the Malice of any eager and censorious Spirit, that has the Confidence to object it.
This, and all other the like Principles of Uncharitableness, are to be oppos'd by asserting the Duties of the Law of Nature, by the use of past and present Times, by the Analogy of human things, by Moral Virtue, by the Offices of Society, by the Contemplation of God's visible Works, and such easy and rational Arguments. Next to the Succour of Divine Power, this is the most probable way to preserve the Christian Faith amongst us; if God has not in his Wrath resolved to transplant it into some other quarter of the Earth, which has not so much neglected his Goodness. This indeed were a Revolution, which cannot be thought on without Horror. The Subversion of all Europe would attend it. The Departure of the Christian Profession would be accompanied with as frightful Effects, as those which follow'd on the Death of its Founder; when the Heavens were darken'd, the Temple shook, the Vail was rent, the Earth trembled, and the Philosopher had reason to cry out, That either Nature was dissolving, or the God of Nature dying.
§. XXIV. Experiments advantageous to Manual Arts. I will now enter on the next Member of my Division, to consider the Purpose of the Royal Society, and the probable Effects of Experiments, in respect of all the Manual Trades which have been heretofore found out and adorn'd. And I will dispatch this Argument in the Resolution of these four Questions.
Whether the Mechanic Arts are still improveable by human Industry?
Whether it be likely, that they may be advanc'd by any others, besides the Mechanic Artists themselves?
Whe-
