N- 



5S^ 



RELIGION 



\ 



' ^ 



^ 



\ 



* 



-R E iM A R K S 



O N 



T H E 



in the Society 



fles 



fi 



mor 



2d more in tliat general 

 when left to themfelves. 



in 



:th, that the greater part of mankind 



their religious principles/ and modes of worfhip, have 



always 



more or 



lefs deviated from that noble fimplicity, which the true 

 adoration in the fpirit and truth requires., and which is fo fully held 

 forth in the Chriftian difpenfation ^ wherein the ideas of the Deity 

 pure, and capable of filhng the mind with humility, confidence. 



are 



and adoration, and prompting every profelTor of that religion, to 

 the pradice of all moral and focial virtues, and laftly, excluding all 

 prieil-craft from its true and genuine votaries. 



The human facrifices being left to the choice of the priefl, who 

 pretends to converfe with the Deity, intimate, that thefe nations 

 have fome idea of a communication of the will and pleafure of the 

 Deity, by means of their priefts. 



I was told, that in dubious cafe 



o 



f great confequence, the priefl did adually confult the divinity, 



* T 



and pretended to bring back the anfwer to the people ; which feems 

 to imply that their marais are looked upon as oracles, where the 

 Deity may be confulted, and his anfwer is plainly heard by the 

 prieft, and communicated to thofe who defire to be intruded, and 

 guided by it. • This idea has likewife pervaded all mankind, fpr 

 there is hardly a nation to be found, either antient or modern. 



which had 



not 



ferted 



gft 



relig 



that the 



Deity had referved to himfelf the prerogative of inilruding man- 



5 



kind 



i» 



'^ 



^ 



ts 



