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by the ordinary course of providence; or else there is no avoiding the ill confequences above-mentioned; namely, perpetual enthusiasm or grofs imposture. As a fyftem of divine doctrines and rules of life, it must be subject to the common methods of inftruction; and taught as all other fcience is. Youth of all kinds are to be principled, and grounded in it; and some instructed in those other parts of learning, which may fit them for a due enquiry into its original evidence; for understanding the true nature, ends, and uses of it; and conveying the fame knowledge down to future ages. Some orders of men likewise must be fet apart, and authorised to explain and inculcate it; to defend its doctrines, as well as to infpect and urge the practice of its precepts.

From all which it appears, that ignorant, uncivilized, flavish, and brutish nations, are no less incapable of duly receiving fuch an institution, than they are of all those other sciences, arts, im

By being incapable of receiving it, I mean incapable of receiving with effect; of retaining or applying it to any valuable purpose; for which men do not feem properly qualified, notwithstanding any natural capacity, without aid from the liberal arts and other accomplishments, in fome degree. Most of the Indians are, I doubt not, capable of understanding the principles of our faith at the first propofal; but fcarcely qualified, I think, to make a right ufe, and receive the falutary effects thereof; to let it fink into the heart and form the temper, for want of fome farther pains being taken to implant worthy principles of civil government and focial life amongst them: without which, all endeavours to introduce the purest and moft perfect system of religion feem prepofterous. A fufficient proof of this may be seen in the Complete collection of voyages, &c. Vol. II. B. I. c. 3. § 20. p. 311, 312. Comp. Modern part of Univerfal Hiftory. B. 18. c. 5. Concerning the early plantation of Chriftianity among the Tartars and Chineje, fee Mofheim Hift. Tart. Ecclefiaft. p. 8, 9, &c. or Eccl. Hift. Eng. V. 2. c. 1.

improvements, which polish and adorn the reft of mankind, and make life a bleffing.

Without fome tolerable degree of learning and civility, men do not feem qualified to reap the benefits of the Chriftian inftitution; and together with thefe, they generally do receive it; the same human means ferving to improve their notions in religion, which help to enlarge their knowledge in all other fubjects; and at the fame time directing them to, and in a natural way, enabling them to arrive at, the most perfect difpenfation of it.

One of the chief reafons commonly affigned for the fitness of the time of Chrift's appearing in the world, was the extent of learning and commerce through all the then known parts of it +; which tended very much to open mens minds, and qualify them to receive his institution; as well as paved the way for a more general communication of it: but as there were many at that time not able to bear it, fo on the fame account, neither yet are they able, nor will they be, till by reafon of ufe they have their fenfes exercised, to difcern both

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+ This is more fully explained in the following difcourfes, Part II. I fhall only beg leave here to introduce the teftimony of a candid and judicious writer, who appears to entertain right notions both of the nature of the Chriftian inftitution and of the best means for the propagation and fupport of it, and who has fupplied us with the most valuable collection of ancient evidences of its truth. Men must be ⚫ rational and civilized, before they can be Chriftians. Knowledge. has a happy tendency to enlarge the mind, and encourage generous fentiments. Hereby we may hope to deliver men from fuperftition, bigotry and perfecution, which have been fome of the greatest ⚫ blemishes in the human conduct. As arts and sciences are now in a flourishing condition, in a great part of the world, we may hope it will have a kindly influence, and contribute to the advancement of Christianity, in its genuine purity and perfection.' Lardner's large Collection of Jewish and Heathen Teftimonies. Vol. 4. p. ult.

both good and evil: till their rational faculties be enlarged and improved; their natural genius cultivated and refined; which feems in a good meafure to constitute their refpective fitness of time *. And as barbarous and favage nations are unable to hear the truth; fo vicious, debauched, im

