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A48887 Reason and religion in some useful reflections on the most eminent hypotheses concerning the first principles, and nature of things : with advice suitable to the subject, and seasonable for these times. Locke, John, 1632-1704. 1694 (1694) Wing L2750; ESTC R19663 52,442 148

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zealous and active for God tho' they do not always give the best Reason and Demonstration for it But however by these Diversities of Operation and Temper in the Creature in carrying in the Cause of God the one supplies the Defectiveness of the other 'T is therefore no sufficient Occasion of insulting in any Irreligious Person if they find the Zeal of some plain and honest-hearted Christians to go beyond their Knowledge Every one is not cut out for a Disputer especially in such Matters which they could hardly ever have dream'd there should have been any Dispute about And tho' God gives them inward Convictions of the Truth of those Heavenly Doctrines they are zealous for yet they may not be prepared to encounter the Cavils and Objections which an Artist in Profaneness may raise up God provides other Means and Instruments for that purpose and they must not measure their Conquest by the Insufficiency of less Contemplative Christians but by the Advantage they can gain over those which will be but small who have made it their Business to dive into the bottom of their unreasonable Objections 'T is customary with some Men to furnish themselves with a few profane Cavils And if they can but puzzle the Parson or some honest-hearted Christian Illos exaequat victoria coele they think the Day is their own and that Religion will never be able to lift up its Head more Nay sometimes when a Minister discourses very affectionately concerning the Fear of God and our Duty to him concerning the Providence of God and our Acknowledgment of it in many eminent Occurrences of Humane Life concerning the Promises of Heaven and the Terrors of Hell such Men who take themselves to be Men of no ordinary Parts and Judgment are ready to indulge Themselves and their Neighbour with a scornful Smile As if a Minister of the Gospel must be always laying the Grounds of Divinity without making any further Progress in opening to the People the whole Counsel of God As though none of his Auditory were deserving of his Regards but a Company of Desperadoes who like that horrible Monster in the Poet are by vertue of no Exhortations or Arguments to be reduced from Vice As though he must be shy or stirring up to Duty of setting Life and Death Blessings and Cursings before his Charge because a great many who care neither for him nor his Discourses are not pleased with them Rather than Religion shall be thus reason'd out of Countenance let them laugh on still 'T is better they should despise and wander than the Life of Piety in humbly disposed Christians should be check'd and perish Let private Christians go on in their way without being perplex'd at their Cavils let godly Preachers remind their Flock of the Judgments of God without respecting their Faces or fearing their Disdain and let all know That as Religion in general so its particular Doctrines are capable of very rational Proof though on this or that Opportunity they have but little of it It would be well if any thing which is spoken on this Subject may as effectually over-awe the Rudeness as it doth discover the Ignorance of Irreligious Men and make them more modest and suspicious of their own Judgment 'T is better for them to live under a Sense of God and his Judgments here than feel the Effects of their wicked Folly and Confidence hereafter and they have reason to be thankful for the Kindness of those who will tell them plainly and affectionately of the Nature and Purposes of God of his Promises and Threatnings since there are such Grounds for this Religious Zeal as they with all their Knowledge are not able to oppose IV. The Reasonableness of Religion justifies the Provision in all wise and well-order'd States for the suppressing of Profaneness and supporting Piety The Honour of Government can never be consistent with the Dishonour of God And how tolerable soever Differences in Religion may be the Defiance of all Religion is not to be endured The most rigorous Inquisition or Enforcements to Uniformity are preferable to that Indulgence which permits the most impudent Infidelity to thrive and spread under its Shelter The Sword of Authority is put into the Hands of Magistrates for the Restraint of Ungodliness and was employed by a Prince after God's own Heart for rooting out all wicked Doers from the City of the Lord. Severity against Blasphemous Wretches is no Breach of Moderation but a piece of Justice to the Government of Charity to the Governed and the Sufferers themselves can complain of no hard Usage thereby 1. If very severe Laws were made and executed against the Profaners of Religion What Obligation either of Interest Conscience Generosity or Good Manners are any under to bring themselves in danger of the Penalty If they like the Fool in the Psalmist say in their Heart That there is no God it is their Interest to conceal their Folly and to wish none may be of that Opinion besides themselves For by this means they have a Tye over all others which others have not over them and whether they are Masters or Servants Parents or Children Husbands or Wives or in whatsoever worldly Commerce Relations or Business they are concern'd the Belief of a superintending Deity will awe their Relatives to be faithful and affectionate and discharge a good Conscience to them A Privilege which it is very much for their Advantage to preserve Nor can Conscience engage them to make Proselites by openly professing their Infidelity Both the Laws of God and the Laws of Man the proper Rules of Conscience dispose them to be silent And if Conscience especially as they say be no other than the Biass of Education we may hope none have so naughty an Education as to think it their Duty to disturb the Religious Impressions of Education or Conscience in other People The most plausible Pretext is that of Generosity Regard to Truth and the Welfare of Mankind It grieves them to see the World so basely enslaved to Religion and Man's Life oppressed with Superstitious Fears or Fancies drawing them off from the Comforts they might enjoy or embittering their Enjoyment But alas Unless we are perswaded of a Supream Governour and a Future State the Life of Man hardly deserves our Notice We are here to Day and gone to Morrow and it signifies little what different Perswasions Men are acted by what different Scenes they have passed through when Death in a very little time will bring them to be all alike If Men are now and then melancholick 't is no great matter Some critical Turn of Humours in the Body some favourable Frown of Nature will give them their Quietus and they will sooner find a Cure by the loss of Life than Religion Besides most of the Melancholly which Religious Men are infested with is originally owing to the Contagion of wicked Company From thence terrifying Doubts and Occasions of Disorder are suggested from