in this Age, have carry'd several Men of Wit so far, as to reject the whole Matter; who would not have been so exorbitant, if the others had kept within more moderate Bounds. This is natural enough to be suppos'd; for so it has commonly happen'd, that the greatest Degrees of all contrary Opinions have met in the same Age, and have still heighten'd and increas'd each other.
From hence it may be gather'd, That the way to reduce a real and sober Sense of Religion, is not by endeavouring to cast a Veil of Darkness again over the Minds of Men; but chiefly by allaying the Violence of spiritual Madness: and that the one Extreme will decrease proportionably to the less'ning of the other.
It is apparent to all, That the Influence which Christianity once obtain'd on Mens Minds, is prodigiously decay'd. The Generality of Christendom is now well-nigh arriv'd at that fatal Condition, which did immediately precede the Destruction of the Worships of the ancient World; when the Face of Religion in their public Assemblies, was quite different from that Apprehension which Men had concerning it in private: In publick they observ'd its Rules with much Solemnity, but in private regarded it not at all. It is difficult to declare by what Means and Degrees we are come to this dangerous Point: But this is certain, that the Spiritual Vices of this Age have well-nigh contributed as much towards it, as the Carnal: And for these, the most efficacious Remedy that Man of himself can use, is not so much the sublime part of Divinity as its intelligible, and natural, and practicable Doctrines. The Medicines for Religious Distempers must be changeable according to the Diseases: And in this
