For a king or any other man, however wicked or profligate, may, by being a great favourer of priests, and a ftrict and zealous obferver of the rites and ceremonies of their religion, be justly called a man after the priest's own heart, and be by him, in a too common acceptation of the word, styled very religious. But surely to denominate such an one a man after God's own heart, or a religious man, in a proper fense of that expreffion, tends to convey very difadvantageous fentiments both of God and - of religion.

NOTHING can be more contrary to truth, derogatory to the honour of the Deity, or prejudicial

they had fet upon a new cart, the oxen that drew it happening to stumble, the ark fhook, and Uzzah put forth his hand and took hold of it, no doubt to prevent damage. Now, for ought that appears to us, this feems to have been an action perfectly innocent, if not of some small merit alfo: however, we are told in the fecond of Samuel, chapter the vith, "the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God fmote him there for

his error, and there he died by the ark." Critics and commentators will do well to confider, if this paffage fhould not be thus read: The anger of the PRIESTS was kindled against Uzzah, and they fmote him, &c. Indeed if we confider what follows, this reading will still appear more neceffary; for the next words are,- "And David "was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach σε upon Uzzah," that is, had flain him. Now furely David would not have been fo impious to be displeased with any thing the Lord had done; but he might well be difpleafed with this action, if done by priests.

prejudicial to true religion and virtue, and confequently to the peace, good order, and happiness of the world, than to believe and teach, that God commands men to act contrary to those natural, fundamental, and unerring rules of reafon and morality, which are established in every man's breaft, and all men acknowledge, tho' too few practise. A ufeful and most excellent compendium of these rules, which every one fhould keep continually in his view, and refolve constantly to fquare all his actions by, is, " To do unto others, as he would that they fhould do "unto him.”

IF men can cheat themselves and others into a belief, that God fometimes difpenfes with these rules, and commands what is contrary to them, this will certainly be an inlet to the most flagrant and wicked crimes.

HAVE not multitudes pretended, and undoubtedly many really believed, that God hath commanded them to wage the most unjuft and cruel wars; to torment and murder their own fpecies, fometimes even their own children, and to deftroy nations? And have not these and all manner of barbarities been

frequently committed under this pretended fanction, and IN THE NAME OF THE LORD? BUT undoubtedly no book or man, no por an angel from heaven, teaching that God

is

is cruel, or commands men to be fo, ought to obtain the least degree of credit.

WHILST men believe that all acts of injustice, violence, and barbarity, are contrary to the laws of God and offenfive to him, this belief may be a means to deter them from committing fuch actions: but if men once entertain an opinion, that God not only countenances, but commands these actions, what injuftice, violence, and inhumanity may not then be expected from them! and more efpecially from princes and nations, who are, or think they are, above the reach of human laws and punishments.

IT is a very weak and falfe plea to alledge, as is frequently done in support of this opinion, that we do not know what good ends God may have to bring about in commanding actions, which, if not ordered by him, would indeed be immoral and wicked: and it is as false to aver there can be any proof fufficient to demonftrate that fuch actions are commanded by God, or to warrant the performance of them.

As to the argument, We do not know, that can prove nothing, and may be equally applied to almost any thing: but this belief or pretence of God's commanding immoral and wicked actions is contrary to all rational sentiments concerning the Deity, and there

fore

fore cannot poffibly be proved, nor ought ever to be admitted *.

Is it agreeable to a being of infinite knowledge, wisdom, justice, and goodness, to enact the most neceffary and falutary laws for his creatures, as most certainly those of morality are, and then command the breach of those laws, and confirm this command by miracles? Suppose a nation to be wicked and ungodly, (is there, or was there ever one in the world otherwife?) can we imagine almighty God fo deftitute of the means of punishing,' if he is difpofed to punish, as to be under a neceffity to command another nation, for that purpose, to be most fuperlatively wicked and cruel? even to kill not only all their neighbours oxen and sheep, camels and affes, which furely could not have finned; but also to flay both man and woman, and infant and fuckling.

THE truth is, that when enthusiasts, fanatics, or hypocrites, who make high profeffions of religion, have committed, or are about to commit, fome barbarous, execrable

fact,

* "Nothing ought to be admitted for divine reve"lation, that overthrows the certainty of those principles, which must be antecedently supposed to all "divine revelation: for that were to overthrow the " means whereby we are to judge concerning the truth "of any divine revelation." Bishop Stillingfleet's works, vol. V. part 11. p. 33.

fact, or are defirous to perfuade others fo to do, they then pretend a divine impulse or command for their warrant; thus to rapaciousness and cruelty adding impiety and blas phemy.

If the natural and rational rules and boundaries of truth, good fenfe, and morality, which are the laws of God, not written on tables of stone, but deeply impreffed on the fleshly tables of mens hearts, are once fet afide or broke through, then will error, enthufiafm, and fanaticism like a torrent bear down truth, and carry away and destroy every thing that is facred, and most valuable to mankind. What opinions, however erroneous, extravagant, or monftrous, may not then be received by or impofed upon men as divine dictates! Or what actions, how wicked or atrocious foever, may not be fanctified by the name of religious duties, and warranted under the belief or pretence of being commanded by God!

SURELY, as it was the highest pitch of deceit and impudence in fome men to pretend that God commanded them to break the facred laws of nature and fociety, and to act the most cruel and inhuman barbarities; fo nothing but the highest folly, infatuation, and enthusiastic madness, could induce others to believe fo grofs and vile an impofition.