P

ERRAT A

Age 10. Line 9. for abfurd, read a great Miftake; and Line ib.. after Obligation, add of moral Duties. p. 16. 1. 3. in the Margin, read 1 John 4. 19. p. 68. 1. 6. for Agreemens, read Agreement. p. ib. 1.7. add which, at the Beginning of the Line. p. 156.. 1. 14. for Legiflator, read Legislature. p. 227. I. 29. in the Margin, for Serm. 77. read Serm. 74. p. 254.1. 3. at the Beginning of the Paragraph, for ONE, read SOME. p. 270. 1. 21. the Parenthefis ftands the wrong Way. p. 287. 1. 20. for Papift and Mahometan, read Papift, or Mahometan. p. 299. 1. 17. at the Beginning of the Paragraph, for Ir the Religion of Peasants, read IF, fay they, the Religion of Peafants, &c. p. ib. 1. 31. for Ir in the earliest Times, read IF, add they, in the earliest Times, &c. p. 347. 1. 4. for Must Men, read Muft not Men, &c. p. 355. 1. 4. add the Comma's thus "at the Beginning of the Line. p. 414. 1. 23. dele And before the Words much less..

THE

PREFACE.

T

HE Author of the following Sheets, makes no Apology for writing on a Subject of the laft Importance; and which, as far as I can find, has no where been fo fully treated: He builds nothing on a Thing fo uncertain as Tradition, which differs in moft Countries; and of which, in all Countries, the Bulk of Mankind are incapable of judging; but thinks he has laid down fuch plain and evident Rules, as may enable Men of the meanest Capacity, to distinguish between Religion, and Superftition; and has reprefented the Former in every Part fo beautiful, fo amiable, and fo ftrongly affecting; that they, who in the leaft reflect, must be highly in Love with it; and eafily perceive, that their

906

(RCPPC)

Duty and Happiness are infeparable. Whether lie has fucceeded in this Noble, and Generous Attempt, the Reader will be better able to judge, if he reads with the fame Freedom, and Impartiality, as the Author wrote.

THE Manner of debating a Subject. Dialoguewife, (as This between A. and B.) was esteem'd by the Ancients the most proper, as well as most prudent, Way of expofing prevailing Absurdities; and Tully's two Difcourfes, de Natura Deorum, and de Divinatione, both levell'd against the Superstition of his Country-men; are living Monuments of the Expediency, and Usefulness of this Way of Writing: And certainly, the Reader may be better entertain❜d thus, than by that dry Way of Objec tion and Answer, with which Controverfies are ufually manag'd.

THE

THE

CONTENTS

OF THE

First VOLUME.

T

CHA P. I.

HAT God, at all Times, has given Mankind fufficient Means, of knowing whatever he requires of them ; and what thofe Means are. Page 1.

CHA P. II.

That the Religion of Nature confifts in obferving those Things, which our Reason, by confidering the Nature of God and Man, and the Relation we stand in to him, and one another, demonftrates to be our Duty; and that those Things are plain; and likewife what they are.

Pr 13.

CHAP.

CHA P. III.

That the Perfection, and Happiness of all rational Beings, fupreme, as well as fubordinate, confifts in living up to the Dictates of their Nature.

p. 22..

CHA P. IV.

That not only the Matter of all. God's Laws, but the Penalties annex'd to them, are for the Good of Mankind; even those who suffer for the Breach of them.

CHAP. V.

p. 36.

That God requires nothing for his own fake; no, not the Worship we are to render him, nor the Faith we are to have in him.

CHAP. VI.

P. 44.

That the Religion of Nature is an abfolutely perfect Religion; and that external Revelation can neither add to nor take from its Perfection; and that True Religion, whether internally, or externally reveal'd, must be the fame.

CHAP. VII.

P. 58.

That Natural and Reveal'd Religion having the fame End, their Precepts must be the fame..

p. 69.

CHAP. VIII.

That the not adhering to thofe Notions Reafon dictates, concerning the Nature of God, has been the Occafion of all Superftition, and thofe innumerable Mifchiefs, that Man