PREFACE. vli 



therefore, and negled of religion, among perfons cf high rank, in 

 Britain, may, I think, fairly be afcribed that irreligion, and the confe- 

 quent corruption of manners, which diftinguilh more, I am afraid, 

 than any thing elfe, the commonality of this ifland from the fame 

 rank of men in any other nation in Europe, and which, if not fooa 

 checked, muft end in the dellrudion of the nation. 



It might have been expeded that I fhould have taken more particular 

 notice of the arguments that have been ufed againft natural religion, by 

 fome other writers, both French and Britlih : Bat I hope I have fur- 

 nilhed principles fufficient to anfwer them all. And, befides, 1 mufc 

 confefs the truth, that, though I have looked a little into thofe authors, 

 their ftyle, as well as their matter, is fo different from that of the au- 

 thors I am accuflomed to read, that 1 had not patience to read them 

 with the attention which is neceflary to make a particular anfwer to 

 them. Another reafon is, that, as this work is intended more for 

 pofterity, than the prefent age, 1 did not think proper to mix with it a 

 controverfy with authors, whofe writings, if I may venture to pro- 

 phecy, will be quite forgotten in not many years, however they may 

 flatter themfelves with not only the continuance, but the increaie of. 

 their literary fame. 



The fafhionable reader, accuftomed to a fair and neat margin, noJ" 

 fullied by references and quotations, will be much difgufted by feeing 

 the bottom of luy page fo loaded vv-ith authorities from learned au- 

 thors ; and he will particularly be offended with the pedantry of my 

 Greek quotations, in which, 1 own, 1 abound ; becaufe they not on- 

 ly ferve for authorities, in fupport of what I advance, but exprel's my 

 meaning much better than 1 can do in hnglilh. What others can do 

 in philofophy, without the help of learning, by the force of genius 

 merely, I cannot tell : For my own part, I am not afhamed to make 

 the fame confeffion which Cicero made, * That, dillrufting my natu- 



*ral 



