Disloyalty to +the present Government whatsoever; whilst any other who is conformable +to the _Rubricks_ and _Canons_, whose Learning and Morals are an Honour +to his Gown, and who is truly dutiful to his Majesty, shall be excluded +from all those benefits his Profession would entitle him to. Thus the +bold Asserters of King _James_'s Right enjoy some of the best +Preferments, and particularly Dr. S---- sits D---- of St. P---- whilst +honest Mr. _Johnson_ is starving upon Charity. + +The Church of _England_ is a meer Party, (say they again) and has a +Watch-word whereby they know one another, which they can vary upon +occasion. _Non-Resistance_ was the Word in King _Charles_'s days. For +though at that time you did conform to every tittle and ceremony, +injoin'd by Rubrick and Canon, yet if you failed in the Point of +_Non-Resistance_, you were a _Phanatick_ and _Republican_, a _Rebel_, +and what not? Now if this Doctrine be contain'd in the Book of Homilies, +as the _Jacobites_ say, 'tis a Sacred Record of the Unjustice of some of +those who concurred in the late Revolution. The _Shiboleth_ of the +Church now is King _William's de facto Title_; And no Conformity to +Homilies and Rubricks will make you owned by the present Church, if you +should acknowledge the King to be otherwise said than a meer _de +facto_. Now (say they) although we grant that Men will submit to the +Government, upon their own particular Principles, and therefore 'tis +reasonable that the King should admit the Obedience of his Subjects upon +what Grounds they please, yet we know no Reason why the Church should +set up the _de facto_, as the only Principle of Obedience: And when the +King had better Titles to his Crown, as the Consent of the People in +Parliament, and his Matrimonial Title with the Queen, yet he must be +made to pay the greatest price for the weakest and worst of all Titles; +and give Dr. _S----_ Sixteen Hundred Pounds a Year, for a _Defactoship_ +only. + +You see, Sir, that the _Deists_ want not Occasions for their Prejudices, +how far soever they are from having Reason o' their side. And pray +resolve me, why must this false Title be set up as 'twere by the King's +Consent, to worm out the only true one? Why must none be preferr'd to +Church-Dignities, but such who come in upon this Title only? And those +who own the King's Right upon the Consent of the People, be still +labouring under the Church's highest displeasure? and poor _Johnson_, a +Man against whom no Immorality was ever objected, that is an Object even +of the _Deists_ Compassion, be left to starve for the Cause? Nay, they +have gone so far upon the Strength of Dr. _S----_ Convocation-Title, in +Opposition to that of Parliament, that since the good Queen is dead, and +the Consent of the People, according to them, null and void; they have +left the King a bare Possession, without any Title at all. + +4. I am acquainted with a Gentleman, who for some Years has not gone to +Church, having taken offence at those Practices I was now writing upon. +This Man, you must know, had an extraordinary Veneration for the +profound Learning (so he thinks much reading and common-placing to be) +of a certain Eminent Divine, who had a fat Bishoprick bestow'd on him by +King _William_ and Queen _Mary_. But he to requite their Kindness, when +a Bill was brought before the Lords, declaring the King and Queen's +rightful and lawful Title to the Crown, not only opposed and voted +against it in the House; but when it had passed, he entred his +Protestation against it in the Journal. Nay (said this Gentleman) if +King _William_ be only King _de facto_, then the Bishop is _de facto_ +only. Truly Sir, you may believe me, that I was amaz'd at this Relation; +for (as I then said) though most Men look no further, than only to get +Mony _de facto_, and do not with much strictness inquire _quo jure_; +yet 'twas strange that any Man should protest that he had no right to +that Estate, which he openly continued in Possession of. But I was +soon answer'd by this his former Admirer, that if that Bishop had +strengthened his own Title to the Bishoprick from King _J._ I might +cease my wonder. + +I am indeed sorry to hear Stories of this Nature, especially when they +assure me of the Truth of 'em, and when I see the ill Consequences of +them. For though nothing be more certain than that the Baseness and +Falshood of Man can never disprove the Truth of God; yet when Men are +highly Scandaliz'd, and greatly deceived by those for whom they had +Esteem, and by whose Authority they in great measure governed +themselves, they will stretch their Conclusion beyond their Premisses, +and disown Religion in their Principle, because 'tis disregarded by some +great Men in their Practice. + +But though to strict Reasons, such Arguments for _Deism_ appear +ridiculous; yet from the Promotion of these _de facto_ Men, I am told, +hath arisen great disadvantage