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duced, I think nothing can be more manifeft, than that the quarrel is not against any particular points of hard digeftion in the chriftian fyftem, but against religion in general, which, by laying reftraints on human nature, is fuppofed the great enemy to the freedom of thought and ac

tion.

Upon the whole, if it fhall ftill be thought for the benefit of church and ftate, 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 allics, who, as it falls out, are all chriftians, and many of them, by the prejudices of their education, fo bigotted, as to place a fort of pride in the appellation. If upon being rejected by them, we are to truft to an alliance with the Turk, we fhall find ourselves much deceived: for, as he is too remote, and generally engaged in war with the Perfian emperor, fo his people would be more fcandalized at our infidelity, than our chriftian neighbours. For the Turks are not only ftrict obfervers of religious VOL. III.

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worfhip, but, what is worfe, believe a God; which is more than is required of us, even while we preserve the name of christians.

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 gofpel, the Bank and Eaft-India ftock 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 chriftianity, there is no reafon we should be at fo great a loss, merely for the fake of deftroying it.

A PRO

A

PROJECT

FOR THE

ADVANCEMENT OF RELIGION

AND THE

REFORMATION OF MANNERS.

BY A PERSON OF QUALITY.

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 requeft; fince by being infcribed to your ladyfhip, though without your knowledge, and from a concealed hand, you cannot recommend them without fome fufpicion 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

This excellent lady, was Elizabeth, the daughter of BapNoel, vifcount Campden,

and fifter to Edward earl of Gainsborough.

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world;

world; not upon the fubject 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 some other age or country. Befides, none of these advantages do derive any accomplishments to the owners, but ferve at best only to adorn what they really poffefs. What I intend, is your piety, truth, good fenfe, and good nature, affability, and charity; wherein I wish your ladyfhip had many equals, or any fuperiors; 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 neceffary, for the interest of virtue and religion, that the whole kingdom should be informed in fome parts of your character: for inftance, that the easiest 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

and management under feveral difadvantages, you have preserved the luftre of that most noble family, into which you are graffed, and which the unmeafurable 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 those two incomparable daughters, whose conduct is fo univerfally admired; in every duty of a prudent, complying, affectionate wife; in that care which defcends to the meaneft of. your domesticks; and lastly, in that endless bounty to the poor, and difcretion 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 ladyship; yet whoever goes about to inform them, fhall, instead of finding credit, perhaps be cenfured for a flatterer. To avoid fo ufual a reproach, I declare this to be no dedication, but merely an introduction to a proposal for the advancement of religion and morals, by tracing, however imperfectly, fome few lineaments in the character of a lady, N 3 who

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