at his Suggestion they falfly fuppofse to be most oppofite to Atheism, and to be the best Means to fupprefs it.

BUT the conftant Danger, and the great and only Concern which we ought to have, is, left, under the Colour and Name of Religion, or the Worship of God, we have not only Falfhood and Superftition put upon us, but the most deteftable and wicked Practices introduced; fuch as tend to the Destruction of all Peace, both Publick and Private; all Virtue, Learning, and whatever is praise-worthy among Men. This is Practical Atheism: This is the Atheism to be dreaded and feared: This is the Atheism whereof we are in Danger: This is the worst Confequence we have to fear from speculative Atheism; for no Man can fay worse of speculative Atheism, than that it leads neceffarily to all Immorality: And in fine, this Atheism the Prieft has, in moft Places of the World, introduced as Religion, to the utter Overthrow of true Religion; (which confifts chiefly, if not folely, in fuch Particulars as are for the Good of Society) for by making Men wicked out of Confcience, and upon a Principle of Religion, he as effectually deftroys true Religion, as if he introduced fpeculative Atheism. What is it to a Believer in Chrift, whether he be perfecuted for his Religion by a Papift, who does it religiously, and upon a Principle of Confcience; or by an Atheist, who does it either to protect himself, or to get Credit in the World, or to fhare with the Priest, in the

Advantages arifing from Perfecution? Do Men fuffer lefs by a Civil or Foreign War, begun by Zealots, on a Principle of Religion, to promote Religion; than if begun by Atheists, for the Sake of Ambition, Glory, Power, Rapine, or Murther? Are the Feuds, Animofities and Paffions, ftirred up by Priefts on Account of Religion, fewer and lefs disturbing of the Publick Peace, than thofe of Men left to the Conduct of Atheistical Principles? Is it not equal to Husbands to be wronged by Atheists, who need no Pardon, as by Popish Priefts, who can pardon one another; or by High Churchmen, who, notwithstanding fuch Actions, can be countenanced by the Prieft, and merit greatly with him, on account of their Zeal for the Church, that is, the Prieft? Nay, is not the Danger of Cuckoldom equal from a Popi Prieft (who, by his Power of confeffing and abfolving the Woman, has fo glorious an Opportunity) as from an Atheist? And would our High Priefts, if they could get the Nation to be perfuaded that they have the fame Power of confeffing and abfolving, (as they have of late been attempting to do in their Books and Sermons) be lefs Cuckold-makers than Popib Priests and Atheists?

COULD an Atheist be a greater Calumniator than Dr. Se? Could an Atheist, who thinks no Deference due to a Bishop, have lefs Regard for the Honour of a Chriftian Bishop than Dr. S-e, who pretends to think Bishops, have Divine Authority? Could an Atheist, af

ter

ter he had been convicted of Calumny, and forced to confess that his Evidence for the Calumny failed him, be more hardened in Villany, than to make no Satisfaction to, and ask no Pardon of the Perfon injured, but persist in fuppofing that Time will discover his Charge to be true? Could a Set of Atheists have patronized Calumny more, than to have called that Doctor to be the Head of their Society; and might they not with equal regard to Virtue and Religion, have chofen a Highwayman, or a Pick-pocket, who gives his Money for the Augmentation of poor Livings? Has a Modern Bifhop more Satisfaction in being thus attacked by a High-Church Prieft, fupported and abetted by others; or is the Society lefs difturbed by fuch Proceedings, than if fuch Priests were all Atheists?

LASTLY, Is it not equally deftructive of Liberty and Property, for Ecclefiafticks to use religious Cheats and Tricks to get Money from the People, towards raifing and maintaining a needlefs Army of Black Coats, to live lazily in Monafteries, and other Religious Houses; as for Atheists to ufe any civil Tricks to maintain a needless standing Army of Red Coats, or by their Arts to plunder the Publick for any of their other Purposes?

THE Defign therefore of fome following Papers fhall be to fhew how the High Church Jacobite Clergy promote true Atheism and Irreligion: That the Laity may be put on the

true

true Scent of Atheism: That they may have a juft dread of the true Atheism: That they may ceafe to be Atheists, or Worshippers of the Prieft, and cease to receive Religion on his Authority; and that they may return to God and Christ, the fole Authors of all true Religion.

NUMBER XLIII.

C.

Wednesday, November 9. 1720.

Of High-Church ATHEISM. Part 2.

Atheism.

Proceed, as I promised in my laft, to fhew, by an Induction of Particulars, how the High-Church Priests promote true Atheism or Irreligion, by which I mean Practical

I. And, first, I will begin with Perjury, or Falle Swearing.

I will venture to lay it down as a Truth in Politicks, that Oaths (or fomething equivalent to them) are, on many Occafions, neceffary in Government; and that Peace among Neighbours, Punishment of Rogues, and the Settlement of Property, depend upon them. In the next Place, I will lay down as religious Truths, that an Oath is a folemn Act, both of natural and revealed Religion; that Oaths to a Government are to be kept; that there is no greater Irreligion, no greater Affront to God, no greater Infincerity and Injuftice to Man, than Perjury; and no Point of Religion, upon which the Honour of God, and the Welfare of Mankind, are more highly concerned, than in keeping Oaths; that Oaths of Allegiance to a Government intend Loyalty; that Oaths are to be taken in the Senfe of the Impofers; that the Heart is to concur with the Lips in repeating them; that Men are to have no mental Referves in taking Oaths; and that they must not defign to break them, nor take them with Defign to repent of them.

AND yet, on this Head, Atheists cannot be guilty of greater Irreligion than fome of our High-Churchmen, (under the Conduct of our High-Church Priefts) who fometimes are not for reftraining our Kings by their CoronationOaths; and, at other Times, are not for reftraining the People, by their Oaths of Allegiance: that is, they are at one Time for breaking Oaths, by contending for unlimited Power,

and