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Another fort have been very laborious in finding out Myfteries, where there are none; and under a pretence of reducing the plaineft Doctrines to clear Principles, have only amused and confounded Men in the true and obvious Notions of them. Thus the Duties of Love to God, and to our Neighbour, are plain in themselves, and are as plainly fet down in the Scriptures: And to raise abftracted and Metaphyfical Speculations upon fo plain Texts, is only to tell us what we know before, in other and lefs intelligible Terms, or elfe to fall into the nice and rafh Difputes of the School-men, or into the Enthufiaftick Heats of the Myftical Divines; which can have no tendency to the Peace or Edification of the Church, but gives an occafion to the Adversary to Blaspheme.

(3.) A Third cause of Infidelity, has been the Rashness of fome Criticks. For if any thing relating to Religion

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has been once called in queftion, by Men who have got themfelves a Name, by writing more boldly than wifer Men have done, the Authority of fuch Men fhall be thought a fufficient Answer to all the Arguments which can be taken from any thing which they are pleased to diflike. Criticism, when it falls to the fhare of a prudent Man, is, without doubt, a neceffary and most valuable part of Learning: But it must be confefs'd, that there is hardly any thing more impertinent than an impertinent Critick. It is a great thing, if it be well confidered, to fet the Bounds, and fix the Territories of Learning, to adjudge to every Author his own Works, and fay, that this Book, or perhaps fome fmall part of a Book, fhall be his, and, the other he shall have nothing to do withal. This is no trivial matter, nor of fmall confequence, and ought not to be at the pleasure of any one who has a mind to be taken notice of,

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for contradicting the received Opinion, and being more confident than others. And the lefs Occafion there is for thefe Criticks,the more Danger there is from them, for if there be no work for them, they will be apt to make themfelves work: And what Author will. be able to ftand before Men, whose bufinefs and ambition it is to find fault? But though the Jurifdiction of Criticks be very large and abfolute ; yet I have taken care not to come under it, but have purposely avoided infifting upon any Authorities which have faln under their Difputes, unlefs it be, perhaps, in fpeaking of the Sibyls; but there I have the confent of the best Criticks, befides evident Reason, on my fide, fo far as I am concerned for them..

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(4.) A Pretence to Miracles and Prophecies, without Reason or Ground for it, in behalf of fome particular Errors, has weakened the Belief of the True Miracles and Prophecies; and

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whilft laborious Endeavours have been used to fhew, that the Chriftian Religion cannot be true, unless thofe Doarines be true, which have no foundation in it; the quite contrary has happened to what in charity we muft fuppose these Authors defigned: for inftead of owning their Religion to be true; Men, who are convinced of the weakness, of their Pretences, have taken them at their word, and have been forward to grant them, that there is no Religion true, and therefore not theirs.

(5.) I fhall fhew at large, in due time, That the many Differences and Difputes in Religion, are no prejudice to the Truth and Certainty of it; but they are, notwithstanding, a great fcandal and temptation, and a great hindrance to the Salvation of Men, especially as they are commonly managed; whilft by all imaginable Arts and Means, Men of different Parties and Opinions ftrive to run down their b 3 Adver

Adverfaries. Those who are concerned, would do well, I fhould think, to confider what mischief may enfue, through the imprudent and unchriftian management of Disputes, even in a right Caufe; which has no need of fuch methods; and therefore they are the lefs excufable, who use them in defence of fuch a Cause. If we would convince or perfuade Men in any other thing, we never are wont to think it a proper expedient to use them ill, and give them hard words: And is rough Ufage proper only for the propagation of the Doctrines of the Gospel, and of a Religion of Peace, and Meeknefs, and Charity?

I know what Examples may be produced to countenance this Practice; but those great Authors have Excellencies enough for our imitation, we need not imitate their Faults. Our Bleffed Saviour, indeed, himself, and his Apoftles, did not always forbear fevere language; but then they fpoke

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