to the King, and those Subjects, whose +Principles and Practices have been always faithful to his Majesties +Interest: Since hereby it is, that it hath always been in the power of +the open and professed Enemies of the King to oppress his most dutiful +Subjects. For these _de facto_-men, and the _Jacobites_, were but lately +the same sort of People, both of the same Principle and Temper. And +though the _Jacobites_ do now rail at them, for their base Complyances +(as they term it) with the _P._ of _O_'s Revolution; yet the _de factos_ +are unwilling, for old Acquaintance sake, to pass by their Railing, and +underhand to shew 'em any kindness: And this they submit to, as being +Self-conscious, that the _Jacobites_ have a Right to reproach them; so +that they are willing to appease the anger of their old Friends by their +best Services. Now the _Jacobites_ having always an innate Hatred to the +_Whigs_, (as they now stile all those who think themselves obliged to +own the King for their rightful Sovereign) and being willing to keep up +their old Master's Right to the Crown, (to which the _Whigs_ are +irreconcileable Enemies) easily prevail upon these _de factos_ to +oppress those other sort of Men, which is an Office they are as willing +to undertake, as the _Jacobites_ can be to put it upon 'em. Thus it +cometh to pass, that according as an open professed Enemy to the +Government shall dictate, a Church-man shall strenuously exert that +Power the King has given him, to discourage and oppress his Dutiful and +Loyal Subjects. I will only (said a certain Person) make a Supposition, +to shew you how this may be; suppose the King should bestow a Bishoprick +upon a _de facto_ Doctor, and this Doctor should there find his old +Acquaintance Dr. _H._ and being a Stranger in his Diocese, should be +willing to instruct himself in the Characters of Men from the good D., +would it not fall out so, that the Clergy of that Diocese must be used +well or ill, as the most open and notorious Enemy the Government hath, +shall design? And was it not possible that the E. of _N._ might oblige +his old Friends in the same manner? Thus, though King _James_ be at last +excluded, his Subjects reign in his stead. And whether an _Oath_ of +_Abjuration_ laid upon the _Jacobites_ Proxy-men, will put an end to +this Corruption, Time must tell us. + +5. But to return to the Reasons, (or Prejudices I may rather call 'em) +which occasion _Deism_; It hath been observed to me, that where the +Notion of a Church hath been carried on with the highest Tide, there +even natural Religion is at the lowest Ebb; as in _Italy_ of old, and +lately in _France_, where gross Immoralities and Atheism are at the +greatest height. And though in our Reformation we discarded some +Idolatrous and Superstitious Doctrines and Practices, which were grown +scandalous among the People, yet still _Christ_ was made to serve that +turn, which his Holy Vicar can no longer do, _viz._ Support an Holy +Order of Men in as haughty Insolences, in as proud, ambitious and +malicious Designs, as those which King _Henry_ (though a Son of the +Church) and his Times could not bear. Now in answer to this, I bid these +_Deists_ only read the _Bible_, and see if the Spirit of that Book be +not as good as their Thoughts can reach to; or let 'em read the +Character of the Christian Religion, given by Sir _Matthew Hale_ in the +first of his Three Letters concerning Religion, where he saith, _It +teacheth and tutors the Soul to a high Reverence and Veneration of +Almighty God, a sincere and upright Walking, as in the Presence of the +invisible all-seeing God. It makes a Man truly love to Honour, to Obey +him, and therefore careful to know what his Will is: It renders the +Heart highly thankful to him, both as his Creator, Redeemer and +Benefactor: It makes a Man entirely to depend upon, to seek to him for +Guidance and Direction, and Protection, to submit to his Will with all +Patience, and Resignation of Soul: It gives the Law not only to his +Words and Actions, but to his very Thoughts and Purposes: It bringeth +Man to such a Deportment both of External and Internal Sobriety, as may +be decent in the Presence of God and his holy Angels: It crusheth and +casts down all Pride and Haughtiness, both in a Man's Heart and +Carriage, and gives him an humble frame of Soul and Life, both in the +sight of God and Men: It regulates and governs the Passions of the Mind, +and brings them into due moderation and frame: It gives a Man a right +estimate of this present World; and sets the Heart and Hopes above it, +so that he never loves it more than it deserves. It makes the Wealth and +Glory of this World, high Places and great Preferments, but of a low and +little value to him, so that he is neither covetous nor ambitious, nor +over-sollicitous concerning the advantages of it: It brings a Man to +that frame, that Righteousness, Justice, Honesty