Of t/)e Relig·iottJa I ?JS from flrife; and be !bat is jlo1u to ·"urath, is ofgreat rmderflanding. The n1eek and lowly perfon liveth above - the reach of petty injuries; and blunts the edge of the grcatefl: by his patience and conftancy; and bath compaffion towards thofe who offend him: being n1ore forty for the prejudice they do: then1fdves, than for that which they intended him. And let all tile \VOrld judge whether it be 1nore generous to pity and lov~ eveB thofe who hate us, and topar·\ don the greatefi offences., than pecvifhly to qMa.rrel on every petty occa.Gon, and make n1en fear our paffion, hate our hun1our, and abat1don our fociety? So that what i:s here brought as an objefrion againfl: reli– gion, n1ight with reafon enough have been brought, as an infrance of its noblenefs. fiaving thus illufhated and confirn1ed what is afferted in the text, that the righ- . Ieous is more excellent tban his nez:P;hbot{r; lc:t us improve it in a check to that profane and athieftical fpiritof dt·ollery and fcoffing at religion, which hath got abro::1d in the \vorlJ. Alas! do nien confider wbat it is vvhich they n1ake the butt of their fcoffs and reproaches; Have they nothing elfe to cxcrcife their wit and vent their jdts up– on, but that-which is the 111o.fl noble and l\1 2 excellent
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