OP THE LAST CENTURY. 63 



in a ftyle, and built upon arguments, manifeflly cal- 

 culated for the capacities of the multitude of their con- 

 temporaries : I was thoroughly convinced, that the 

 fcriptures left reafon in perfect freedom. 



Becaufe, however, thefe capacities of mind are fa 

 extremely diverfe, and one man will always find greater 

 comfort in one mode of reprefentation, and another in 

 another ; fo indeed that one and the fame matter will 

 fill one pe'rfon with a facred awe, and excite only 

 laughter in another : I at laft came to this conclufion r 

 that every man mould be allowed the liberty of judging 

 according to his own ideas, and to believe according 

 to his own perceptions. Thus would all men hearken 

 to the deity with a free and chearful fpirit, and righ- 

 teoufnefs and love acquire that univerfal efteem they fo 

 highly deferve. 



AN EXCURSION TO THE REALMS BELOW. 



I CANNOT perfuade myfeif, that in the pre fen t 

 golden age of human nature, when, in lefs than ten 

 years, fo many new and miraculous powers have been 

 traced out in our nature, it will appear ftrange to any 

 perfon who may happen to read this paper (unlefs he 

 be afflicted with an incurable ftoppage and induration in 

 his organs of belief # ) if I deliver it, as a fimple fact, 



that 



* The mod modern adepts fpeak more intelligibly of what 



they 



