q-72 The Prejudices againfi Jefus Vol I. civility of Life and Manners, Freedom from Tyranny, and Barbaroufnefs, and Cruelty, and fome other enormous Vices ; yea and as to the exemplary Piety and Virtue of great Numbers of particular Perfons of feveral Nations, there is no Comparifonbetween the general State of Chrifiendons, and the Pagan and Mahowe- tan parts of the World. Next to Chri(tianity, and the Law of Mofer, ( which was confined to one Nation) Philofophy was the moft likely Inhrument to re-` form Mankind that bathbeen in the World; and it hadvery confiderable Effects' upon Come particular Perfons, . both as to the re&ifyingof their Opinions, and the reforming of their Lives : but upon the generality of Mankind it did very little in either of thefe Refpe&s, efpecially as to the reifyingof the abfurd and im- pious Opinions of the People concerningGod, and their fuperftitious Worfhip of the Deity. Whereas the Christian Religion did univerfally where-ever it came;' let Men free from thofe grofs Impieties and Superftitions, and taught Men' tö' worfhip the only true God bi a right Manner. Thoughwe mutt confefs to the Eternal Reproach of the Chriftian Religion, that the Wefiern Church bath degenerated fo far, that it feems to be in a great Meafure relaps'd into the Ignorance and Superftition of Paganifm ; out of whichhDegenera- cy, that God bath refcued us, as we have infinite Cade to adore his Goodnefs, fo we have all the reafon in the World to dread and deteft a Return into this fpiri- tuai Egypt, this Houfeof Darknefs and Bondage, and the bringing of our Necks again under that Yoke, which neitherwe nor our Fathers were able to bear. So that you fee that there are (till very confiderableEffects of the Chriftian Re- ligion in the World, yea and I doubt not but in thofe places where it is mots cor- rupted and degenerated; becaufe they Rill retain the effential Do&rines of Chri ftianity, which have not quite loft their Force, notwithstanding the many Errors' andCorruptions that are mixt with them. And as God knows, and every Man fees it, that the generality of Chriftians are very bad, notwithflanding all the In- fluence of that excellent Religion which theyprofefs; yet I think it is very evi- dent, Men would be much worfe without it. For though very many who have entertained the Principles of Chriftianity are very wicked in their Lives; yet many are otherwife : And thofe that are bad have this Advantageby their Religi- on, that it is in its Nature apt to reduceand recoverMen from a wicked Courte, . and fometimes does: Whereas the cafe of thofe Perfons would have been defpe- rate, were it not for thofe Principles of Religion which were implanted in therm by Chriftian Education, and though they were long fupprefs'd, yet did at laft awaken them to a Confideration of their Condition, and proved the happy means of their Recovery. 3. I will not deny but there are fome Perfons as bad, nay perhaps worfe, that havebeen bred up in theChriflian Religion, than are commonly to be found in the Darknefs of Paganifm; for the Corruptionof the belt things is the worts, and thofe who have refitted fo great a light as that of the Gofpel is, are like to prove the moft defperately wicked of all others. There is nothing that Men makeworfe ufe of, than of Light and Liberty, two of the belt and molt pleafant Things in the World. Knowledge is many times abufed to the worfi Purpofe, and Liberty intoLicentioufnefs and Sedition; and yet no Man for all that thinks Ignorancede= firable, or would with a perpetual Night and Darknefs to the World; and con= chide from the Inconveniencies of abufed Liberty, that the belt State of things would be that the generality of Mankind fhould be all Slaves to a few, and 'be perpetually chained to theOar, or condemned to the Mines. There are many times as bad Confequences of good things, as of bad: but yet there is a great difference between good and bad for all that. As Know- ledge and Liberty, fo likewife the Chriftian Religion is a great Happinefs to the World in general, though fome are fo unhappy as to be the worfe for it ; not be- caufe Religion is bad, but becaufe they are fo. 4. If Religion be a matter of Mens free Choice, it is not to be expe led that it fhould neceffarily and conftantlyhave its Effe&s uponMen; for it worksupon us not by way ofForce or natural Neceffìty, but ofMoral Perfuafron. If Religion, and
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