Wit well apply'd, does weightier Wisdom right,
And gives us Knowledge, while it gives Delight.
Thus on the Stage, we, with Applause, behold,
What would have pain'd us from the Pulpit told.

It is now Time to apply what we have already advanced, to those Points in which they may be the most useful to us; and therefore we will begin, by confidering what Advantage the Practice of them will procure, in refpe&t to those three Things, which are esteemed of the greatest Confequence in the general Opinion of the World. 'This leads me, in the firft Place, to explain the Sentiments and Conduct of a Polite Philofopher in regard to Religion. I am not ignorant, that there are a Multitude of thofe who pafs both on the World, and on themselves, for very polite Perfons, who look on this as a Topic below their Notice. Religion (fay they with a fneer) is the Companion of melancholy Minds; but, for the gayer Part of the World, it is Ill-manners to mention it amongst them. Be it fo. But give me leave to add, that there is no ranker Species of Ill-breeding, than fpeaking of it farcaftically, or with Contempt.

"Religion, ftrictly speaking, means that Worship which Men, from a Senfe of Duty, pay to "that Being, unto whom they owe their own Existence, with all thofe Bleffings and Benefits, "which attend it."

Let a Man but reflect on this Definition, and it will be impoffible for him not to perceive, that treating this in a ludicrous Way, must not only

be

be unpolite, but shocking. Who, that has a regard for a Man, would not start at the Thoughts of faying a bafe thing of his Father before him? and yet what a Distance is there between the Notion of a Father and a Creator! Since therefore no farther Arguments are neceffary to prove the Inconsistence between Raillery and Religion, what can be more cogent to a polite Man, than thus fhewing, that fuch Difcourfes of his would be mal à propos?

Thus much for those who might be guilty of Unpoliteness with respect to Religion in general, a Fault unaccountably common in an Age, which pretends to be fo polite.

As to particular Religions, or rather Tenets in Religion, Men are generally warm in them, from one of these two Reasons, viz. Tenderness of Conscience, or a high Senfe of their own Judgments. Men of plain Parts, and honest Dispositions, look on Salvation as too ferious a Thing to be jested with: A polite Man therefore will be cautious of offending upon that head, because he knows it will give the Person to whom he speaks Pain; a Thing ever oppofite to the Character of a Polifbed Philofopher. The latter Reafon, which I have affigned for Men's Zeal in religious Matters, may seem to have lefs Weight than the first; but he who confiders it attentively, will be of another Opinion. Men of speculative Religion, who are fo from the Conviction rather of their Heads than their Hearts, are not a bit lefs vehement than the real Devotees. He who fays a flight or a fevere Thing of their Faith, feems to them to

have thereby undervalued their Understandings, and will confequently incur their Averfion; which no Man, of common Senfe, would hazard for a lively Expreffion; much less a Perfon of good Breeding, who fhould make it his chief Aim to be well with all. As a Mark of my own Politeness, I will here take leave of this Subject; fince, by dropping it, I fhall oblige the gay Part of my Rea ders, as, I flatter myself, I have already done the graver Part, from my Manner of treating it.

Like fame grave Matron of a noble Line,
With awful Beauty does Religion shine.
Juft Senfe fhould teach us to revere the Dame,
Nor, by imprudent Jefts, to spot her Fame.
In common Life you'll own this Reas'ning right,
That none but Fools in grofs Abuse delight:
`Then ufe it here — nor think our Caution vain ;
To be polite, Men need not be profane.

Next to their Concerns in the other World,, Men are ufually moft taken up with the Concerns of the Public here. The Love of our Country is among thofe Virtues to which every Man thinks he should pretend; and the Way in which this is generally fhewn, is by falling into what we call Parties; where, if a large Share of good Senfe allay not that Heat, which is naturally contracted from fuch Engagements, a Man foon falls into all the Violences of Faction, and looks upon every one as his Enemy, who does not express himself about the Public Good in the fame Terms he does. This is a harsh Picture, but it is a just one, of the far greater Part of those who are warm

in

in political Difputes. A polite Man will therefore fpeak as feldom as he can on Topics, where, in mixed Company, it is almost impoffible to say any thing that will please all.

To fay Truth, Patriotifm, properly fo called, is perhaps as scarce in this Age as in any that has gone before us. Men appear to love themselves fo well, that it feems not altogether credible they fhould, at every Turn, prefer their Country's Intereft to their own. The Thing looks noble indeed; and therefore, like a becoming Habit, every body would put it on. But this is Hypocrify, you'll fay, and therefore fhould be detec ted! Here the Polite Philofopher finds new Inducements to Caution: Sore Places are always tender; and People at a Mafquerade are in Pain, if you do any thing which may discover their Faces.

Our Philosophy is not intended to make a Man that four Monitor who points out Folks Faults, but to make them in love with their Virtues; that is, to make himself and them eafy while he is with them; and to do, or fay nothing, which, on Reflexion, may make them lefs his Friends at their next Meeting.

Let us explain this a little farther. The Rules we offer, are intended rather to guide Men in Company than when alone. What we advance tends not so directly to amend People's Hearts, as to regulate their Conduct; a Matter which we have already demonstrated to be of no fmall Importance. Yet I beg you'll obferve, that though Morality be not immediately our Subject, we are

far,

far, however, from requiring any thing in our Pupils contrary thereto.

A polite Man may yet be religious, and, if his Reafon be convinced, attached to any Interest which, in his Opinion, fuits best with that of the Public; provided he conform thus far to our Syftem, that on no Occafion he trouble others with the Articles of his religious Creed, or political Engagements; or, by any Stroke of Wit or Raillery, hazard for a Laugh that Disposition of Mind, which is abfolutely neceffary to make Men eafy when together.

Were I indeed to indulge my own Sentiments, I should speak yet with greater Freedom on this Subject. Since there is so vast a Difproportion, when we come to compare those who have really either a Concern in the Government, or the Service of their Country more particularly at Heart, and the Men who pretend to either, merely from a Defire of appearing of fome Consequence themfelves; we ought certainly to avoid making one of this Number, and aim rather at being quiet within ourselves, and agreeable to thofe among whom we live, let their political Notions be what they will; inasmuch as this is a direct Road to Happiness, which all Men profefs they would reach, if they could. Pomponius Atticus, whose Character appears fo amiable, from the concurring Testimony of all who mention him, owed the greatest Part of that Esteem in which he lived, and of that Reputation by which he ftill furvives, unto his steady Adherence to this Rule. His Benevolence made him love Mankind in general, and

his