1ft Argument to prove this, taken from the Suppos'd Neceffity of Mens having a right Opinion in thofe Points.
2d Argument fhows, That the fole Duty of Man with respect to having any Opinions whatfoever, lies in Free-Thinking. 33 3d Argument Shows there is no remedy for the great Evil of Superftition, but thinking freely on thefe Points. 35 4th Argument is taken from the infinite number of Pretenders to Revelations. 5th Argument is taken from the Establishment of a Society in England, for propagating the Gospel in foreign Parts. 6th Argument is taken from the Defign of the Gospel, and the Preaching of our Saviour and his Apoftles.
7th Argument is taken from the Conduct of the Clergy, in feveral Inftances.
First Instance of their Conduct is their Divi fions about the Nature and Attributes of God. 47. About Scriptures, and the Au thority of Scriptures. 52. And about the Senfe of Scriptures. 56 Second Inftance of their Conduct is their owning the Doctrines of the Church to be contra- dictory to one another and to Reason. 76 Third Inftance, their Acknowledgment of Abu- fes, &c. in the Church. Fourth Inftance, their profeffing they will not tell the Truth, and making it matter of Re- proach in any of the Clergy to tell the Truth.
Fifth Inftance, their charging the most rational Chriftians with Atheism, &c.
Sixth Inftance, their rendring the Canon of Scripture uncertain.
Seventh Inftance, their afferting and rendring the Text of Scripture precarious. Eighth Inftance, their publishing the Argu- ments of Infidels.
Ninth Inftance, their publishing the only an- tient Syftem of Atheism in English. ibid. Tenth Inftance, their Ufe of Pious Frauds in publishing and tranflating Books. The Conclufion from these Inftances of their Conduct.
Objections to Free-Thinking answer'd. 1ft Objection, That Men have not a fufficient Capacity to think freely about any Specu- lations, anfwer'd.
2d Objection, That Free-Thinking will pro- duce Divifions in Opinion,and Disorders in Society, answer'd. 3d Objection, That by Free-Thinking Men may poffibly become Atheists, anfwer'd. 104 4th Objection, That Priefts are fet apart to think freely for the Laity, and are to be rely'd on as Lawyers and Physicians, an- Swer'd. 107
5th Objection, That it is neceffary to the Peace of Society to impofe fome Specula- tions, answer'd.
6th Objection, That Free-Thinkers are irra- tional, infamous, and wicked People, an fwer'd by fhewing,
(1.) That Free-Thinkers must have most Un- derstanding, and that they must neceffarily be the most virtuous People.
(2.) That they have in fact been the most un- derftanding and virtuous People in all Ages, prov'd by instancing in,
1. Socrates. 121 11. Solomon. 150 2. Plato. 126 12. The Jewish Pro-
Other Errata are left to the Reader's Candour, and he is defir'd to correct these following.
P. 24. 1. 4. for ftir read ftri&.
P. 38. 1. 26. for good Good read good God.
1. 28. for Sanction read Penalty.
P. 40. 1.18. dele If a Man be under an Obligation to liften
to any Revelation at all.
P.46. 1. 23. for 6thly read 7thly.
P. 135. for there was no read whether there was.
POLOGYS for felf-evident Truths can never have any effect on those who have fo little Sense as to deny them. They are the Foundation of all Reasoning, and the only juft Bottom on which Men can proceed in convincing one another of the Truth: and by confequence whoever is capable of denying them, is not in a condition to be inform'd. Mere ignorant Men, or Men deftitute of those Principles of Knowledg, may perhaps be capable of Information: Their Ignorance does not exclude them from affenting to a self-evi. dent Truth when they firft hear it, nor from admitting any Confequences deducible from it. But Men who deny what is felf
evident, are not only deftitute of the Princi- ples of Knowledg, but muft in virtue of fuch their Denial have Principles inconfiftent with them, and confiftent with the greatest Ab- furdities. And under that distemper'd State of Mind, it remains only for them to take up with fome diforder'd Fancies of their own; or, which is much more common, with the Dictates of artificial defigning Men or crack-brain'd Enthufiafts: for as none elfe prefume to be Guides to others in Mat- ters of Speculation, fo none who think they ought to be guided in thofe Matters make choice of any but fuch for their Guides. And if they ever depart from the Sentiments they have once imbib'd, and from being ob- ftinate in one Set of Opinions become obftinate in another; their Change muft ftill be foun- ded on the fame Motives, and their Opinions be as abfurd as at firft. For as Truth will never serve the Purposes of Knaves, so it will never fuit the Understandings of Fools; and the latter will ever be as well pleas'd in being deceiv'd, as the former in deceiving. It is therefore without the leaft hopes of doing any good, but purely to comply with your Requeft, that I fend you this Apology for Free-Thinking; which, as it is one of thofe Subjects too evident to be made plainer, and which ought to be admitted on the firft Propofal, fo all that can be faid in its be- half must be built on Topicks lefs evident than the thing it felf.
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