and Fidelity, is as +'twere part of his Nature; he can sooner dye than commit or purpose that +which is unjust, dishonest or unworthy a good Man: It makes him value +the love of God and Peace of Conscience above all the Wealth and Honours +in the World, and be very vigilant to keep it inviolably: Though he be +under a due Apprehension of the Love of God, yet it keeps him humble and +watchful, and free from all Presumption; so that he dares not under a +vain Confidence of the Indulgence of God, commit or purpose the least +injury to man: He performs all his Duties to God in Sincerity, Integrity +and Constancy; and while he lives on Earth, his Conversation, his Hopes, +his Treasure, and the Flower of his Expectation is in Heaven; and he +entirely endeavours to walk suitably to such a Hope. In Sum, it restores +the Image of God unto the Soul in Righteousness and true Holiness._ + +I prevail'd upon one of my Friends, a _Deist_, to read those three +Letters, because therein the Substance of the Christian Religion is +distinguish'd from the Circumstantials and Appendages; for want of which +distinction being well understood, _Deism_ has arose, as that great Man +in the fore-cited Letter hath observed. _When Men_ (says he) _see so +much Religion placed by Professors of Christianity in these things which +every intelligent Man values but as Forms, or Inventions, or Modes, or +Artifices, and yet as great weight laid upon them, as great fervour and +animosity us'd for or against them, as almost for any Points of +Christian Religion; They are apt presently to censure and throw off all +Religion, and reckon all of the same make._ Thus that Upright Judge, +whose three Letters my Friend having read, did well approve of 'em, +acknowledging, that with great Exactness he had distinguished between +Religion and Priest-craft: And he added, If you will shew me, Sir, any +Christian Church where that distinction is observed, I will become a +Member of it. I recommended the Church of _England_; he presently told +me that he had read the 39 Articles, and observed that 3 of them were +wholly design'd to uphold the Power of the Clergy over the People. And +then he had me only compare the _Design_, which has been, and still is, +carrying on under the Name of the Church of _England_, with the Design +of the Christian Religion, as 'tis described by Sir _Matthew Hale_; and +I should find the one in all its parts a Contradiction to the other. +'Tis plain (_said he_) the Clergy do not allow of Sir _Matthew_'s +Notions, nor will they suffer us to take any thing for Religion, that is +distinguished from their particular Interest. To what end have so many +Persecutions and Penal Laws been set a foot by the Clergy in +Christendom? was it to bring Men to any one Point of that full +Description of Christian Religion, which you cited from Sir _Matthew +Hale_? or only to bring them to that short Article of their Clergy +Religion, _i.e._ to submit to their Power? Did not the Honourable Sir +_R. H._ lately write a Treatise, wherein with great Learning and +accurate Judgment he distinguished betwixt Religion and Priest-craft? +and was he not treated for it with a true Priestly Insolence and Malice +in the Pulpit at _White-hall_, by _A._ one of their Majesties Chaplains, +and represented as a Scorner and an Atheist, because he scorns to submit +to any Religion but what is of Christ's Institution? Suppose a Man +should govern himself by the Law of _Christ_, and go no further, is +there any Christian Church which would own such an one for a Member? If +you will be a Son of the Church of _England_ you must hold Kings and +Bishops to be _jure divino_, the Apostolical Doctrine of _Passive +Obedience_; you must not be indifferent to their Ceremonies, though +declar'd but indifferent things; and the Reason is, because you must +have a profound Respect for the Power of the Bishops, by which these +Ceremonies were ordain'd: And besides this, you must shew a perfect +Abhorrence of all who do not submit to the Spiritual Royalties of their +Diocesan Bishops; for your Churchmanship will not appear by any Mark so +well, as by the Hatred you bear to all Dissenters, in Conjunction with a +deep aversion to all the ancient Rights and just Liberties of your +Native Country. In fine, (_said he_) when your Clergy Preach the Law of +_Christ_ without turning it to any By-end, or false Interest, you shall +meet me at Church. You know the Clergy love Precedency of the Laity; Let +them turn Christians first, and I can follow. + +6. I have known some, who have alledged as a Reason why they have +forsaken the Christian Faith, the impossibility of Believing. Many +Doctrines (_say these_) are made necessary to Salvation, which 'tis +impossible to believe, because they are in their nature Absurdities. I +replied, That these things were _Mysteries_, and so above our +Understanding. But he asked me to what end could an unintelligible +Doctrine be revealed? not to instruct, but to puzzle and amuse. What can +be the effect of an unintelligible _Mystery_ upon our Minds, but only +Amusement? That which is only above Reason must be above a rational +Belief, and must I be Saved by an irrational Belief? If a Proposition be +inconsistent with it self, I cannot but believe it to be false: 'Twas +once to serve a Turn against the _Papists_ your Church held all +Doctrines necessary to save Souls, were plainly revealed in Scripture; +How could you say plainly revealed unless you understood the Revelation? +Besides, I cannot think that the belief of any unprofitable Doctrines, +_i.e._ such as admit of no Application to Moral Duties, can be a saving +Faith so much as in part; nor can I imagine that Faith tends to save a +Soul, because what we believe is only _True_, (for so the belief of +_Euclids Elements_ might have a saving Effect upon Souls) but because +our Belief is _Good_, it has a practical Effect, and tends to make us +better Men. Besides, you all agree the Belief of your Trinity is +absolutely necessary to Salvation, and yet widely differ in _what_ we +must believe concerning it; whether three Minds or Modes, or Properties, +or internal Relations, or Oeconomies, or Manifestations, or external +Denominations; or else no more than a Holy Three, or Three Somewhats; or +otherwise only one of these Three to be God in the highest Sense, and +each of the other two to be a God without Self-subsistence and +Independence. I am confident, if I should be perswaded that an +Explanation of the _Trinity_ were necessary to save my Soul, and see the +Learned so widely differing and hotly disputing what it is I must +believe concerning it, I should certainly run mad through despair of +finding out the Truth: But since these Doctors cannot agree which Party +of 'em shall captivate my Belief in Obedience to his Faith, I will +reserve it to be the Hand-maid of Truth; whenever she appears she shall +command it. + +7. I remember one Gentleman objected to the Christian Faith, that it +made Men insolent, quarrelsom and ill-natur'd. From whence I concluded, +(as I told him) that he had never read over the _Gospels_; truly he +could not say that he had read 'em carefully, but yet that in reading +the History of what had passed in Christendom, he observed that most of +the Quarrels in which this part of the World had been engaged, arose +from Contentions among the Christian _Priesthood_. Church-History is +chiefly a Relation of Church-mens Wrangles, and D. _Cave_ in a late Book +of his had denominated every Century from some eminent Quarrel which +arose among the Clergy. But besides this, what was the Holy War, what +all the holy Massacres and Croisados which filled _Europe_ with Blood, +but the Inventions of Holy Church? And what is holy Inquisition, but a +perpetual Series of Murthers carry'd on in barbarous Forms of Law +against the common Sense of Mankind? Does History account for any +Barbarities so great as those committed by the Popes? Any Cruelties so +savage as those of the Holy Inquisition? Any Murthers so solemn, and +religiously brutal as the Acts of Faith? Any Pragmaticalness so +insufferable as that of the Jesuits? is not their Humanity extinguished +by their Christian Religion? such is their Malice that no Man can eat +Bread where they have to do, unless he submit his Faith to their +guidance, witness the present _French_ Persecution. Nor can any +Sovereign Prince keep his Word or Oath, though he had only sworn to +maintain those Laws by which he Reigns as King, any longer than this +Spiritual Fatherhood will give him leave, as _Lewis_ XIV. of _France_, +and _James_ II. of _England_ do witness. Let these Inhumanities be +considered, as supported and carried on by the name of Catholick Church, +and (if the Devils believe) you may as decently say Church of _Hell_ as +Church of _Rome_. + +And as Devotion, continu'd our _Deist_, to holy Church is the center +upon which all things turn on the other side the Water, so is it the +same thing here. Do not our Priesthood of _England_ make as high +Pretences to dispose of all Offices and Trusts in the Kingdom, to those +of their own Faction, as those of _Rome_? Have they not long since got +their Bill of Exclusion to be passed into a Law, whereby no Man can +enjoy a Place of Profit or Trust in the State, but whom they qualify at +their Altars? where Men were capacitated to be Bumbails, keep +Gaming-houses and sell Ale. What was it but the Insolence of the +Priesthood that brought about Father _Laud_'s and Father _Peter_'s +Revolutions? Besides (said he) do you not observe what a keen Edge +Christian Faith puts upon the ill-nature of Divines, when they are +disputing about matters of Religion? 