ous Pretence, and have the lefs Capacity for Self-defence. The Fairness of the Colour they wear makes the Hypocrify the more Abominable and Pernicious. If a Man wears the Mask of Religion to enable him with the greater Succefs to impofe upon others, his Hypocrify for that Reason, carries in it both the more Bafenefs, and the more Danger. The next best thing in the World to Religi on, is being a Patriot, and Well-wisher to Mankind; and if a Man makes ufe of this as a Cloak, to ferve himself, and accomplish ungenerous Ends of his own; he must be the more detefted by every honest Man, when the Mask drops of and his true Designs ap pear; and in the mean time is capable of the more dangerous and fpreading Mischief. The Friendship he pretends, enables him, like Judas, with the greater Eafe to betray his Master or his Friend. This which has been complained of in all Ages, is grown fo common in ours, that nothing has gone farther to weaken the Bonds of Society, which is neceffarily founded upon the Apprehenfion of a general and common Intereft. It should indeed be resented by every Body. Not only by thofe who are immediately the Dupes of those defigning Knaves; but by every Man of upright Intentions. If He had come in their Way, he would have met with no better Ufage. And befides that, it injures him in another Kind: Those who have found themselves imposed upon already by fair Pretenfions, cannot help entertaining a Jealoufy of others for the Fu Future, who may in Truth have an honeft Meaning; and fo they lofe the Confidence which they have a Right to, because of the treacherous Abufe which thofe Men have made of their Truft. And here I cannot but reflect with a generous Concern upon the unfriendly Temper among the different Parties which has prevailed among us; and which is as impolitick as 'tis irreligious; and a juft Reason both of Reproach and Complaint. Instead of Largenefs and Generofity of Mind, allowing for leffer Differences, there has been a ftingy Narrowness and selfish Spirit; each one's Peculiarities have been magnified and ftrained, and loaded with a difproportionate Weight. Inftead of Sincerity and steadiness of Conduct, Men have been told one thing at one time, and quite the contrary at another, and have found out a Conduct as variable as the Wind of popular Favour, or Tide of Court Preferment. Inftead of Freedom from Sufpicions, and relying upon honeft and repeated Affurances; there have been innumerable Suggestions of Danger and ill Defigns, without any one Allegation ever made good Inftead of a Difpofition to return Expreffions of Kindness, fome Men have endeavoured to leffen the moft Signal Service, and throw a general Contempt upon others; yea, we have feen People used with Violence, and made the Mark of popular Rage, who have been always hearty in their Country's Intereft, and fometimes found neceffary for the Support of the Whole. And And 'tis easy to foretel, by the natural Tendency and Effects of Things, it can never be happy with us, till the feveral Parties grow fo wife to drop private Quarrels and Party-Intereft; and joyn together in a hearty Zeal for the Common Good, in which they all agree, and which is both more confiderable and of greater Confequence to each, than the Peculiarities on either Side about which they differ. ADVERTISEMENT. Any kind of Letters, Effays, Extracts out of valuable Authors, or Intelligence of any Affairs which may ferve the firft declared Intention of this Paper, will be thankfully received, if directed to the Author of the Occafional-Paper, to be left at North's Coffee-Houfe, Kingstreet, near Guild-Hall, London. Poft paid, A Lately publish'd, Collection of the OCCASIONAL Preface. Vol. II. Numb. I. of Orthodoxy. II. Letters to the Author. III. Of Plots. IV. Of Removing the Incapaci ties of Proteftant Diffenters. All Printed for J. Knapton, at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard; J. Harrison under the Royal-Exchange; and A. Dodd, without Temple-Bar. THE OCCASIONAL PAPER, VOL. II. NUM B. VI. O F ACTS of GRACE. Ergo humanitatis dulcedo etiam in efferata barbarorum Ingenia penetrat, torvefque & truces. hoftium mollit oculos, ac Victoria infolentiffimos Spiritus flectit: Nec illi difficile & arduum eft, inter arma contraria, inter diftrictos cominus mucrones placidum iter reperire. Vincit iram, profternit odium, hoftilemque fanguinem hoftilibus Lachrymis mifcet. Valer. Max. Lib. v. cap. I. · LONDON: Printed for J. KNAPTON, at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, J. HARRISON, under the Royal Ex change; and A. DODD, without Temple-Bar. 1717. (Price 3 d.) |