have scarce any clear and diftinct ideas that they are annexed to, that by an unpardonable negligence they familiarly use words, which the propriety of language has fixed to very important ideas, without any meaning at all; or I add, with a meaning very foreign to their juft acceptation. Nothing has introduced greater confufion than fuch a wretched abuse and perverfion of words. Thus of late REPUBLICAN has become a fafhionable term of reproach, for those who distinguish themselves from the vulgar herd by an honest attachment to the civil and religious rights. of mankind; as the hard names of infidel and deift have been oft tofs'd about, to discourage free and impartial fearches into truth. A facred regard for liberty and king GEORGE, for the honour of chriftianity and dignity of its inftitutions, has been reprefented as little better than turbulency and faction. But few will be affected with fuch low and impotent fcandal. There are fome other corruptions of the fame nature, and which are of much more dangerous importance, which, as a friend to confiftent proteftantifm, I would willingly contribute my endeavours towards removing: I mean-the abufe of the words CHURCH and RELIGION.

RELIGION in itfelf is the beft, and beftnatur'd thing in the world: But so oft has it been wrapp'd up in myftery, or dreffed in foppifh, arbitrary, or tyrannical colours, that we may challenge mankind, to paint deftruction

deftruction in blacker. It has been fo mangled, and its beautiful features fo cruelly distorted, as to leffen both the zeal and number of its admirers. Virtue has been placed, not in an eafy genteel rectitude of manners, but in cynical pride, and a little awkward pedantry of behaviour: and 'tis a queftion, whether the mischiefs chriftianity has been made the occafion of, are not equal to the advantages that have refulted from it to mankind.

TEE juftice and propriety of these reflections will be abundantly confirmed, if we look into hiftory, and reflect on the Saint Errantry, that cruel, malignant, and peftilent fpirit, which has fuccefsfully reigned and triumphed amongst ecclefiaftics in all ages. In popish countries, the laity ftill wear and worship their chains: veftments and gefticulations, devout puppet-shews, and fanctify'd foibles or fooleries, have arrogated the facred character; which can be juftly appropriated to nothing elfe but univerfal benevolence and goodnefs.-The principles of liberty are better understood in this nation, and which must give every Old Whig a generous pleafure, have been better underflood, and more confiftently explain'd in this age, than any of the ages that went before it. But yet, is there not room to fufpect that the mother of abominations has many of her illegitimate offspring that fill haunt this proteftant country? To this it C 2

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muit be owing, that a blind idolatry in favour of popular fyftems, an implicit reverence and flavish adoration of great names, have often pafs'd as equivalents for the want of love to truth and the practice of righteousness. Doth it not daily appear that this fervile ftupidity is the great barrier of orthodoxy and religious fcandal? Hence it is, that to give rational representations of chriftianity, has been look'd upon by a fet of men as an instance of a perverse reprobate mind; whilst mobbing for the church, or lying for the truth, have been the diftinguishing tokens of ecclefiaftical grace. Hence-that confecrated trum

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pery and jargon, fuch as - myfteries, nal reafon, divine right, uninterrupted fucceffion,- have been called the great truths of morality and revealed religion; -and the caprice of bigots, and the whims of enthufiafts, have paffed for the messages of the Lord. Thus the empyric on the stage, who knows no more of diftempers than of the philofopher's ftone, yet decries all regular practice, and by the help of a few boxes of pills, papers of powders, and a well-chofen collection of crabbed unintelligible words, commences infallible doctor.

As a confiftent proteftant, I am perfuaded you reject all degrees of bigotry and fuperftition. Το you then, I make my appeal, whether these mistakes about religion be not highly injurious to its character and credit, and fuch as deferve to be every where spoken

spoken against? When men would thus ftamp divinity upon their own fuperftitious dreams, can it be thought they are doing fervice to a good caufe by fuch awkward management? When they daub with fuch vile paint, muft they not spoil a beautiful complection? When they are weak enough to bewail the progrefs of reafon and common sense, and lament the growing infidelity and unbelief of old wives fables; when they would profelyte our understandings into ignorance, and a flavifh fubmiffion to their dictates and authority; is it strange if they are held in juft contempt and derifion? Slavish fubmiffion, I faid; for furely, tho' my body be chain'd up with ftrong fetters of iron, yet am I not more accomplish'd a slave, than he who wears intellectual fhackles, and has his understanding chain'd up with unfcriptural systems!

Ir must be own'd there are fome perfons who pronounce all those infidels that cannot fee an abfolute necessity of foifting in a supplemental christianity to our bibles. Upon this footing, if I mistake not, fuch loud clamours and virulent outcries have been made against the writings (and particularly a late excellent performance) of one of the greateft and beft men that ever adorn'd the mitre. How to defcribe the conduct of thofe in the oppofition, I can't tell; unless they be confidered as a race of ecclefiaftical morricedancers, that by their ludicrous pageantries,

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hire gain and gazing, and by their fantastical drefs of things, damn themfelves, I can't fay with the poet-to everlafting fame,-but to be the amufement of coffee houses, and the publick jeft of the town; and after all, have no more to urge for themselves, than the good old gentleman whofe organs of hearing were fo far impair'd, that he could not apprehend any articulate founds at a distance, yet, in his confciencious attendance on publick worship, would not be perfuaded to fix himfelf where he could underftand the inftructions of the preacher, becaufe, as he faid, he could be no where edify'd but in his family-feat; and it would be dangerous apoftacy, for any reafon whatfoever, to defert that place which his father, grandfather, and great grand father fat in before him. I am,

SIR

Your humble Servant,

LAICUS.

NUM B.