chimeras and impoſitions which have no foundation.
I always thought it the great buſineſs of leaning and philoſophy to enquire after Truth, and to diſcover that ineſtimable jewel (as it uſed to be called) as far as frail nature will allow us. This is what the greateſt med of all ages have profeſs'd to be their enquiry, and the ultimate end of all their ſtudies: they were ſo far from believing that Truth was hurful to mankind, that, on the contrary, they thought it the greateſt ſervice to their fellow-creatures to purſue it with indefatigable application, and to publiſh it unreſervedly amongſt them.
Nay, even in this nation, and in this age, whilſt we call it ſinful and imprudent to ſpeak the truth, how often do we hear it inſiſted upon from the pulpit, of what an eternal and divine nature Truth is; that it is unalterable, and varies not with times and ſeaſons? If ſo, methinks ſuch a dinine bleſſing ought to be made as popular and diffuſive as it can be, for the preſent and future welfare of mankind.
Our religion, God be praiſed, is of ſo excellent and apoſtolical a conſtitution, that it needs no craft, nor diſguiſes, to ſupport it; it fears no examination, but demands of all its profeſſors; it is built upon the rock of Truth, and why ſhould the ſtrength and glory of its foundation be kept a ſecret?
And yet how often do we hear men blamed for blabbing the truth? Nay, how often do we hear ſome men openly maintain, that, in many points, the common people ought to be deluded, and kept in the dark, for the preſervation of government and religion?
Eſpecially, amongſt the Clergy; if any one of that function, out of a ſcrupulous conſcience, or a
