I will conclude this article with an observation of our moft judicious and learned (p) Archbishop. Whilft inftead of examining, fays he, impartially, where the truth lyes, men magifterially affume to themSelves an autority to denounce anathema's against their brethren, who would convince them of their devi. ations; it is in vain to hope, that either truth fhould prevail, or PEACE and Unity be establish'd among us. But would they once be perfuaded to remove this obftacle out of the way would they know themselves to be but men, and as fuch expos'd to the fame frailties and infirmities with others; would they impartially Search after truth, out of the alone certain and infallible rule of it, the word of God; why should we defpair, but that the light of the glorious gospel of CHRIST

b z

might

(p) Wake's Pref. before Sure and honeft means for the converfion of Hereticks, p. 6.

might fo fhine upon us, as to guide our feet into the way of PEACE.

11. The advantage of free debate to fociety is infinite. It is not only the way to true religion, and to true peace, but the way to knowledge and arts, which are the foundations of politeness, order, happiness, and profperity; as ignorance is the foundation of brutality, diforder, mifery, and declenfion in fociety It is the way to make men honeft and fincere in the profeffion of religion (as impofition is only the way to make men knaves and hypocrites); and that will introduce honesty in other refpects, which is the best policy, and the beft improvement of man.

12. The bulk of men do, I confefs, reason and practise very differently from what I have afferted and defended. Moft men, confcious of their own weakness, fee plainly, that they are unable, by any application to inquiries, to judge for themfelves in many points. Thence they con

clude

clude they ought to be govern'd in their belief by the judgment of others. Then they take up with fuch guides, as fome chance or other directs them to; who not only form their opinions for them, but make them zealous for thofe opini

ons.

Upon which way of reasoning and practise, I will only observe; that zeal and ignorance are a moft abfurd and ridiculous compofition in the fame perfons; and that these men most manifeftly determine the point before them wrong, by taking fides in matters, wherein, as understanding nothing, they have no concern, and fhould not pretend to have any opinion at all. Would it not be exceffively ridiculous to fee ignorant people zealously engag'd for or against propofitions (as led by different guides chofen at a venture) in Aftronomy, whereof they neither do, nor can understand any thing? And is it lefs ridiculous for ignorant peo

b 3

ple

ple zealously to concern themselves about other matters, (as led by guides chosen at a venture) whereof they know as little?

13. Men have very different tempers and capacities from one another, naturally; have very different educations; do improve themselves very differently by ftudy, according to their different capacities, application, and opportunities; have different interefts, paffions, and infirmities, by which they are influenc'd and acted; and are all fallible, not only in matters that depend upon reafon, but in understanding the fcriptures, which tho' true in themselves, and deliver'd to us by divine inspiration, are in many places too obfcure for men to be certain of their meaning.

Hence a foundation is laid for unavoidable differences of opinion among men which differences are greatly encreas'd by the dogmatick difcipline that is infinitely more promoted and prevalent than thofe dif

ciplines

ciplines, which teach men to doubt and distrust the truth of matters propos'd to them and God himself, by forming men as he has done, and by placing them in their prefent circumstances, feems to have defign'd, that they should not agree in opininion; or, at least, seems not to have defign'd, that they should agree. What then can any violent attempt or project to hinder men from differing in opinion from one another be, but an attempt to fubvert the common ftate of human nature and the defign of God; and not lefs ridiculous,romantick,and impossible to fucceed,than an attempt to hinder fpeech, or to make all men of the fame fize or height, or to quell the natural paffion of love, or to build a tower up to heaven?

And must not the men of this project be perfect DON QUIXOTS, and the greatest fanaticks, in fetting about and pursuing fo unaccountable a work?