Of the Religious. I3I I fuameful and n1iferable fpcCl:acles in the world, is, to fee a man born to the ufe of reafon, and perl1aps to an eminent fortune, · drink away his religion, his reafon, his fenfe; and fo expofe himfelf to the pity of wife men, the contempt of his own fer– vants, the derifion of his-children, and fools, to every danger, and fo every fnare; and that this mufi pafs in the eyes of n1any for a piece of gallantry, and necei!ary accon1plifument of~a gentleman. Good God r l1ow are the minds of n1en poiforied vvith perverfe notions? what unreafon·able n1ea– fures d0 they takeof things? We n1ay ex– peCt next they fhall comtnend theft, and anake harangues to the praife of parricide; for they are daily advancing the 9oldnefs of their i1npieties, ~nd with confidence avow– ing them~ Other ages have praCl:ifed wick– ednefs; but to _ours is referved the impu– dence to glory in them. But would men but open their own "eyes, and give way to the fentiments of their own 1ninds, they would foon alter their n1axims, and difco– ver the miferable defon11ity of vice, and the amiable beauty and majefty of religi- · · on: that it cloth at once adorn and ad– vance the human nature, ,aud hath in it every thing generous and noble, chearful and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=