THE

CRITIC PHILOSOPHER;

OR,

TRUTH DISCOVERED.

SHEWING

HOW WE ARE TO BE HAPPY HERE, AND HEREAFTER.

Reader, you will in this Book find clearly proved, that Man is
greatly mistaken with regard to his own happiness; that his
Religious Tenets and Political Schemes, if not discontinued,
will involve him in ftill greater Miferies; and that he hath
very falfe Notions of thofe Things, which concern his Peace
here, and eternal Happiness hereafter.

FIFTH EDITION, WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS,

A Reply to the Reviewers ;

AND

Several Remarks on Literature, &c.

Mankind one day ferene and gay appear,
The next they're cloudy, fullen, and severe;
New passions, new opinions, ftill excite,
And what they like at noon, defpife at night.

By A. G. SINCLAIR, M. D.

Late in the UNIVERSITIES of EDINBURGH, PARIS, Member
of the PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, and Author of the Sys-
tems of Chymistry and Comparative Anatomy in the ROYAL
ENCYCLOPEDIA, &c. &c.

LONDON:

Printed for A. HAMILTON, near Gray's Inn Gate, Holborn;
and may be had of C. STALKER, Stationers' Court, Ludgate
Street; and all Bookfellers in Great-Britain and Ireland.

1791.

ROYAL HIGHNESS,

THE

DUKE OF YORK.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS,

Ir is with all due Deference and Efteem that I here present you with the fifth Edition of The CRITIC PHILOSOPHER. It was first published un. der the Patronage of your Royal Highness's Name, and fo well received by the Public, that in a few Days, I was induced to have it reprinted, and in lefs than eight months, not a copy of the fourth Edition could be procured.

That your Royal Highness may long continue to enjoy the bleffings of Heaven, and the loyal Affections of your Father's Subjects, are the most fincere and unfeigned wishes of

Your Royal Highness's

Very humble and much obliged Servant,

London,

A. G. SINCLAIR, M. D.

Sept. 19, 1790.

IN

PREFACE.

N compiling the following Sheets, I have carefully confulted many of the best ancient and modern Philofophers and Moralifts; and have borrowed a few things from them, which I conceived to be most fit for my purpose; but as thefe are mostly detached fentences, and interlined or elucidated, by my own obfervations, I have used no mark of quotation in the work.

Several feemed to blame me, for placing in former editions, Mr. before the word Cain, Abel, &c. therefore, in order to avoid giving offence to any, I have omitted the words Mr. Captain, Profeffor, &c. &c. though I Still affirm, that these names in the original, are, according to the beft Manufcripts, which I have feen, marked with a King, a Sire, or fome fuch other point or figure, denoting fuperiority.

Perhaps,

THE

-CRITIC PHILOSOPHER.

SECTION I.

N an age where fo many errors and follies are

IN

boldly laid open, it would be finful to conceal truths interesting to humanity: Therefore, we shall not hesitate to arraign before the tribunal of justice, and reason, those who set themselves up as governors of their fellow-creatures, and who tolerate cruel practices, without being ashamed to make fuch the bafis of their power.

LET the man of judgment and reflection, impartially weigh the proceedings of the present and past ages, and he will foon perceive, that down from