'Tis common for Philosophers, +Lawyers, Physicians, _&c._ to differ about matters which concern their +Professions, and write one against another: But you will find some +Temper and Decorum observed in their Writings. But let the Controversy +be about any Branch of Christian Faith; and then see the _Odium +Theologorum_, the Malice of Divines in the late Writings of two of your +Church Doctors against each other; at least this shews that Christian +Faith doth not improve the Temper of such Men who are of mean Birth, and +narrow Education. And I cannot but observe, that your _Protestant_ +Malice is under a worse Management than the _Popish_; they only thirst +for the Blood of Protestants, but you are for sucking one anothers +Blood; as when for the Service of King _Charles_ the II. (who was Head +of your Church) and his Popish Brother, the Blood of the best +Protestants in _England_, (and some of them of your own Church) was to +be spilt, the Court Blood-suckers, _viz._ Attorney general, and Judges, +besides Juries and Evidence, were all of 'em chosen Men out of your own +Church; and the _Posse_ of the Clergy was raised to hold their Heads to +the Block, by Preaching the Doctrine of _Passive Obedience_. + +But in requital, it must be confessed, that your Clergy require the King +to do their Persecuting Journey-work with the same Insolence as the +Popish Priesthood use; For must not the Sovereign Monarch of _England_, +_Scotland_, _France_ and _Ireland_, by his Authority Royal, execute the +Decrees and Anathema's of the Arch-deacons and Bishops Chancellors, by +Imprisoning his loyal and useful Subjects, for not conforming to their +Ceremonies? If a King will submit to this Drudgery, he shall have the +_vox Cleri_ of his side, and be as great as Noise and fulsom Flattery +can make him; but in the mean time is really King but of one Moiety of +his People, whilst the danger which the other half apprehend from the +Secular Arm directed by Spiritual Power of Necessity, weaneth their +Hearts from the Government. Thus _Charles_ the II. who for two Years +after his Return, reigned in the Hearts of all his People, was by the +Act of Uniformity reduced to be King of the Church-party; and at last, +whilst the _Popish_ and _Protestant_ Priesthood zealously contended +whose Property he should be, (like the Truth among Controversial +Divines) he was lost in the Scuffle. + +He instanced in likewise the late King _James_, who (said he) had it in +his power to be universally beloved and obey'd, beyond any King of +_England_ this Age has produced. His Right to the Crown was owned by +all; his Wilfulness had passed upon the Church of _England_ Party for +Magnanimous Resolution, which struck such an Awe upon them, that they +were coming to a Temper, and would have consented to a Toleration of +Protestant Dissenters, and _Roman_ Catholicks too, provided their +Maintenance might be continued to them. Thus the Heart of all _England_ +had been set upon the King; but the Popish Priesthood would be content +with nothing less than delivering the whole Nation to Satan, and their +King must execute the dreadful Anathema, though 'twas manifest that he +must thereby lessen himself to the size of one of the 7 Kings of _Kent_; +for he could be Sovereign of no more than the Two hundredth part of the +People. For King _Charles_ in numbering the People, had found that the +Proportion between _Papist_ and _Protestant_ was as 1 to 200: whereas +had his own Priesthood been so favourable to him, as to have excused him +from executing that Satanical Power, which by a Right purely Divine was +vested in Sacred Majesty, his Reign might have been happy, and his +Memory precious. What an unhappy Effect had the Spirit of Father _Laud_ +upon King _Charles_ the First? And what hath brought _Lewis_ the XIV. to +the present Diminution of his Glory, but that haughty Insolence and +unnatural Cruelty in Persecuting his own Subjects, which Father _la +Chaise_ has inspired him with? What Figure will this Grand Monarch make +in Story? His Name will pollute the Annals of this Age, and his cowardly +Conquests be the Scorn of Posterity. Now from all that he had said, he +concluded, that for Luck-sake, as well as to preserve his good Nature, +he would be cautious of being (at least) a zealous Christian. + +8. 'Twas not long since I met one of my old Acquaintance, who told me +that he had lately cast off these Prejudices he had conceived against +the Christian Faith, by the Assistance of a Book called, _The Five +Letters of Inspiration._ By the last of those Letters he was convinced +of the reality of reveal'd Religion, from the Intrinsick value and +Excellency thereof; and he was fully confirmed in his Judgment by a late +Book called, _The Reasonableness of Christianity, as delivered in the +Scripture_. Upon this, he had read over the _Old-Testament_ once, and +the _New_ several times, with great attention of Mind. Indeed he always +thought the Moral part of the _Bible_ very good; but then he also +thought, that by the strength of his own Reason, he could have written +as good a Moral