ON MATTERS OF BELIEF* g$ 



that epithet, — as formerly the difciples of Pythagoras 

 had done, or like the EfTenes among the jews — and 

 juft in this fmall number, and in the uniformity of 

 their inward difpolitions, lay the foundation of that 

 fraternal equality which be eftablifhed among them, 

 and the clofe affectionate connexion, wherein they 

 lived, or ought to live together, as the children of one 

 father. 



In thus reprefenting to myfelf the religion of Chrift, 

 and the primitive brotherhood, whofe founder he was, 

 I by no means intend to deny, that it might not have 

 been poflible in the fequel, to form a national and fete- 

 religion, in agreement with the maxims and morality 

 of Chrift, that could have remained free from all dae- 

 moniftic and magian fuperftitions : nay, I think I (hall 

 not advance too much, if I fay, that even an hierar- 

 chical religious constitution, built on thofe principles, 

 may be conceived, though not fo eahly reduced to 

 practice ; fuch an one as fhould be free from all prieftly 

 frauds, all prieftly tyrannical authority, all dominion 

 over confciences, fuppreffion and hood-winking of rea- 

 fon, intolerance, undue limitation of ideas which have 

 been made of fupernatural and incomprehenfible things, 

 from all monkery, and the like; in one word, free 

 from the whole litany of abufes, which for fo many 

 centuries have had their full fwing under fanction of 

 what is called chriffianity ; — fomething fimilar to 

 what has been feen in England fince the days of queen 

 Elizabeth. However beautiful the ideal project that 

 might be formed on this poffibility ; this at leaft is an 

 irrefragable truth : that ever fince the times of Con- 

 ftantine the Great, nay even long before them, chriili- 

 3 1 anity 



