that I have defended every particular Searcher into Nature. That could not be justly expected from me; for there is no Man that makes an Apology for any general way, who will take upon him to make good all the Actions of all private Men who profess it. It is enough for my Purpose, if it shall be granted, that however some Experimenters may be inclinable to Irreligion; yet this rather proceeds from their own Genius, than from any Corruption that could be contracted from these Studies; and that if the same Men had profess'd Physic, or Law, or even Divinity itself, they would have been in like manner disaffected towards heavenly Things. I cannot deny, but that some Philosophers, by their Carelessness of a future Estate, have brought a Discredit on Knowledge itself: But what Condition of Men is free from such Accusations? Or why must we strait believe that their Impiety proceeds from their Philosophy? It is easy for Men to fall into gross Errors, and to mistake the wrong Causes for the true, in the Judgment which they make of others Opinions and Inclinations: When they behold them addicted to such or such Vices, and to have withal some good Qualities, in which they themselves do not excel, they presently are apt to imagine the bad to arise from the good, and so condemn both together; whereas perhaps it sprung from some other hidden Cause, of which they took no notice.
But let it be a true Observation, That many Modern Naturalists have been negligent in the Worship of God; yet perhaps they have been driven on this Prophaneness by the late extravagant Excesses of Enthusiasm. The infinite Pretences to Inspiration, and immediate Communion with God, that have abounded
