would turn the other: If robbed of his upper garment, would give the under; or if compelled to go one mile, would go twain? Where is the man, who beholding a woman with a lustful eye, plucketh it out and cafteth it from him? Where is the man, who having with his hand, committed fraud, or violence, cutteth it off, and cafteth it from him? Or where is the man, who can truly fay-I love my enemy? There are indeed many who take no thought for the morrow, and whose condus juftifies the faying Sufficient unto the

da is the evil thereof,' but can it be proved, that one of them is ftimulated by the Chriftian precept? Or will their example be held up as worthy of imitation? It will generally be found, that in cafes where too much is required; too little will be performed and our retreat from any particular dogma, or act of worship, which offends our reafon; will be further than is absolutely neceffary, or perhaps warrantable. Therefore again I afk-Why have we not a plain, confiftent, rational fyftem of religion, whofe bafis is morality? If I am anfwered by orthodoxy-The prefent is fuch, and you need no other, if you practice the doctrine drawn from thence and which we preach. I reply-That doctrine, most affuredly, is the best, which produces the best effects and to judge of these we must examine

the

the general manners of those who profefs different religions. This examination, as to the times paft or prefent, will not, I believe, turn out to the advantage of Chriftianity: A religion, which from its first promulgation to this period, has, for no confiderable time, poffeffed uniformity or stability: nor do I fee, if the Scriptures have always been what they now are, how it fhould. This obfervation gives ftrength to the opinion I have advanced page 250, that corruptions of the Scriptures must have been made in the first age of Christianity. Hiftory informs us that the different fects (and they were not a few) which then exifted; took the liberty of erafing from, adding to, and altering the Scriptures; as their various opinions or defigns led them. Here then we find - the fource from whence flowed thofe errors which deluged the Chriftian world with blood, and covered it with darkness. Which rendered a religion the ridicule, contempt, nay even abhorrence of mankind; which was given by its author, as a pure, benevolent, and univerfal fyftem of ethics; admirable for its accelerating virtue and preventing vice, by an affurance, that in a future ftate, the first would be nobly rewarded and the last severely punished. To bring it back to this its origin, tends my reasonable propofal; my fincere wish; and fanguine hope. One reformation has freed us

from

from fome errors: Why not another, that may free us from all ?.

From the Scriptures ftrike out all the exceptionable parts. Reduce the numerous articles of the prefent inconfiftent faith: few, plain, and fimple, let them be: fuch as the unlearned may eafily comprehend; and the well informed may admit without fcruple. Let our forms and ceremonies, which are little more than the police of religion, be long, or short; pompous, or plain; it matters not greatly but let them be fuch as exclude not reason, truth, or fincerity. And for our government with respect to moral actions; we have a rule, fo plain; fo juft; fo equitable; that had we no other affurance of its being the will of God, the evidence of the precept itself would confirm us in that belief beyond the poffibility of a doubt -Whatsoever ye would that men fhould do

6

to you; do ye even fo them.' Comprehenfive, complete, divine precept! Suited to every capacity, every rank, and every fituation of mankind throughout the world. In which; where is the man fo ignorant, as not to understand it? So weak, as to be incapable of performing it? Where the man fo wife, as not to admire it? So powerful, as not to dread the infringement of it by others? More efpecially in cafes wherein his property or personal fafety is concerned. An exemplification of this unexceptionable

unexceptionable rule, in the great variety of cafes to which it extends; would afford ample fcope for the useful talents of our clergy. Releafed from the galling fetters forged by fraud and ignorance; freed from the unhappy neceffity of teaching what they understand not, perhaps believe not, themfelves; how different will their fituation, their feelings, their powers be, both with respect to themfelves and others. Convinced in their own minds of the reasonablenefs of Christianity, they would enforce its truth with energy irresistible: not by working upon the paffions, which may produce moral actions in a tranfitory way, but by convincing the judgment, which may not only produce moral actions; but fupport and maintain the practice of them, constantly and unifomly through life. They may quote their own example in proof of their own belief; and at the fame time point out their Mafter's unerring rule whereby their fincerity, and that of others may be, with certainty, determined By their fruits, ye fhall know them.'

To precure the means whereby every man may be fitted for this fcrutiny, was the motive which actuated the author of thefe fheets: it is the most that can be done by an individual of fmall fortune and lefs influence, who boafts neither learning or literary skill. A little plain fense or com

mon understanding; unbiaffed (not having read what others have written upon the subject) and governing the best intention, is all he claims. Farewel O candid reader; criticise the author's head, as feverely as thou wilt, but fpare his heart: and if thou haft power, promote the good he intended for the benefit of mankind.

FINI S.