fuppofed, that the doctrine of the church you are of, is right; that it is the doctrine of Scripture and antiquity. And this, every body thinks he understands. So that little learning or reading is necessary, to make any clergyman a judge over the learnedest man alive.

Another thing I take leave to tell you, is that moft men think they can do confcientiously, what ever they can do legally. Men of refined and exalted understandings, who have a large compas of thought, and have lookt into the principles of things, know that written laws are but deductions of the law of nature, which is prior to all human inflitutions: That thefe fometimes deviate from that unwritten law; and, when they do, are of no real intrinfic authority. They know that a thing is not just and reasonable becaufe it is enacted; but, in good governments, is enated, because 'tis just and reasonable. They know that laws are sometimes obtained by furprize and corruption, by party-management, by craft or fuperftition. They know that penal laws in matters of religion, are seldom advise able. They would not eafily contribute to the making them; and, when they are made, would be glad to have them generally lie dormant. They know that no authority of man can alter the nature of things, or justify a cruel or unjust fentence

fentence in the fight of God. They are fure, that if to punish men for their opinions be not very right, there is no medium, it must be very wrong. 'Tis public robbery or murder to deprive a man of his life or goods for his religion; if it be not just in itself to do so, as well as legal.

may do justly, what

And it is, no doubt, They cannot judge of

Some perhaps may think in this manner; but these must be men of refin'd and exalted underflandings; and therefore must be very few. The generality think they ever they can do legally. for them, a good rule. the nature of things for themselves; and therefore the law is the most proper guide and direction they can have. As long therefore as there are laws to punish the afferters of heretical opinins, or fuch as oppose the established doctrines ; you may depend on it, they will not be fuffered to lie dormant. There will never be wanting great numbers, who will call aloud to have them put in execution; and they will think their zeal in this matter, the best service they can do the church.

This is human nature: thus it has been in all times. And no experience of the mifchief done to christianity by a forwardness to pronounce anathema's on those who differed from the re

ceived

ceived opinions, will make us wifer. It may, 1 doubt not, be demonftra ed with the greatest evidence, that all chriflian churches have fuffered more by their zeal for orthodoy, and by the violent methods taken to promote it; than from the utmost efforts of their greatest enemies. But, for all that, the world will ftill think the fame methods neceffary. The fame zeal will prompt to the fame perfecutions or profecutions, (call them which you will) without confidering that the fame means must necessarily produce, at longrun, the fame fatal confequences,

Let me therefore entreat you, not to fancy the world is altered in this point. Do not think your opinions cannot ruin you, because 'tis not. reasonable they fhould. Do not flatter yourself, that temper, prudence and moderation, can in religious controverfies get the better of indifcreet zeal, bigotry and fuperftition. In short; be not hafty in efpoufing of opinions, which can have no other effect, but to lay the best men at the mercy of the worst. Every mean perfon, who has nothing to recommend him but his crthodoxy, and owes that perhaps wholly to his ignorance; will think he has a right to trample on you with contempt; to afperfe your character with virulent reflections; to run down your writings as mean and pitiful performances, and give hard names to opinions he does not understand; which

you

you must bear, without the least hopes of being heard a word in your defence.

Let me observe one thing more; that 'tis the misfortune of a clergyman, that he is confined to one profeffion. Other men, if they cannot live in one way, are at liberty to try another: But a man who has once the indelible character, muft live by the one profeffion he has made choice of. If therefore that livelihood be taken from him ; 'tis in vain he has learning, parts, induftry, and application. He will not be allowed to take any other courfe to repair the lofs he fuffers by his opinions as a clergyman. His time, and fortunes, and ftudies, have been spent to make him ufeful in that one profeffion; and, if he had abilities to maintain himself in any other, 'tis too late: He has made his choice, and must abide by it. This then is the unhappy dilemma a reputed heretic is reduced to; he will neither be fuffered to keep the profeffion, nor to leave it; he shall neither live in it, nor out of it. So that, notwithstanding his learning, parts, virtue, and industry; though he could make a good lawyer, physician, merchant, or mechanic; if he be not orthodox, all poffibilities of living comfortably, at leaft, and reputably, are taken from him. Go now, and think, if you can, that the give you, is not the advice of a friend. advice of one who loves virtue and

advice I

'Tis the

learning,

who

who is a friend to all good men, and is in particular greatly concerned for your fuccefs and advancement in the world: 'Tis advice feconded by the examples of the greatest men. For name me any one of the men most famed for learning in this or the laft age, who have feriously turned themselves to the study of the Scriptures. I might name to you the most eminent men down from Scaliger and Cafaubon to the prefent time. Capellus indeed, and the excellent Grotius, are exceptions; but they met with fuch ufage, that one has little encouragement from their examples. But not to go beyond our own country; who are the men that have excelled most (excepting always Sir Ijaac Newton) in philosophy, astronomy and mathematicks? Have they not been clergymen? And was not their skill in these fciences, the effect of their great and conftant application to them? Was not that time spent in these ftudies, that you think should have been applied to the study of the Scriptures? On the other hand, take out two or three from fo great a body; and where is there a clergyman of a great genius, and that has made a chief figure in the learned world, that has writ upon the Scriptures? at least with any masterly skill in critick?

1

And what is it, that all this can be imputed to? Did these learned men decline this ftudy, becaufe