* That the Chinese in particular, from whom fome have thought that the ftrongest argument might be drawn against what is here fuggefted, and whofe learning and education have therefore been induftriously cried up, are very far from deferving fo great a character, fee Renaudot's differtation on their learning, Ancient accounts of India and China, p. 200. Terry's voyage to the Eaft-Indies, fect. 12. and 21. Travels of feveral miffioners, p. 180, &c. Millar's hiftory of the propagation of chriftianity, Vol. II. p. 266, &c. Mod. Univ. Hift. B. 17. c. 1. fect. 4. and B. 18. c. 9. fect. 11. note P. or Le Comte's memoirs, paffim. I fhall give one palpable inftance, from the last mentioned author, of abfurdity more than tolerated; and that in a branch of philofophy, for which they have been oft particularly celebrated. All nations have ever been aftonished at eclipfes, because they could not discover the caufe of them: there is nothing fo extravagant as the feveral reasons some have given for them; but one would wonder that the Chinese, who, as to aftronomy, may claim seniority over all the world befides, have reafoned as abfurdly on that point as the rest. They have fancied, that in Heaven there is a prodigious great dragon, who is a profeffed enemy to the fun and moon, and ready at all times to eat them up. For this reafon, as foon as they perceive an eclipfe, they all make a terrible rattling with drums and brass kettles, till the monster frightned at the noife, lets go his prey. Perfons of quality, who have read our books, have for these feveral years been undeceived: but the old cuftoms (especially if the fun lofeth his light) are still obferved at Pekin, which, as is ufual, are both very superstitious and very ridiculous. While the aftronomers are on the towers to make their observations, the chief Mandarines belonging to the Lipou fall on their knees, in a hall or court of the palace, looking attentively that way, and frequently bowing towards the fun, to exprefs the pity they take of him; or rather to the dragon to beg him not to moleft the world, by depriving it of fo neceffary a planet. Le Comte, p. 70. Ed. 1738. comp. p. 93, &c. and lett. 8.

From their notorious ignorance of, and contempt for the rest of the world, and great averfeness to any communication with it, till of very late years, we may eafily account for this flow progress of theirs, both in the knowledge of nature and revealed religion, notwithstanding their having had very confiderable means of improving both in their hands for fome time; nor are they wanting in point of genius, as may be feen in the fame excellent author. Comp. BarBut mardine's account of China, c. 9. or Bianchini Hift. Univerf. this will come in more largely under the III Part.

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immoral ones, are in like manner incapable of bringing forth the fruits thereof. If fuch a people did receive the true religion, they would foon drop it again, as many nations most undoubtedly have done; at least they would lofe the fpirit, life, and power of it; and then the bare name, and outward form will not be worth enquiring after: nay, much better would it be, if these were quitted too, together with the other. Chriftianity cannot immediately transform mens minds, and totally change the general temper and complexion of any people; but on the contrary, it will thereby itself undergo confiderable alteration; and its own influence and effect in a great measure depend thereon: With the pure, it will be pure, and they that are otherwise will foon defile it; will either corrupt it with fables and abfurd traditions; or turn it into licentioufnefs, and carnal policy: as was evidently the cafe under the Roman Empire, and might be fhewn to be fo, more or less, under every human empire, or establish

ment.

Thus did the Eastern nations, and were overwhelmed with Mahometanifm*; and thus did a great part of Africa. To the like causes, in all probability, as well as the neglect and misbehaviour of its propagators and profeffors, (which have been here but too remarkable +) it is owing that

* See Part II.

+ Of the former, a large account may be seen in Millar's hift. c. 8. P. 274, 284, 291, &c. and c. 9. p. 376, &c. Add Bp. Warburton's obfervation at the end of Sect. 6. p. 306, &c. of Div. Leg. 2d Ed. and Kalm's Travels into North America. V. 3. p. 270. As to the

latter,

that true religion makes no greater progress in the East and West Indies. Though, it must be owned, great and good things have been done in it of late, by focieties established for that purpofe; and none perhaps have been more diligent and difcreet than our own: which providence feems to have countenanced, in an efpecial manner; opening a way for far greater undertakings of this kind, by that immenfe tract of territory lately ceded to us in America; where we are at full liberty to proceed in the good and glorious work of civilizing the natives, and communicating our Religion to them in the greatest purity we ever yet enjoyed it, without oppofition from any rival power. An opportunity, which has been often and earnestly wished for by our miffionaries. May we not fail now to make the proper use of it!

But it would exceed the limits of this discourse, to enquire into the state of every Heathen country, in order to see what probable reasons might be affigned, for either their firft rejecting, or not

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latter, we cannot but obferve the great and general prejudice, which must prevail in both the Indies against all Europeans, from the injurious treatment they have often received from us, as may be seen in almoft every late account of voyages, &c. See Travels of Jesuits, Vol.2. paffim; particularly p. 370. Nor are the frequent quarrels among Chriftians themselves, and their ill ufage of each other in the articles of trade especially, a lefs prejudice against their profeffion: which ever received the greatest check from the divifion raised among its propagators; as was remarkably the cafe not long ago in China. See Mod. Univ. Hift. Fol. V. 3. p. 569, &c.

Thefe obfervations might be carried a great way towards account. ing for the flow progrefs of Chriftianity among fuch nations as feem otherwife not ill qualified at prefent for the reception of it; but that they are not to be carried fo far as thofe perfons have done, who pretend that Chriftians firft taught the people of America to be wicked, fee Bayle's Dict. art. Leon. Vol. III. p. 773. Comp. Benson's Appendix to his Reasonableness, &c. p. 302, 303.

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