putes, when premises are true, let confequences answer for themfelves. As in truth there can be no contradictions or abfurdities, we may be certain it will lead us into none. Let us therefore boldly follow wherever she conducts us.

THAT the fcriptures then were not wholly given forth by divine revelation, is, as appears above, not only conformable to the opinion of fome of our greatest divines, but also to the teftimony of the fcriptures themselves. That fome parts of them may have been faultily transcribed or printed, wrong tranf lated, interpolated, taken in a literal fenfe when the meaning was allegorical, and in many other refpects mifunderstood, feems as true. But that God will ever act contrary to his effential attributes, is abfolutely impoffible: and what can be more contrary to thefe than the punishing HIS CREATURES WITH ETER, NAL TORMENTS? Should it not therefore be well confidered, whether the attempts to prove this doctrine from fcripture, were they to fucceed, would not tend greatly to weaken, if not totally deftroy the authority of fcripture?

Bb 2 SECTION

Fo

SECTION VI.

OURTHLY, 'Tis faid, that the belief of everlasting punishments is absolutely neceffary to deter men from being wicked, and also part of the foundation of religion, and therefore ought on no account to be difcouraged. But as we hope it hath already been proved, that this opinion cannot be true; if it shall alfo appear not in any comparison so serviceable to prevent vice as many imagine or pretend, or as other means are, but on the contrary, in divers respects very prejudicial, and a foundation for a bad religion only, then surely it ought to meet with that discouragement it so well deserves. ... : THOSE who have made any obfervations on human nature muft allow, that all dangers or evils, however great, if at a distance, lose much of their force and terror: whereas smaller dangers or evils near at hand, or before our eyes, are frequently attended with a

very forcible influence and effect. That the fear of punishments of this last kind operates ftrongly in deterring men from wickedness, and the apprehenfion of those of the former very feebly, is therefore certain. And as to faults which are not punishable by the laws, are not men much more generally restrained

from

from them by a regard to their health, to reputation, to decency, and other present and temporal confiderations, which are for the most part present with them, than by the fear of future and eternal mifery, which feldom finds a place in their thoughts?

On this occafion I cannot avoid observing, that as a regard to reputation, especially among persons of distinction, is a great preservative against indecent and vicious actions, how neceffary it is that all fuch actions should be constantly and generally efteemed in the highest degree disreputable. Did gentlemen, especially of great parts and high rank, but confider what infinite good they might do by rendering virtue amiable and fashionable, and vice odious and fcandalous, furely there would be a noble emulation among them who fhould fucceed beft in fo excellent and beneficial a fervice to mankind. And if the ladies, most remarkable for good sense, wit, and politeness, would regard every known bad perfon as extremely ill-bred and unfashionable, this could not fail of being attended with all imaginable good confequences: it would not only be introducing a new fashion, but a very useful and valuable one alfo.

In order to judge, whether the fear of future and eternal punishments in the next Bb 3 world,

world, or of those which are prefent, tho' but temporary in this world, deter men most effectually from wicked actions, let us fuppofe the former fear remained and was univerfal, but that no present punishments being inflicted, the latter of course ceased. In this cafe, what fatal confequences must enfue! The earth would immediately be covered with wickedness, as the waters cover the fea. The weak and timorous would be presently destroyed by the strong and the daring, who would foon perish by one another, and the world in a thort time be by this means difpeopled. But fuppofing the former, the fear of future and eternal punishments ceased, and that of present punishments, which were duly, strictly, and universally executed, remained in full force; the different effects between the dread of prefent punishments, although but temporal, and that of future, tho' eternal, would then be evident.

As a further proof of the little effect that the fear of punishments in a future ftate hath on many who believe them, doth not daily experience fhew us, that multitudes of the most flagitious wretches are among the number of fuch believers?

THE Portuguese are generally allowed to be fome of the greatest bigots upon earth to what they call religion, and confequently,

the

the common people especially, are far from any doubt concerning hell-torments: yet in the midst of the late dreadful calamity, when, from the universal confusion, bad men thought themselves in little or no danger of present justice overtaking them, they perpetrated the moft horrid and execrable crimes: yet no fooner were fomé executed, than the terror of immediate fuffering prevented others from proceeding in those wicked actions, which the belief or fear of future and eternal mifery had not power to restrain them from committing.

Is it not then evident, that the good effects of this doctrine of everlasting punishments are few and precarious? The bad we shall presently fee are many and certain.

SUCH a belief impreffes the mind with falfe, unworthy, and fhocking opinions of the Deity: it greatly imbitters mens lives, and very probably tends to harden finners and make them desperate, and to deter men from ferious and religious thoughts. Nay, it is undoubtedly a great caufe of atheism: for many may fuppofe it much more eligible, if not more reasonable, to think there is no God, than to place their faith in one who will make his own creatures for ever miferable.