wicked things are publish'd muft there be no publishing? I know it is objected that there is a medium between an abfolute Liberty of the Prefs, and an abfolute Suppreffion of it. Which I admit; but yet aver the medium (by which either Licenfing or nothing at all is meant) is far worse on all accounts than either extreme. For though we are ins deed told, that Licensers would serve us with wholesome goods, feed us with food convenient for us, and only prevent the diftribution of poifon; fure fuch cant was never meant to impofe on any, but those who are asleep, and cannot fee one inch before them. Let no True Briton therefore be deceived by fuch fallacious fpeeches, but confider the neceffary confequences

fequences which muft follow, and he will foon find that it is as the flattering language of the strange woman [in the book of Proverbs] who with her fair fmooth tongue, beguileth the fimple, and leadeth them as an ox to the flaughter. That plaufible and deceitful language leadeth indeed into the chambers of darkness and death. But this fubject is fully handled in the excellent Treatife fubjoin'd. I will only propofe to the confideration of all lovers of Religion, Virtue, Science, and Mankind, the few following queries; and every one ought methinks to propose them to himself every day of his life, as making a fundamental Catechifm. For if the truths, which these contain, are not fundamen

tal,

tal, man is not a man, but a beaft; religion and virtue are empty names.

1. What is our most valuable part, or what is it that maketh us capable of Religion, Virtue, and rational Happinefs? Is it not our Reafon or Underftanding?

2. What then is the nobleft privilege that belongs to man? Is it not the free Exercise of his Understanding, the full ufe of all the means of advancing in Virtue and Knowledge ?

3. What is it then that is, and muft be, the chief end of government to encourage and promote? Is it not Knowledge, Virtue, and Religion?

4. And can Knowledge, Virtue, or Religion, be promoted, if the only means

of promoting them are taken away? For what are the means of promoting them, but the liberty of writing and publishing, without running any rifque but that of being refuted or ridiculed, where any thing advanced chances to labour under the juft imputation of falfhood or abfurdity?