ceive no reason why it shou'd not) then I wou'd again be inform’d why nations, provinces, families, friends, and acquaintance shou'd be disturbid, why all union shou'd be dissolv'd, affections divided, laws subverted, or governments unhing'd, about such things as no mortal can either conceive himself, or tolerably explain to others ? Such are the decrees of God, the immediate state of departed souls, the manner of God's subsistence, of his understanding, or of his providence, with other subjects, which, tho deem'd more easy, are not better known than these. Requiring people to believe what they cannot understand, is ordering 'em to make bricks without straw. Hence in great part procede the divisions of Christians, tho this be not the onely cause : wheras nothing is wiser, plainer, truer, and consequently more divine, than what CHRIST and his APOSTLES have propos’d about the means of reconciling God to finners, of purifying the mind, of regulating manners, of directing conscience, of illuminating the understanding, of stating particular duties, of fixing the hope of rewards to the good, of planting the fear of punishment in the wicked, of propagating mutual love, forbearance, and peace among all mankind, of improving, condučting, and supporting civil society. This is not the Religion of thole,

- Quorum, quicquid non creditur, Ars eft ;

nor will they thank me for this description, who have turn'u CHRISTIANITY into a plan of dominion, a system of gain, and a school of contention: as in the first preaching of it, such as glory'd in being the onely true Church, were those Scribes and Pharisees who moft refifted its

progress,

progress, and the Priests were of all others its fierceít Énemies; neither is this to be reputed a wonder, since there is no such fatyr in the world against Priestcraft as the Gospel of CHRIST, which made the Priests never cease till they brought him at last to the Cross. I beg your Lordship’s pardon, if I have been more prolix than stands with your leisure ; not doubting however,but you'll procure me reparation from those of your Clergy that have injur'd me; and prevent others from falling hereafter into the like grofs falfhoods, wilful mistakes, or ridiculous follies. I am with all due respect,

ERRATA.

THE author passing the summer in the country, and not always seeing the last revise, the Reader is delir'd to corre&t the following errors of the press; or if he finds any more, they are left to his candor.

In the Preface. Page xviii, line 44, political read philosophical. p. xxi, I. 6, Somnia r. gwanie, p. xxii, l. 3, recepts r. receipts,

In the Work. Page 9, line 32, for RAMUZZI read RAMUSIO. P. 12, l. 28, pervesness r. perversness. p. 31, l. 31, attributes v. attribute. P. 59, 1. 10, dele his. p. 111, l. 3, BAROMIUS 4. BARONIUS. P. 120, 1.6, His %. This. p. 122,

1. 3, oimt r. omit. p. 146, l: 33, and r. and an. p. 168,1 21, first r. laft. Ibid. l. 22, last r. first. p. 178, 1. t, most v. more.

In the inner Margin. Page 10, line 2, codum read eodem. P. 14, l. 5, Ostern, Divent p. 18, l. 15, M gos r. Magos. p, 20, 1.4, coe itus r.

. coelitus. p. 38, 1, 2, refieri r, refiere. p. 175, 1. 6, Scotch, . Scottish.

In the outward Margin. Page 15 bread 03. p. 82, X, al r. Xal. p. 165, Acts 1. 22. 7. Acts 2. 22, Ibid. Jo. 1. 45.r. Jo. 1. 46.

1.