So APHORISMS FROM AN AUTHOR 



holds, and the name of the mailer in whofe words he 

 has fworn. 



After maturely rene&ing on the caufes of this mif- 

 chief, I think I have difcovered the primary ones in 

 the circumllance, that religion has been turned into a 

 bulinefs, the offices of the church into polls of honour 

 and its officers into dignitaries. Ever fince this abufe 

 got up in chrillendom, church offices have been he- 

 flowed on him that has moll intereft, and moll avidity 

 to feize them, however undeferving ; the moll: infa- 

 mous rapacity and the moll licentious ambition have 

 ufurped the place of pure zeal for religion, and the 

 temple of the Moll High has been a theatre, where 

 ollentatious orators difplay their talents in the garb of 

 teachers of religion ; few or none are concerned about 

 inllrucliing and edifying the congregation, but only to 

 procure adherents and admirers, to revile fuch as think 

 differently from them, and to deliver to the people 

 aftonilliing and incomprehenhble doctrines. 



No wonder then if nothing remain of the old reli- 

 gion but outward obfervances, whereby the vulgar 

 feem rather to flatter than adore the deity ; and if what 

 pafTes among us under the name of faith conlill only 

 in credulity and prejudice ; — 



And indeed of prejudices which degrade mankind 

 from the rank of rational beings into a common herd ; 

 by milleading them from the free ufe of their mental 

 powers, and are apparently invented in the exprefs 

 delign of entirely extinguilhing the natural light of 

 reafon. 



Piety and religion are at length turned into abfurdi- 

 ty and myftery; and people who decry reafon, and 



abhor 



