UPON WA UPON R, CRUELTY in general, AND Religious CRUELTY in particular, Everlasting Punishments Are inconfiftent with the DIVINE ATTRIBUTES. IN Several LETTERS and ESSAYS, To which are added, ESSAYS on divers other SUBJECTS, AND An ORATION in Praife of DECEIT and LYING. LONDON, Printed for T. OSBORNE, in Gray's-Inn. PREFACE. ONE NE great fervice of reafon and the most useful philofophy is, that they teach men to regulate fuck of their paffions as are Serviceable when kept within due bounds, and to eradicate thofe which are in every degree prejudicial. Among the latter, Gruelty may justly be deemed the chief. The principal defign of fome of the following Effays, is to fet this vice, and unnecessary War fo nearly allied to it, in fuch a deteftable light, « as vices which are the great fcandal of human nature and bane of human happiness deferve to be placed. An attempt to difcountenance evils by which both individuals and focieties fuffer fo many miferies, it is hoped, will not be ill received: and perhaps the manner in which this hath been executed may have fomewhat of novelty to recommend it. Without doubt, cruelty is the fource of a mul titude of wicked actions, and war is one of the greateft calamities that can befal any nation. But although unneceffary wars have been very freely cenfured by the Author of thefe Ellays, yet nothing could be farther from his defign than in any manner to difcourage thofe which are A 2 defenfive defenfive or otherwife neceffary. Men are oftentimes excited to offenfive wars by their evil lufts, or engage wantonly in them: but defensive wars are dictated by nature; and found policy may, in fome circumftances, render the other highly expedient. What people foever therefore argue or declare, as fome do, against even defenfive war, directly oppofe one of the principal laws of nature, and confequently are either extremely pufillanimous, or infatuated by a most pernicious and deftructive spirit of enthusiasm,—a Spirit which, if it generally prevailed in any nation, must be the means of that nation becoming a prey to the firft invader. Still much more pernicious to thefe kingdoms, because a much greater number of people, and many of them in power, are possessed by it, is a Spirit of oppofition to a numerous, well-trained, and useful militia. Without this natural, most neceffary, and only effectual defence and fecu vity, our nation will always be, as it is particularly at this time, in apparent danger from foreign enemies, and not near fo fafe in regard to enemies among ourselves as that would render us. · A ftanding army, fufficiently numerous to fecure this country in cafe of an invafion, would not only be an intolerable burden and expence, but expofe our liberties to the utmost danger. And for a nation which has the certain means of of fafety in its own power, to depend on the precarious affiftance of foreigners for its defence, is directly contrary to all rules of good sense, and a strange folecifm in politics. There are people, whom experience of past and even recent dangers of the most interesting kind will not make wife unto their own preferva tion. We feem already to have forgot that we were but a few years fince brought to the brink of deftruction by five or fix thousand ragamuffins, the very off-fcowring of the whole island. There wanted indeed nothing but their being fupported by a fmall number of foreign forces, which it is aftonishing they were not, to have completed the conqueft of this kingdom, confifting, as is commonly computed, of about eight millions of inbabitants. And 'tis eafy to foresee, perhaps the evil day is at hand, that this country will, unless vigorous measures are immediately taken, be enflaved or deftroyed for want of a fafeguard in our power to provide and establish; and which if established, no enemy would dare to invade us. We should in that cafe, with the joint protection of our maritime force, a confiderable part of which might then be employed to great advantage in the American and other feas, be in as perfect fecurity as the nature of things will admit. So protected, "we might fit under our own vines and under our own fig trees, and "there would be none to make us afraid." |