himself. But by the last of these Books he was +convinced, that he was indebted to _Revelation_ more than he thought of, +and considering how long the Ceremonial Law had obtain'd among the +_Jews_, and what a profound respect they paid to the Scribes, Pharisees, +and Spiritual Guides and Rulers; he plainly saw that there was need +enough of Miracle to bear down their Prejudices, to make 'em leave their +Ceremonies, and listen to that excellent Moral which Christ gave 'em; +nay, he was convinced that no Miracles were strong enough to prevail +over the Priest, or a Priest-ridden People, to become Proselytes to the +Doctrine of universal Love and Charity; for (said he) if a Teacher +should now be sent from Heaven with this Message, that all the +Protestant Parties in _England_ should be reconciled and live well with +one another, making nothing necessary to their religious Communion, but +what Christ had appointed, and such Circumstances as Time and Place, and +what in the nature of the thing was needful, and if this Teacher's +Mission were confirm'd by Miracle, it would have (as he thought) no +better effect upon our several Sects of Clergy, and those who are +bigotted to their Parties, than it had upon the _Pharisees_ and their +Disciples of old. + +Having heard him speak so sharply against the Clergy after his old way, +I could not but tell him that I perceived he was but almost a +Christian; for he who loveth the Institution of Christ, cannot but +respect those who are the Ministers thereof; at least, I hoped that he +would pay a respect to the Clergy of the Church of _England_, which was +the best Reformed Church in the World; and therefore I expected that he +was already a Member of our Church: He reply'd, that he should always be +ready to pay his respect to every good Man of what Order or Degree +soever; he should always be willing to hear a good Minister Preach the +Gospel of Jesus Christ to him, and exhort him to the sincere Practice of +it. That he was ready to contribute his share to the Maintenance of such +Ministers, and to join with that Church-of-_England_ Congregation near +to which he liv'd, in publick Worship; but yet he could not condemn the +Worship of other Congregations, nor exclude himself from joyning with +them as occasion should serve him. So that as to Church-membership he +could be a Member of any Church, which would own him upon the terms of +Faith and Practice, contained in the Book he mentioned, concerning the +Reasonableness of the _Christian Religion_, &c. But still he conceiv'd, +that Church-Communion in holy Offices was designed only to raise his +Devotion towards God, not towards the Clergy, which made him admire the +unparallell'd Impudence of the _Roman_ Priesthood, who measure the +Religion of all Christians by their Devotion to the See of _Rome_, i.e. +indeed to themselves; and he doubted whether any Church were +sufficiently Reformed from Popery, which made any Doctrines of Faith +necessary to Salvation that were not declared so in the Gospels, and +where the Clergy would always distinguish between Church and State, and +give the Precedency to themselves. But yet he would join with any Church +as far as it promoted the Honour of God, and separate from it, wherein +on pretence of Religion, he saw, that it aimed at a By-end of its own. + +Here I urged him again to joyn to our Church, which had no other design +but God's Glory. To this he said, that he should be glad that the Church +of _England_ would own him, though he could not be of their Party: He +would willingly pass as a Church-man for his Credit-sake; for (said he) +though a Man doth ever so firmly believe Jesus Christ to be the Messiah +whom God had of old promised, and in due time sent to give us a perfect +Rule of Life, in order to make us truly religious here, and ever happy +hereafter; and though a Man should shew forth his Faith by an agreeable +course of Life, in doing Justice, loving Mercy, and an humble walking +with God; yet if he were not owned as a Member of some Church, he would +by all Churches be accounted, if not an Atheist, yet a Sceptic, a Man of +no settled Principle, but own who has his Religion to choose. For if you +look over the State of Religion as it standeth in Christendom, there is +no Church whatsoever which will accept you as a Member of its Communion, +but upon some particular terms of Belief, or Practice, which Christ +never appointed, and it may be such as an honest and a wise Christian +cannot consent to. I am not more able to give up my Reason to the Church +of _England_, than to give up my Senses to the Church of _Rome_; it +looks like a Trick in all Churches to take away the use of Mens Reason, +that they may render us Vassals and Slaves to all their Dictates and +Commands. But what greater slavery than to force on Men a Belief of such +things as necessary to Salvation, of which 'tis not possible to form any +Idea? Though