We are fallen into an Age, in which there are a fort of Men who have fhewn so great a Forwardness to be no longer Chriftians, that they have catch'd at all the little Cavils and Pretences against Religion; and, indeed, if it were not more out of Charity to their own Souls, than for any Credit Religion can have of them, it were great pity but they fhould have their Wish for they both think and live fo ill, that it is an Argument for the Goodness of any Cause, that they are against it. It was urged, as a Confirmation of the Christian Religion, by Tertullian, that it was hated and perfecuted by Nero, the worst of Men: And I am confident, it would be but small Reputation to it, in any Age, if fuch Men should be fond of it. They speak evil of the things they understand not; and are wont to talk with as much Confidence against any point of Religion, as if they had all the Learning in the World in their keeping, when commonly they know little or nothing of what has been faid for that against which they difpute. They feem to imagine, that there is nothing in the World, befides Religion, that has any Difficulty in it but this shews how little they have confider'd the Nature of Things, in which multitudes of Obje&tions and Difficulties meet an observing Man in every Thought. And after all, Religion has but one Fault, (as they account it) which they have been able to difcover in it, and that is, that it is too good and vertuous for them; for when they have faid all they can, this is their

great

great Quarrel against it; and (as it has been truly observ'd) no Charity less than that of the Religion which they defpife, would have much Care or Confideration for them.

Thus have fome Men dishonour'd Religion by their Lives; fome by an Affectation of Novelty; fome by invalidating the Authority of Books relating true Miracles and Prophecies, and others by forging falfe ones: fome again, by their too eager and imprudent Disputes and Contentions about Religion, whilst from hence others have taken the Liberty to ridicule it, and to dispute against it, but fo as to expofe themfelves, whilft they would expofe Religion. And thus has the clearest and most neceffary Truth been obfcured and despised, whilst it has been betray'd by the Vanity and Quarrels of its Friends, to the Scorn and Weakness of its Enemies.

I

However, in all their Oppofition and Contradiction to Reveal'd Religion, I find it afferred by these Men, that Atheism is so abfurd a thing, that they question whether there ever were, or can be an Atheist in the World. have therefore here proved, from the Attributes of God, and the Grounds of Natural Religion, that the Christian Religion must be of Divine Revelation; and that this Religion is as certainly true, as it is, that God Himself exists; which is the plainest Truth, and the most univerfally acknowledg'd of any thing whatsoever. And because there is nothing fo true or certain, but fomething may be alledg'd against it, I fhall befides

befides discourse upon fuch Heads as have been most excepted against In which I shall endeavour to prove the Truth, in fuch a manner, as to vindicate it against all Cavils; though I shall not take notice of particular Objections, which is both a needlefs and indeed an endless Labour, for there is no end of Cavils: but if the Truth be well and fully explain'd, any Objection may receive a fufficient Anfwer, from the Confideration of the Doctrine against which it is urged, by applying it to particular Difficulties; as one Right Line is enough to demonstrate all the Variations from it to be Crooked.

It is very easy to cavil and find fault with any thing; and to start Objections, and ask Queftions, is even to a Proverb esteem'd the worst Sign that can be of a great Wit, or a found Judgment. Men are unwilling to believe any thing to be true, which contradicts their Vices and the weakest Arguments, with strong Inclinations to a Caufe, will prove or disprove whatever they have a mind it should. But let Men first practise the Vertues, the Moral Vertues which our Religion enjoins, and then let them difprove it, if they can: nay, let them disprove it now, if they can, for it ftands in no need of their favour; but, for their own fakes, let them have a care of mistaking Vices for Arguments, and every profane Jeft for a Demonstration. I wish they would confider, whether the Concern they have, to fet up Natural against Reveal'd Religion, proceed not from hence, that, by Natural Religion, they mean no more than just

what

what they please themselves, or what they judge convenient in every cafe and occafion: whereas Reveal'd Religion is a fix'd and determin'd thing, and prescribes certain Rules and Laws for the Government of our Lives. The plain Truth of the matter is, that they are for a Religion of their own Contrivance, which they may alter as they fee fit; but not for one of Divine Revelation, which will admit of no Change, but must always continue the fame, whatever they can do. Unless that were the cafe, there would be little occafion to trouble them with Books of this kind; for the Arguments brought against the Christian Religion, are indeed fo weak and infignificant, that they rather make for it; and it might well be said, as M. Pafchal relates, by one of this fort of Men, to his Companions, If you continue to dif pute at this rate, you will certainly make me a Chriftian. I fhall venture, at least, to say of this Treatife, in the like manner as he does of his, That if these Men would be pleas'd to fpend but a little of that time, which is so often worse employ'd, in the perufal of what is here offer'd, I hope that fomething they may meet withal, which may fatisfie their Doubts, and convince them of their Errors.

But though they should despise whatever can be faid to them, yet there are others, befides the profess'd Adverfaries of Reveal'd Religion, to whom a Treatife of this nature may be ferviceable. The Truth is, notwithstanding the great Plainness of the Christian Religion, I can

not

not but think, that Ignorance is one chief cause why it is fo little valu'd and esteem'd, and its Doctrines fo little obey'd: A great part of Christians content themselves with a very flight and imperfect Knowledge of the Religion they proprofefs; and are able to give but very little Reason for that, which is the most Reasonable thing in the World; but they profess it rather as the Religion of their Country, than of their own Choice; and because they find it contradicts their fenfual Defires, they are willing to believe as little of it as may be ; and when they hear others cavil and trifle with it, partly out of Ignorance, and partly from Inclination, they take every idle Objection, if it be but bold enough, for an unanfwerable Argument. Whereas, if Christians were but throughly acquainted with the Grounds of their Religion, and fincerely disposed to believe and practise according to them, they would be no more moved with these Cavils, than they would be perfuaded to think the worse of the Sun, if fome Men should take a Fancy to make that the Subject of their Raillery. To have the more doubtful and wavering Thoughts of Religion, because it is ex-. pos'd to the Scorn and Contempt of ill Men, is as if we should despise the Sun for being under a Cloud, or fuffering an Eclipfe ; not knowing. that he retains his Light, and Religion its Excellency ftill, though we be in Darkness; the Light may be hid from us, but can lofe nothing of its own Brightness, though we fuffer for want of it, and lie under the shadow of death.

The