SERM. III. are Difficulties in Chriftianity; but not Sense enough to fee they are but Difficul L ties: And these may be confirmed Infidels, ry not not amount to a strict Demonftration, they SERM.III. make near Approaches to it. I know the Firmness of our Affent does not depend fo much on outward Evidences, be they never so forcible, as on the inward Frame and Bent of the Mind. Yet I take it to be almost as impoffible for a Man, fuppofing his Faculties to be good, and duly exercised, to be deceived intirely in a Point of Moment; as it is for him, when under the Influence of fome criminal Paffion, not to deceive himself in Part. The Cafe is the fame in Relation to very material Errors, as it is in Regard to fecret Vices. The latter may escape our Obfervation, as to any particular, diftinct, explicit Knowledge of them: However, we have general, confused, indiftinct Notices, that all is not right within, as to the Article of Sins in fome measure unfuspected; and this is the Reason, why we are averse to search out our Spirits; left we fhould find that to be too true, upon a mature Examination, which we mistrusted upon a careless, tranfient Glance of Thought. Juft fo it is in Matters of Belief. Where there is a moral Certainty, any wrong Affection may fo far blind even a Thinking Man, that he shall not have a thorough and deter F 3 SERM.III. determined Conviction of the Truth; but he cannot fhut out or fupprefs the Evidences for it fo entirely, as not to have a general Diftrust, and an implicit Suspicion, that he is in the Wrong: Which general Distrust is the Cause, that he is fo unwilling to look into a Book, which is written with great Strength of Reafon on the other Side, left he should let in the Enemy Truth to disturb his Repose. There may be, however, fome Exceptions to what is here laid down. Men may have something particular in their Temper: There is fometimes an unfufpected Wrongnefs of Understanding, which, because it does not discharge itself in Raving, escapes the Eye of common Obfervers; but yet shall leaven a Man's whole Way of Thinking: And it generally falls in with the reigning Bent of the Times. When the Nation was in a Ferment about Religion, and for, what was called, a greater Purity in it, it ftruck in with the general Vogue of the Age, and vented itself in all the Extravagancies of Fanaticifm: But now, when Things have taken a different Turn, and Irreligion is the prevailing Mode; it has received a new Determination from thence. Hence Hence fome are as diftempered Bigots for SERM.III. their No-Religion, or what makes near Approaches to none; as others were about a Century ago for a farther Reformation. Some Persons who have travelled early into Countries, where Popery is established, have had Senfe enough, in their younger Years, to see through the grofs Impofitions and Cheats, which are practised upon the Vulgar. But not being able to separate Religi on itself from the undue Mixtures which were blended with it, they have unhappily contracted an Averfion for all Religion in general. They have affociated with the Idea of Religion all thofe numerous Tricks and Fopperies, which have paffed there under it's facred Cover. And the Cafe of those, who by this Means, or by any other Means fimilar to this, have conceived an early Diftafte for Religion, resembles theirs, who have contracted an Antipathy to fome Meats or Liquors, however wholsom and nourifhing, by reafon of fome bitter and unpalatable Draughts or Ingredients being mixed with them: The difagreeable Idea always recurs, when they see them. This is certain, that offenfive Impreffions, which have been given us of Religion, Learning, SERM.III. or any Thing else in our tender Years, be fore our Minds come to a Steadinefs and Confiftency; are like thofe Marks which are made upon the Body of an Animal in it's Mother's Womb; they are feldom or never erafed, but we carry them with us to the Grave. ; But whatever Allowances we may make for infuperable Prejudices, and invincible Ignorance, in this Cafe, and many others it is a Miftake to think, that Deifts are lefs eafy of Belief, than the reft of Mankind. There may be a certain Stock of Faith, which we bring with us into the World; and as it has been obferved of the Affections, that if they be with-held from their natural Gratifications, they will often difcharge themselves on improper Objects: Just fo, if Men do not place their Faith on fuitable Objects, they will not ceafe to be Believers; they will mifplace it on unfuitable ones; and whatever they want in a true Christian Faith, they will more than make up in believing ftrange Abfurdities ; of which numerous Inftances might be given both in the past and prefent Times. You may have bad Books industriously thrown in your Way; and you may have an |