PREFACE. 



THAT Man is fallen, and is not to rife again in this life, I 

 propofe, in this part of my Work, to prove to be a truth 

 of Hiftory and Philofophy as well as of Religion. And, indeed, 

 it gives me fmgular pleafure, to find that ray Philofophy agrees 

 fo perfedly with ChrilHanityj which, as it informs us that we are 

 fallen, lets us know, at the fame time, that it is not in this life 

 that we are to be reftored. The Gofpel, therefore, promifes no 

 temporary rewards ; but, on the contrary, prepares us for the 

 greateft fuflerings through the wickednefs and folly of men; nor 

 does it lead us to expe£t, that the ftate of human affairs ihall ever be 

 better than it was then, or has been at any time fmce; but direds 

 our attention to the World to come, and only requires of us, that 

 we fhouid live here in fuch a way as to fit us for a better ftate 

 there ; and which, I am perfuaded, will likewife make us happy here, 

 to a certain degree at leaft, even in the greateft diforders that 

 the vices, follies, and wickednefs of other men can produce, either 

 in public or private life. And not only in this does my Philofophy 

 agree with Chriftianity, but in that myfterious Doarine of it which 

 ftumbles unbelievers more than any other ; I mean the Dodrine of 

 the Trinity. For that there was from all eternity a proceflion or 

 emanation of Deity, which in our Sacred Books is likened to 

 generation, into two other Divine Beings; the one, the Principle 

 of Intelligence by which all things were created ; the other, 

 the Principle of animation, by which all things are preferved in 

 life and motion; and that thefe two principles are fo eflential 

 Vol. III. h to 



