the feveral prevailing Sects amongst us. So it is recorded, that they have at fundry times appeared in the guife of Presbyterians, Anabaptifts, Independents, and Quakers, according as any of thefe were moft in credit; fo, fince the fashion hath been taken up of exploding Religion, the Popish Miffionaries have not been wanting to mix with the Free-Thinkers; among whom Toland, the great Oracle of the Anti-Chriftians, is an Irifb Prieft, the Son of an Irish Priest; and the moft learned and ingenious Author of a Book called the Rights of the Chriftian Church, was in a proper juncture reconciled to the Romish Faith, whofe true Son, as appears by a hundred paffages in his Treatife, he still continues. Perhaps I could add some others to the number; but the Fact is beyond difpute, and the Reasoning they proceed by is right: For fuppofing Chriftianity to be extinguished, the People will never be at ease till they find out fome other method of Worship; which will as infallibly produce Superstition, as this will end in Popery.

And therefore, if notwithstanding all I have faid, it ftill be thought neceffary to have a Bill brought in for repealing Christianity, I would humbly offer an Amendment, that instead of the Word Chriftianity may be put Religion in general, which I conceive will much better answer all the good Ends propofed by the Projectors of it. For as long as we leave in Being a God and his Providence, with all the neceffary Confequences which curious and inquifitive Men will be apt to draw from fuch Premifes, we do not strike

at

at the Root of the Evil, though we should ever fo effectually annihilate the present Scheme of the Gofpel: For, of what Ufe is Freedom of Thought, if it will not produce Freedom of Action, which is the fole End, how remote soever in Appearance, of all Objections against Christianity; and therefore the Free-Thinkers confider it as a fort of Edifice, wherein all the Parts have fuch a mutual Dependance on each other, that if you happen to pull out one fingle Nail, the whole Fabrick muft fall to the Ground. This was happily exprefs'd by him, who had heard of a Text brought for Proof of the Trinity, which in an ancient Manufcript was differently read; he thereupon immediately took the Hint, and by a fudden Deduction of a long Sorites moft logically concluded: Why, if it be as you fay, I may fafely whore and drink on, and defy the Parfon. From which, and many the like Inftances eafy to be produced, I think nothing can be more manifeft, than that the Quarrel is not against any particular Points of hard Digestion in the Chriftian System, but against Religion in general, which, by laying Reftraints on human Nature, is fuppofed the great Enemy to the Freedom of Thought and Action.

Upon the whole, if it fhall ftill be thought for the Benefit of Church and State, that Chriftianity be abolished, I conceive however, it may be more convenient to defer the Execution to a Time of Peace, and not venture in this conjuncture to difcblige our Allies, who, as it falls out, are all Chriftians, and many of them, by the Prejudices

of

of their Education, fo bigoted, as to place a fort of Pride in the Appellation. If, upon being rejected by them, we are to trust to an Alliance with the Turk, we shall find our felves much deceived: For, as he is too remote, and generally engaged in War with the Perfian Emperor, fo his People would be more fcandalized at our Infidelity, than our Chriftian Neighbours. For they are not only strict Obfervers of religious Worfhip, but, what is worse, believe a God; which is more than is required of us, even while we preferve the Name of Chriftians.

To conclude: Whatever fome may think of the great Advantages to Trade by this favourite Scheme, I do very much apprehend, that in fix Months Time after the Act is past for the Extirpation of the Gospel, the Bank and Eaft India Stock may fall at least One per Cent. And fince that is fifty times more than ever the Wisdom of our Age thought fit to venture for the Prefervation of Chriftianity, there is no Reason we fhould be at fo great a Lofs, merely for the fake of destroying it.

A

PROJECT

FOR THE

Advancement of RELIGION

AND THE

Reformation of Manners.

By a Person of QUALITY.

Written in the Year 1709.

To the Countess of BERKLEY.

MADAM,

M

Y intention in prefixing your Ladyfhip's Name, is not after the common form, to defire your Protection of the following papers ; which I take to be a very unreasonable request; fince by being inscribed

to your Ladyship, tho' without your knowledge, and from a concealed hand, you cannot recommend them without fome Sufpicion of Partiality. My real Design is, I confefs, the very fame I have often detested in most Dedications; that of publishing your Praises to the World. Not upon the Subject of your noble Birth, for I know others as noble; or of the Greatness of your Fortune, for I know others far greater; or of that beautiful Race (the Images of their Parents) which calls you Mother; for even this may perhaps have been equal'd in fome other Age or Country. Befides, none of thefe Advantages do derive any Accomplishments to the owners, but ferve at beft only to adorn what they really poffefs. What I intend, is your Piety, Truth, good. Senfe, and good Nature, Affability, and Charity; wherein I wish your Ladyship had many Equals, or any Superiors; and I wish I could fay I knew them too, for then your Ladyship might have had a chance to escape this Addrefs. In the mean time, I think it highly neceflary, for the Interest of Virtue and Religion, that the whole Kingdom fhould be informed in fome Parts of your Character: For instance, that the eafieft and politeft Converfation, join'd with the trueft Piety, may be obferv'd in your Ladyship, in as great Perfection as they were ever feen apart in any other Perfons. That by your Prudence and Management under feveral Disadvantages, you have preferved the Luftre of that most noble Family, into which you are grafted, and which the unmeasurable Profufion of Ancestors for

many