Freedom of Action; which is the fole End, how remote foever, in Appearance, of all Objections against Christianity? And therefore, the FreeThinkers confider it as a Sort of Edifice, wherein all the Parts have fuch a mutual Dependance on each other, that if you happen to pull out one fingle Nail, the whole Fabrick muft fall to the Ground. This was happily expreffed by him, who had heard of a Text brought for Proof of the Trinity, which in an antient Manuscript was differently read; he thereupon immediately took the Hint, and by a fudden Deduction of a long Sorites, moft logically concluded; Why, if it be as you fay, I may fafely whore and drink on, and defy the Parson. From which, and many the like Instances easy to be produced, I think nothing can be more manifeft, than that the Quarrel is not against any particular Points of hard Digeftion in the Chriftian Syftem; but against Religion in general; which, by laying Restraints on human Nature, is fuppofed the great Enemy to the Freedom of Thought and Action.

UPON the whole; if it fhall ftill be thought for the Benefit of Church and State, that Christianity be abolished; I conceive, however, it may be more convenient to defer the Execution to a Time of Peace; and not venture in this Conjuncture to difoblige our Allies; who, as it falls out, are all Chriftians; and many of them, by the Prejudices of their Education, so bigotted, as to place a Sort of Pride in the Appellation. If, upon being rejected by them, we are to truft to an Alliance with the Turk, we shall find our felves much deceived: For, as he is too remote, and generally engaged in War with the Perfian Emperor; fo his People would be more fcan

fcandalized at our Infidelity, than our Chriftian Neighbours. Because, the Turks are not only strict Obfervers of religious Worship; but, what is worse, believe a God; which is more than is required of us, even while we preferve the Name of Chriftians.

To conclude: Whatever fome may think of the great Advantages to Trade, by this favourite Scheme; I do very much apprehend, that in fix Months Time, after the Act is past for the Extirpation of the Gospel, the Bank and Eaft-India Stock may fall, at least, One per Cent. And, fince that is Fifty Times more than ever the Wisdom of our Age thought fit to venture for the Prefervation of Christianity, there is no Reason we should be at fo great a Lofs, meerly for the Sake of deftroying it.

REBETUR ORIGO

PER

CINERES

A PRO

A

PROJECT

FOR THE

Advancement of RELIGION,

AND THE

Reformation of MANNERS.

Written in the Year 1709.

TO THE

Countefs of BERKLEY:

MADAM,

M

Y Intention in prefixing your Ladyfhip's Name, is not after the common Form, to defire your Protection of the following Papers; which I take to be a very unreasonable Request; fince by being infcribed to your Ladyship, although without your Knowledge, and from a concealed

Hand,

Hand, you cannot recommend them without fome Sufpicion of Partiality. My real Defign is, I confefs, the very fame I have often detefted in moft Dedications; That of publishing your Praises to the World. Not upon the Subject of your noble Birth, for I know others as noble; or of the Greatness of your Fortune, for I know others far greater; or of that beautiful Race (the Images of their Parents) which calls you Mother: For even this may, perhaps, have been equalled in fome other Age, or Country. Befides, none of thefe Advantages do derive any Accomplishments to the Owners; but ferve, at beft, only to adorn what they really poffess. What I intend, is your Piety, Truth, good Senfe, and good Nature, Affability and Charity; wherein I wish your Ladyship had many Equals, or any Superiors; and I wish I could fay, I knew them too; for then your Ladyship might have had a Chance to escape this Addrefs. In the mean Time, I think it highly neceflary for the Intereft of Virtue and Religion, that the whole Kingdom should be informed in fome Parts of your Character: For Inftance: That the eafieft and politeft Conversation, joined with the trueft Piety, may be obferved in your Ladyship, in as great Perfection, as they were ever seen apart in any other Perfons. That by your Prudence and Management under feveral Disadvantages, you have preferved the Luftre of that moft noble Family, into which you are grafted, and which the unmeasurable Profufion of Ancestors, for many Generations, had too much eclipfed. Then, how happily you perform every Office of Life, to which Providence hath called you: In the Education of thofe two incomparable Daughters, whose

Con

Conduct is so univerfally admired; in every Duty of a prudent, complying, affectionate Wife; in that Care which defcends to the meaneft of your Domefticks; and lastly, in that endless Bounty to the Poor, and Discretion where to diftribute it. I infift on my Opinion, that it is of Importance for the Publick to know this, and a great deal more of your Ladyfhip; yet whoever goes about to inform them, shall, instead of finding Credit, perhaps be cenfured for a Flatterer. To avoid fo usual a Reproach, I declare this to be no Dedication; but meerly an Introduction to a Propofal for the Advancement of Religion and Morals; by tracing, however imperfectly, fome few Lineaments in the Character of a Lady, who hath spent all her Life in the Practice and Promotion of both.

A

MONG all the Schemes offered to the Publick

in this projecting Age, I have obferved, with fome Displeasure, that there have never been any for the Improvement of Religion and Morals: Which, befides the Piety of the Defign from the Confequences of fuch a Reformation in a future Life, would be the beft natural Means for advancing the publick Felicity of the State, as well as the prefent Happiness of every Individual. For, as much as Faith and Morality are declined among us, I am altogether confident, they might, in a fhort Time, and with no very great Trouble, be raised to as high à Perfection, as Numbers are capable of receiving. Indeed, the Method is fo eafy and obvious, and fome prefent Opportunities fo good; that, in order to have this Project reduced to Practice, there feems to want nothing more than to put thofe in mind,

who