the Reader may break off his Penance, and release himfelf at his Pleafure: Your fcandalous People are your Men of Thought and Capacity, in cafe they are ill inclined. For nothing can be more wretched than to mifemploy good Parts to bad Purposes, and draw their Pens against Justice and Truth.

Crit. I'm of your Mind, an Author of Figure that's all Interest and Prostitution, minds nothing but Pay and Plunder, and makes his Reason ferve against his Confcience; fuch an Author, I fay, does a world of Mischief, and his Crime rifes in Proportion to his Senfe. To lay out ones Talent in this manner upon an ill Cause, to murther Truth, and profelyte People to Iniquity, is a thing that will not be easily rubb'd over.

Eulab. I'm afraid not: But then we ought not to charge this Imputation at peradventure. Now which way fhall we know the ftroke of fuch a mercenary Pen? The Paper may look Black, when the Meaning is fair.

Crit. That is, Advantage is no good Evidence of Infincerity, for Interest and Honefty lie fometimes on the fame fide: I with therefore you would give us fome Marks of Diftinction, that we might know when a Man is over-rul'd

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by his Fortune, and retain'd purely by his Pocket.

Eulab. Crito, 'Tis a difficult Matter to read the Heart: So that you can't expect I thould be pofitive: However, we may venture to fay, that when an Author of unquestionable Abilities, falls unexpectedly from his Speed, writes out of Character, and is almost drown'd in the Ink-pot, 'tis no good Sign: For when a good Workman bungles, it looks as if the Matter was naught. To proceed: When a Man of Perfpicuity and Judgment, endeavours to perplex the Controverfy, dives and dodges, and makes ufe of Sophiftry and Amusement: When he keeps off from the Standard, and declines the stated Méafures of Right; when he retreats to Principles of Latitude and Obfcurity, when he makes for the Covert at this rate, 'tis an Argument he dares not truft himself upon plain Ground.

Crit. Not unlikely: For when a Man of a strong Head, fails in his Logick, and argues weakly; it looks as if he wrote upon a Biafs, and that his Will had brib'd his Understanding: When People that know Money, offer to put Brass upon you, it does not appear`altogether like clear dealing.

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Euleb.

Eulab. Another fufpicious Sign is, when a Man writes against his former Opinion, upon its growing unferviceable; and yet is not fo happy as to conquer himself.

Crit. It may be he thinks he has, and is not that enough for the Point of Integrity ?

Eulab. I can't fay but it may be so, in cafe he is conscious of a difinterested Enquiry; and not prepoffefs'd in Favour of his Inclination. But how far Learning may be foil'd, Reason furpriz'd, and a clear Head difturb'd by Accident, is a difficult Question; and therefore I fhall determine nothing upon the Consistency of Error, and Honefty in fuch Cafes. In fine, to fufpend one's Cenfure, and hope the best, is generous Ufage, and can never hurt us.

Crit. I like your Charity well enough, provided we don't grow stark blind, and lose our Senfes in our good Nature: But what do you think of thofe who appear in Defence of Immorality, endeavour to blaft the Credit of Virtue, and reverse the Notions of Good and Evil? Here the Lines of Duty are fo plain, the Crime fo black, and the Monfter fo vifible and diftinguifh'd, that there's no Poffibility of Ignorance, no

room

room for Mistake; and by Confequence not the leaft Pretence for Excufe and fair Meaning.

Eulab. None, without doubt; and therefore I think fuch Writers ought to be purfued with Satyr, and Infamy; to be check'd in their Sallies upon Religion, and lie under publick Discountenance. I wonder any Perfons of Figure, that have either Money or Quality to lofe, can please themfelves with fuch Performances: Triumphs upon Principle are dangerous Sights: This World, Crito, is guarded by the other, and kept from flying in pieces. Atheism ftrikes at the Vitals of Government; and deftroys the Securities of Truft. Without à fupream Being and a future Account, Appetite and Humour are abfolute; and all things must be govern'd by Convenience. Infidelity fweeps away all Diftinction, and is the best Leveller in Nature; for what Pretence to Authority, unless 'tis given from above? Why fhould Matter and Motion infift upon Privilege, or one Clod of Atomes be kept under by another? Without Religion, Honefty and good Faith are a Jeft, and all Men may cheat, and murther, and debauch, as often as they pleafe. In fhort, where there's no Conscience there E 2

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can be no Law, and where there's no Law there can be no Property. As for humane Laws 'tis in vain to urge them in this Cafe: They bind no longer than Fear and Fancy think fit. A Scheme of Atheism has neither Duty nor Sin, Right nor Wrong in't; and where there's no Obligation to obey, there can be no Fault to do otherwife. Atheism is the high Road to Confufion; gives Licence an unlimited Sway, and leaves all things to Fraud and Violence.

Crit. You have faid enough to prove how dangerous 'tis to burlesque Virtue and Religion; and that a fceptical Writer is the worft Commonwealths Man imaginable.

Eulab. I believe fo, but let that pass; and to return to a more general Confideration; I must say that thofe who engage an Argument where Principle and Manners are concern'd, ought to write with great Care and Confcience, and stand clear of Prejudice and Intereft.

Crit. Yes: For he that writes plaufibly on the wrong fide, makes People defert from Truth, and go over to the Enemy: He that appears in this manner for Herefy or Schifm, brings a Party into the Field, and fights with Briareus's Hands: An ill Book well written,