VI 



R E F 



notice of his arguments. At the fame time, I know that there is 

 an anfwer already written to him, which I have read with a great 

 deal of pieafure, where the abfurdities of his philofophy are cx- 

 pofed with much pleafantry, and made to appear as ridiculous as 

 they really are : And, though I know that he and his friends have 

 complained much of the ftyle of this anfwer, it is, 1 think, with- 

 out any reafon ; for a man, who had infulted fo much the rehgion of 

 his country, and had been fo rude and ill-bred as to publilh, that no 

 man could be a Chriftian, unlefs the whole principles of his under- 

 Handing were fubverted *, was not enticled to be treated even with the 

 regard which Dr Beattie has fliewn him. But, as many people, I 

 know, wanted a more ferious and phiiofophical anfwer to Mr Hume's 

 arguments, though I thought Dr Beattie's anfv^er was all that they 

 deferved ; yet, that nothing might be wanting in fuch a caufe, I have 

 given an anfwer ftridlly phiiofophical, and fuch as, I think, muft fatif- 

 fy every one who will take the trouble to ftudy and underftand it. In 

 this anfwer, though I have treated his opinions with the greateft free- 

 dom, and given them the epithets which they deferve, I have abftained 

 from that illiberal abufe, which no zeal, even in the beft caufe, can ju- 

 i^ify. 



There are, I knew, who think that fuch authors are beft treated 

 w.ith contempt and negled, and that, to anfwer them, may do more ill 

 than good : But, when their writings are read and admired by per- 

 fons of rank and condition — when their opinions are adopted by men 

 of fcience, it is time for every good man, and lover of his country, to 

 take the alarm. I think it is impoffible that any man of common 

 fenfe can really believe, whatever he may profefs, that religion, as 

 well as government, is not abfolutely neceffary for men living in fo- 

 ciety. Now, it is well known, that opinions, as well as manners and 

 cuftoms, defcend from the better fort of people, in every country, to 

 the lower fort, and fo become univerfally prevalent. ' To the difbelief, 



there- 

 * EfTay on Miracles, towards the end. 