I am satisfied there is no such thing as a change of Bread +into the Flesh of Christ, yet I can form an Idea, that such a thing may +be, that the same Power which changed Earth into a Man, may change Bread +into Flesh: But I can frame to my self no Idea of what your Church +Teacheth in the Sacrament, that the Body and Blood of Christ are +_verily and indeed taken and received of the faithful_: And when I ask +how can this be understood by a Protestant, who believeth that there is +no other Body but that of Bread? I am told that the Church meaneth it in +a Spiritual Sense. Now I have try'd, and find it impossible for me to +form to my self an Idea of a Body verily and indeed in a Spiritual +Sense. + +And therefore I must say 'tis an unwise and a hard Thing for any Church +to impose absurd or unintelligible Notions (especially such +Speculations, which tend to make no body the better) as necessary to +Salvation; for Wise Men, and such who will take Courage to examine what +they Believe, will not submit to such an Usurpation; and weak Men are +kept all their Life long in Fears and Doubts of their Eternal State, as +being always uncertain whether they firmly believe such Doctrines, or +no. + +Besides this (said he) your Church will require me to believe other +Absurdities as bad as these, as that Kings and Bishops have a Divine +Right to that Power, which they exercise over us, whereas with my own +Eyes I saw our Great and Gracious King accept the Crown of _England_, as +the Gift of the People. And I see as plainly, that Bishops are an Order +of Men of their own (not of Christ's) making. I was told that our +Bishops Order was founded in that of the 12 Apostles, and the Presbyters +Order in the 70 Disciples: Upon this I resolved to see if the 12 and the +70 were different Orders, or no, and read over the 10th Chap. of +_Matthew_, the 3d and 6th of _Mark_, and the 9th of _Luke_, in which +places the Power which Christ gave to the 12 is set forth, which +amounteth to this, _viz._ a Charge to Preach the Gospel, a Power to work +Miracles in casting out Devils, healing the Sick, _&c._ And I also read +in the 10th Chapter of _Luke_, that the 70 were sent forth for the same +Reason, and with the same express Power as were the 12, _viz._ To preach +the Gospel, heal the Sick, and cast out Devils, _vers._ 2.9.17. And he +telleth the 70 at the 16th Verse, _That he who heareth them, heareth +him; and he who despiseth them, despiseth him_, as he had said to the +12, in _Matthew_ 10.40. Indeed they were only added to the number of the +12, _Because_ (as 'tis said there) _the Harvest was great, and the +Labourers few_, i.e. because Multitudes followed Christ, and were +disposed to become Christians, therefore he encreased the number of his +Apostles, or Teaching Disciples. I can find no Footsteps of any +Jurisdiction given to the 12 over the 70, or indeed over any body else; +and in the 18th Chapter of _Matthew_, where Christ speaketh of binding +and loosing, 'tis manifest from the first Verse, that his discourse was +made to his Disciples. So in the 20th of _John_, the Holy-Ghost and +Power of remitting and retaining Sins, was given to the Disciples which +met together after Christ's death, _vers._ 19. in which meeting, there +might be some of the 70 as well as some of the 12: 'Tis certain the 70 +received the Holy-Ghost, and if Baptism be a Key of Admission into the +Church, they had it: If binding or loosing be declaring wherein we are +bound in duty, and wherein we may use our liberty; if remitting and +retaining Sins be declaring what Iniquity God will forgive, and what he +will not; the 70 shared this Power with the 12. As for delivering up to +Satan, and inflicting Diseases; since 'twas a miraculous Power, which we +read not that Christ appropriated to the 12, we have no reason to think +'twas detained from the 70. If then Christ appointed but one Order, +_viz._ that of Teachers, the Order of Rulers dignified themselves above, +and distinguished themselves from their Brethren, yet I am willing to +submit to those Powers, which the Laws of _England_ have given to the +Bishops, though what they claim by Divine Right, I esteem as an +Usurpation. + +Moreover (says he) although I am become a Christian, I have not ceased +to be an _English-man_, and for that reason cannot be in party with the +Bishops, who by their false-prerogative Doctrines, and other shameful +Assistances, so lately betray'd the Charters and Liberties, Rights and +Privileges of their Country, were setting up an absolute irresistible +Power in K. _Charles_ II. which being demised to K. _James_, endangered +not only the Liberty and Property, but Body and Soul of the Nation. Nor +can I so soon forget how their long debates, about admitting the _P._ of +_Orange_, our Good and Great King, to the Sovereignty, was the occasion +of spilling so much Protestant Blood in _Ireland_; nor the late +Protestation of