MODERX POLICY. 243 



wards the bottom brackish. Let me be a su- 

 perficial, let others be fundamental Christians. 

 I like the humour of the Samseans in Epipha- 

 nius, that were neither Jews, nor Gentiles, nor 

 Christians, but preserving a commodious cor- 

 respondence with all. Whatsoever I act in 

 reference to heaven, is merely theatrical ; and 

 done in subordination to some other interest. 

 Lycurgus could never have ingratiated his laws 

 so effectually, if he had not pretended a dialogue 

 with his goddess. 'Tis to me indifferent, whe- 

 ther the religion I personate be true or false, so 

 it be but popular : and if the people I mean to 

 juggle with, err fundamentally, I can by no 

 means court them more, than by embracing 

 their delusion. It buckles them very close to 

 me in moral observance, to assist them in their 

 spiritual fondness, and mix with their distem- 

 per ; and therefore I commonly lead the van in 

 the faction, and call it Jure Divino, though I 

 never found it but in hell's black canons. 



How comfortably the pope and cardinals con- 

 ferred notes. How profitable has the tale of 

 Christ been to us ?* O the rich income and 

 glorious result of hypocrisy ! This, this must 

 be diligently studied and practised. 



* Quantum nobis lucri peperit ilia fabula de Christo ! 



r2 



