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fonal regard. This ferves a very noble end; for it vindicates the Chriftian religion from the objection of fome infidels, who affirm, that it does not recommend private friendship; now moderate men having all a very great regard to private friendship, and perfonal connections, do, by their practice, which is the moft folid way, confute this flander.

I may add to these another argument for the great character of heretics, as afferted in the maxim, which I picked up from the preaching of a feceding minifter. He told his hearers, that when the devil looks out for an inftrument to propagate error, he never makes choice of a weak filly man, but one able and learned; as well knowing, I fuppofe, that though God can fupport his caufe by any inftrument whatever, yet he needs always the best and moft fufficient he can get. Now, though I hope no man will reckon me of this fanatic's principles, fo far as to think the devil the fource of error; yet the citation ferves my purpose, as it fhews that he himself was convinced of the ability and learning of heretics; and all the world knows, that the teftimony of an enemy is the strongest of all evidences upon a man's fide.

I fhall conclude this maxim with obferving, that fuch tenderness for heretics, however due from fome, is yet, in many of the moderate cha

racter,

racter, an inftance of the most heroic and generous friendship. It is quite disinterested, as they themselves run not the smallest hazard of ever being in the like circumftances. Heretics are commonly an honeft fort of people, but with all their book-learning, of no great stock of prudence or policy. They publish. and affert whatever they believe upon all points, without confidering the reception it is like to meet with, from those of oppofite principles. They affront the public to its face, which Lord Shaftsbury tells us ought not to be done. On the other hand, men thorough-paced in moderation, difcover their principles only at fuch times, and to fuch persons, as are able to bear them. By this means they preferve themselves from herefy: and indeed they cannot poffibly fall into it, unless by mistake; in which cafe, as soon as they are challenged, (if it is like to be attended with any temporal inconveniency) they deny it, explain it away, or repent, and afk pardon.

In all this they follow the noble example of Mr. , who, in the affembly-debates, upon Profeffor Simfon's affair, happening to say. fomething that was challenged by one prefent as herefy, immediately replied, "Moderator, "If that be herefy, I renounce it.”

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When any man is charged with loofe practices, or tendencies to immorality, he is to be screened and protected as much as poffible; especi ally if the faults laid to his charge be, as they are incomparably well termed in a fermon, preached by a hopeful youth that made fome noife lately, "good-humoured vices."

The reafon upon which this maxim is founded may be taken from the reafons of the former, "mutatis mutandis;" there being fcarcely any of them that does not hold equally in both cafes. A libertine is a kind of practical heretic, and is to be treated as fuch. Dr. Tillotfon obferves, in one of his fermons, that the worst of all here fies is a bad life: now, if instead of worst, which is an uncomely expreffion, you would read greatest, in that paffage, then a libertine is the greatest of all heretics, and to be honoured in proportion. Even the apostle Paul (who is very feldom of any ufe to us in our reafonings) feems to fuppofe, that they are men of most knowledge, who are moft free and bold in their practice; and that they are only weak brethren, who are filled with fcruples. The weak man is reftrained and confined by his narrow confcience; but the ftrong man believeth that he

may

may EAT, and, by parity of reafon, DRINK all things.

In order to understand the nature of " good"humoured vices," the reader may pleafe to take notice, that it is an obfervation of Lord Shaftsbury, that "the best time for thinking.

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upon religious fubjects, is when a man is mer

ry, and in good humour:" and fo far is thisobfervation drawn from nature, that it is the time commonly chofen for that purpose, by many who never heard of his lordship, or his writings. Whatever, therefore, ferves to promote merriment, and heighten good humour, muft fo far ferve for the difcovery of religious truth. But as there are many ways of making a perfon merry, which narrow-minded people will call vice; from thence, in compliance with common language, arifes the new compound "good"humoured vices." It is not, however, fo to be understood, as if either the inventor of it, or thofe who love and patronize him, mean any. thing by it but what is, " in their apprehen-fion," both innocent and laudable.

Let it also be observed, that as gravity is almost a neceffary confequence of folitude, "good-hu, moured vices" are certainly" focial pleasures," and fuch as flow from, and fhow benevolence;. and this is an affection for which our whole fraternity have the highest regard, infomuch that

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no furer mark can be taken of a man's being ONE OF US, than the frequent returns of this expreffion in his difcourfes or writings.

It will ferve further for the fupport of this maxim, that according to modern difcoveries, there is a great analogy between the "moral

virtues," or, if you will, the "fcience of morals," and the "fine arts:" and it is on account of this analogy, that most of the present reigning expreffions upon thefubject of morals, are borrowed from the arts, as "beauty, order, proportion, harmony,

decency, &c." It is also established long fince, and well known as a principle in the fine arts, that a certain freedom and boldnefs of manner is what chiefly constitutes grace and beauty. Why then should not approbation be founded upon the fame grounds in both cafes? Why should not a bold practice. be as beautiful in real, as a bold hand is in, imitated life? efpecially as all great geniuses have actually laid claim to this as their peculiar privilege, not to be confined to common forms; and that in oppofition to the bulk of mankind, who through want of tafte, are not able to relish the finest performances in any of the kinds.

I must not, however, omit taking notice, to prevent mistakes, of one exception that must be made from this maxim; that is, that when the perfon to whofe charge any faults are laid, is reputed

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