1 I o The .fuperior Excellency nefs, have taken up falfe n1eafures and dif– advantageous notions of it. 1 ... he fcnfual perfon ha:teth it as harih and unpleafant, doing violence to his carnal appetites; and · looks· on relzgion as a contrivance to de– prive lnd rob hi1n of the pleafures of d1is world, by propofi.ng thofe of another. The politick wit flights it as fooliili and in~prudent; and though he acknowledge it a ne- , cdfary inflrun1ent of government, a good device to overawe a 111ttltidue, yet he counts it a great weaknefs to be further concerned in it than 1nay be c<V:pfj.flent with, and fub– fervient to fecular ddigns. Again, thegal– lants of our age defpife it as a bafe ignoble tetnpcr, unworthy ofa high birth and gen- ' teel education, incident to n1eaner fouls, proceeding fro1n cowardly and fuperfliti– ous fear, deprdiing the n1ind, and ren– dering it incapable of high and afpiring thoughts. Hence they n1ake it their bufi– nefs to pour conte1npt upon piety, and-::i'"d~ v.ance the reputation of thofe vitious cour-– fes.which they then1felves have embraced; • and becaufe there are yet- fome left, who, hy praB:ifing and recotnn1ending virtue, do oppofe and condemn their lewd praCtices, they fl:udy to avenge themfelves on thenl by the perfecution of their tongues, and all
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