praying that he would damn, rot, fink, and confound them. The other, being of an indolent and easy temper, concluded there could be no fuch thing as a Providence: for that a Being of confummate wisdom must needs employ himself better, than in minding the prayers, and actions, and little interefts of mankind.

ALC.-After all, if God have no paffions, how can it be true that vengeance is his or how can he be faid to be jealous of his glory?

CRI. We believe that God executes vengeance without revenge, and is jealous without weakness, just as the mind of man fees without eyes, and apprehends without hands.

XXV. ALC.-To put a period to this difcourse, we will grant, there is a God in this dispaffionate sense: but what then? What hath this to do with religion or divine worship? To what purpose are all these prayers and praifes, and thanksgivings, and finging of pfalms, which the foolish vulgar call ferving God? What fenfe, or use, or end is there in all these things?

CRI. We worship God, we praise and pray to him, not because we think that he is proud of our worship, or fond of our praife or prayers, and affected with them as mankind are or that all our fervice can contribute in the

leaft degree to his happiness or good: but because it is good for us, to be fo difpofed towards God: because it is juft and right, and suitable to the nature of things, and becoming the relation we ftand in to our Supreme Lord and Governor.

ALC.-If it be good for us to worship God, it should seem that the christian religion, which pretends to teach men the knowledge and worship of God, was of fome use and benefit to mankind.

CRI.-Doubtlefs.

ALC.-If this can be made appear, I fhall own myself very much mistaken.

CRI. It is now near dinner-time. Wherefore, if you please, we will put an end to this conversation for the prefent, and to-morrow morning refume our subject.

THE

FIFTH DIALOGUE.

XVII.

I. Minute Philofophers join in the Cry, and follow the Scent of others. II. Worfbip prefcribed by the Chriftian Religion fuitable to God and Man. III. Power and Influence of the Druids. IV. Excellency and Usefulness of the Chriftian Religion. V. It ennobles Mankind, and makes them happy. VI. Religion neither Bigotry nor Superftition. VII. Phyficians and Phyfic for the Soul. VIII. Character of the Clergy. IX. Natural Religion and Human Reason not to be difparaged. X. Tendency and Ufe of the Gentile Religion. XI. Good Effects of Chriftianity. XII. Englishmen compared with ancient Greeks and Romans. XIII. The modern Practice of Duelling. XIV. Character of the old Romans, how to be formed. XV. Genuine Fruits of the Gofpel. XVI. Wars and Factions not an effect of the Chriftian Religion. Civil Rage and Maffacres in Greece and Rome. XVIII. Virtue of ancient Greeks. XIX. Quarrels of Polemical Divines. XX. Tyranny, Ufurpation, Sophiftry of Ecclefiaftics. XXI. The Universities cenfured. XXII. Divine Writings of a certain modern Critic. XXIII. Learning the Effect of Religion. XXIV. Barbarifm of the Schools. XXV. Reftoration of Learning and polite Arts, to whom owing. XXVI. Prejudice and Ingratitude of Minute Philofophers. XXVII. Their Pretenfions and Conduct inconfiftent. XXVIII. Men and Brutes compared with respect to Religion. XXIX. Chriftianity the only Means to establish Natural Religion. XXX. Free-thinkers miftake their Talents; have a strong Imagination. XXXI. Tithes and Church-lands. guished from Human Creatures.

XXXII. Men diftinXXXIII. Diftribution

XXXIV.

of Mankind into Birds, Beafts, and Fishes.
Plea for Reafon allowed, but Unfairness Taxed. XXXV.
Freedom a Bleffing or Curfe, as it is used. XXXVI.
Prieftcraft not the reigning Evil.

I.

W

E amufed ourselves next day, every one to his fancy, till nine of the clock, when word was brought that the tea-table was fet in the library: which is a gallery on the ground floor, with an arched door at one end, opening into a walk of limes; where, as foon as we had drank tea, we were tempted by fine weather to take a walk, which led us to a small mount, of eafy afcent, on the top whereof we found a feat under a spreading tree. Here we had a profpect, on one hand, of a narrow bay, or creek, of the fea, inclosed on either fide by a coast beautified with rocks and woods, and green banks and farm-houses. At the end of the bay was a small town, placed upon the flope of a hill, which, from the advantage of its fituation, made a confiderable figure. Several fishing boats and lighters, gliding up and down on a surface as smooth and bright as glass, enlivened the profpect. On the other hand, we looked down on green pastures, flocks, and herds, basking beneath in fun-fhine, while we, in our superior situation, enjoyed the freshness of air and fhade, Here we felt that fort of joyful instinct, which a rural scene and fine weather infpire; and proposed no fmall pleasure, in refuming and continuing our conference, without interruption, till dinner: But we had hardly feated ourselves, and looked about us, when we faw a fox run by the foot of our mount into an adjacent thicket, A few minutes after, we heard a confufed noife of the opening of hounds, the winding of horns, and the roaring of country fquires. While our attention was sufpended by this event, a fervant came running out of A a