some of the chief of their Party against his Majesties +Right to the Crown; nor how careful they have been since, that (as it +now falls out) he should have no pretence to any rightful Title. If any +Clergy-man was so honest as to Preach up his Right, as justly grounded +on the Consent of the People, (as Mr. _Johnson_ for instance) he must +lie under pain of the Church's highest displeasure, though otherwise +ever so Orthodox and Conformable; so that since the beloved Title of +Conquest is burnt by the Parliament, and the Matrimonial Title is (to +the great grief of all good Men) dead and buried with the Queen; it +remaineth according to Holy Church, that he hath no Title at all, but +only bare Possession; and this they mean when they call him _de facto_. + +But I cannot find that they will allow him to be King of the Clergy so +much as _de facto_. Alas! his Livings, whereby alone he is capable to +oblige them to call to mind their now forgotten Loyalty, which of late +years they preached up, as the summ of the Law and the Prophets; Alas! +these good Things are taken out of his hands by the Conquering Bishops, +that the Clergy may have a separate Interest from the State on this side +the Water, and be led to pay an intire Allegiance to the holy Order. +When _Hen._ VIII. came to know that his Bishops swore Allegiance to the +_Pope_, he began to think of some ways and means how to make himself +King of his Clergy, which he saw could not be done but by casting out +the _Pope_'s Power; and hence sprung that King's Reformation of his +Politicks, rather than Religion. And if our good King were sensible of +the Reasons why an _English_ Papacy is settled in a Committee of Six, +_viz._ to fix the Obedience of the Clergy on themselves exclusively, +(for no Man can serve two Masters) I doubt not but he would think fit to +demand what is so much wanted, _viz._ the Allegiance of the Clergy to +their King; if he dissolves this Committee he may ask and have, for +where their Treasure is, there their Hearts will be also. For +these Reasons (said he) I shall be cautious how I enter into +Church-membership, since I plainly see that every Party of Christians +embodied, organized, clergy'd and modelled into a National Church, +casteth an awe upon the Sovereign Power, and suffereth it not to provide +equally for the Common Good of the Subject; but will appropriate the +_salus publica_, and influence the Government to serve its own +particular, its own private Ends. + +Thus, Sir, I have given you an account of those Prejudices, which have +brought forth _Deism_. But yet these very Prejudices without a strong +assistance of Passion, could never have wrought upon Men to cast off +Revelation; for you see the same Prejudices remain in the _Deist_ turn'd +Christian. Whosoever therefore, upon the fore-mentioned Reasons turneth +_Deist_, cannot be excused, tho' I could heartily wish all these +Pretences could be taken away from 'em. I am far from begrudging the +Bishops and Clergy that small Maintenance, which by Law is settled upon +them; and, I hope, they have no other aim in discharging their Offices, +but to save our Souls, by imprinting on our Hearts the Reason, the +Excellency and Advantages of the Law of Christ. I hope also, that they +comport themselves to the Common Interest of their Native Country, and +of the Protestant Religion throughout the World. Truly I could wish that +Notional Divinity were laid aside for Practical; and that unintelligible +Mysteries were not insisted on, as matters of necessary Belief. He, who +lately wrote his Thoughts of the Causes and Occasions of Atheism, might +have consider'd, that he, who cloggeth the Notion of God with +Absurdities, mis-leadeth Men beyond _Deism_. I pray God give me his +Grace, by which I may sincerely conform my self to the Law of Christ, +and I will never concern my self with the Speculative Drs. in Divinity. +And I heartily join with our Church in that Petition, _Give grace, O +heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by their +Life and Doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and +duly Administer thy holy Sacraments_. By this they would bring Souls to +Heaven, gain the Love of all good People, secure their own Temporal +Interests, stop the Mouths of their Adversaries, and compel the Deists +to become Christians. + + _I am, Sir,_ + _Your Affectionate_, &c. + +_FINIS._ + + * * * * * + +If your Curiosity should lead you to be an Ear-witness of such +Discourses I have here Written to you, when I come to Town, which +will be as soon as the Parliament Sits, I will endeavour to give +you that Satisfaction. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM IN +ENGLAND*** + + +******* This file should be named 37302.txt or 37302.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/7/3/0/37302 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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