of thought, if it will not produce freedom of action? which is the fole end, how remote foever in арpearance, of all objections against christianity; and therefore, the free-thinkers confider it as a fort of edifice, wherein all the parts have such a mutual dependance on each other, that if you happen to pull out one fingle nail, the whole fabrick must 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 ancient manuscript was differently read; he thereupon immediately took the hint, and by a fudden deduction of a long forites, most logically concluded; why, if it be as you fay, I may fafely whore and drink on, and defy the parfon. From which, and many the like inftances eafy to be produced, I think nothing can be more manifest, than that the quarrel is not against any particular points of hard digestion in the christian system, 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 shall still be thought for the benefit of church and state, that chriftianity 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 disoblige our allies, who, as it falls out, are all christians, and many of them, by the prejudices of their education, so bigoted, as to place a sort of pride in the appellation. If upon being rejected by them, we are to trust to an alliance with the Turk, we fhall find ourselves much deceived: for, as he is

too

too remote, and generally engaged in war with the P Perfian emperor, fo his people would be more scandalized at our infidelity, than our chriftian neighbours. For 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 preserve the name of christians.

To conclude: whatever some may think of the great advantages to trade by this favourite scheme, IR 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 preservation of christianity, there is no reafon we should be at fo great a lofs, merely for the fake of destroying 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,

MY

Y intention of 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 unreafonable request; fince by being infcribed to your ladyship, 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 most 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; VOL. II.

Dd

for

for even this may perhaps have been equalled in fome 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 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 neceffary, for the intereft of virtue and religion, that the whole kingdom fhould be informed in fome parts of your character for inftance, that the eafieft and politeft converfation, joined with the trueft piety, may be observed in your ladyship, in as great perfection, as they were ever feen apart, in any other perfons. That by your prudence and management under several disadvantages, you have preserved the luftre of that most 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 has called you: in the education of those two incomparable daughters, whofe conduct is fo univerfally admired; in every duty of a prudent, complying, affectionate wife; in that care which defcends to the meanest of your domefticks; and laftly, 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

to inform them, fhall, inftead of finding credit, perhaps be cenfured for a flatterer. To avoid fo usual a reproach, I declare this to be no dedication, but merely 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 has spent all her life in the practice and promotion of both.

A

MONG all the fchemes offered to the pub

lick in this projecting age, I have obferved, with some displeasure, that there have never been any for the improvement of religion and morals: which, befide the piety of the defign, from the confequence of fuch a reformation in a future life, would be the best natural means for advancing the publick felicity of the state, as well as the prefent happinefs of every individual. For, as much as faith and morality are declined among us, I am altogether confident, they might in a short time, and with no very great trouble, be raised to as high a perfection as numbers are capable of receiving. Indeed, the method is so easy 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 those in mind, who by their honour, duty, and intereft, are chiefly concerned.

But because it is idle to propose remedies, before we are affured of the disease, or to be in fear, till

*There feems to want' nothing more, is a bad expreffion; better thus nothing more feems wanting than to,' &c.