ན་ with a Divine Power and Authority, and knew how to speak to the Hearts, as well as to the Ears of Men, and fully perceived when this was the laft and only Remedy to be ufed'; they could ftrike dead with their Words, and were infallible in the use of fuch Expreffions as were proper for the present occafion, either to comfort or to terrifie Sinners, and awaken them to Repentance. There is no doubt, but a feasonable Reproof or Rebuke, though it be very fevere, may be not only confiftent with Charity, but may alfo be the Effect of it; and if ever we may speak with the Power and Authority, as well as in the meekness and gentleness of Chrift, we must do it when the Truth of the Chriftian Religion is called in queftion, and that by Chriftians. We live in an Age in which Men think they have done a great thing, and enough for them to value themselves upon, if they can but start a bold Objection against the b 4 Scrip Scriptures, though it have never fo little fence in it. We have fufficient warrant to treat thefe Men as they deferve: for the Apoftles were com-manded (according to a Custom in ufe amongst the Jews) to shake off the duft off their feet, againft fuch as rejected their Doctrine and the least we can fay to them, is to let them know, that if they will not believe, we are forry for it, but cannot help it, and that they will have the worst of it. Mr. Hobbs himself will allow, that an Atheist ought to be banish'd as a Publick Mischief, and, fcarce any Terms can be too fevere for those who openly apoftatize from the Religion in which they have been baptized, and blafpheme that Holy Name by which they are called. We must not fo debafe the Gospel of Chrift, as to feem to beg their Approbation, which, I'm fure, we have little need of, in the prefent cafe. I am far from thinking any thing small or inconfiderable, in which the Honour of God, and the Truth of Religion is concerned; but certainly a great diftinction is to be made between them from whom we differ in particular Points, though of great moment and confequence, and those who reje& the Whole. Our chief Zeal and Strength fhould be employed against the Common Enemies, who delight in our Quarrels, and the fport themselves with mutual Wounds we fo freely give one another. (6) We have a fort of Men amongst us, who from hence have taken occafion to make it their whole Bufiness, both by their Difcourfes and Writings, to laugh all Religion and Morality out of the World: which has made our very Wit to degenerate, though this be the only thing for which thefe Men feem to value themfelves; and our Poems, with all their foft Numbers, and flowing Style, to be far from deferving Commendation: for this way of Writing is as much against against the Rules of Poetry, as against those of Vertue; and they can never answer it to their own Art, whatever they may do to their Confciences; but ought to be cenfured for being ill Poets, as well as ill Men. A fine Saying, a foft or bold Expreffion, or a pretty Character! is this all we have in exchange for our Reafon and Religion, which thefe Men have fo laboriously decryed! Some of the best Poets of our Age have been fo fenfible of the Dishonour hereby done to God, the Differvice to Mankind, and the Difgrace to fo Noble an Art, that they have employed their Genius a better way. But the extravagant Raillery against Religion has been the more licentious, and the more frequent, not only because it has met with Applause from fo many, who are none of the wifeft part of Mankind, but because it is the easiest way of Wit, flowing fo naturally from the very Temper and Inclination of cor rupted rupted Minds and any fmart Reflection may eafily be taken from another Subject, and applied here with advantage, because it looks more extravagant and daring, and surpriseth for no other reason, but for the bold irreverent use of it. What is there in Religion, if it were untrue, that can seem ridiculous? What, in the aweful Majefty of the Lord of Heaven and Earth, that can provoke the Laughter and Mockery of any but Fools and Mad-men? It is not obvious to conceive, why it fhould be thought a greater argument of a Man's Parts, to revile his God, than his Prince; to speak Blafphemy, than it is to speak Treason; or why the Wit fhould atone for the Crime more in the one cafe than in the other. But the truth is, a very moderate share 1 も |