the Other alfo will, but never to return together fo as to form the Same Mind in Both no more than the Clouds will have the very Form in the Heavens they now have. What a different Set of Opinions have the People of the several remote Countries of the World? The Brain of a Chinese, of a FrenchMan, a Weft Indian, an Italian, a Lap-lander, an English-Man, &c. are stor❜d with Ideas ftrangely different: Nor would the Notions of any Two of these several Nations, or even of any One Family could they be set to View appear to be exactly alike in All things, or even upon any One Queftion confifting of any number of complicated Ideas. Every Age of the World has the like Variety: Notions like the Fruits of the Earth have their Spring, their Summer, Autumn, and Winter; how many that have been been flourishing Systems are withered, and perifhed; and what more may, who can tell! With respect to Religion in particular: 'Tis true the whole Race of Mankind (except thofe Few which in that easy Gradation there is from an Atom up to the highest Archangel connects our Species to that of Brutes) have Agreed in the General Notion of the Existence of a God, and have been Conftant to it. In China there is a Religion for the Mandarins, and another for the People; it hath always been much the fame thing throughout the World; Some in all Ages, and Countreys have contented themfelves with fuch Discoveries of the Deity as Humane Reason could attain to; whether they call'd that Incomprehenfible Being by the Name of Baal, or Jehovah, Jupiter, or God, or whatever other Sound, or Characters they thought fit to exprefs that I P dea dea by; and whether they address'd themselves to him in the most Simple, and Rational Manner, or comply'd with the Worship of their feveral Times, and Countreys, establish'd by the Wisdom of their feveral Legislators. Be this as it will; 'Tis certain that the Notions of the Generality of Men with respect to the Deity, the Ways of Conceiving of him, and his Attributes; and what Manner of Worfhip is molt acceptable to him, and likely to prevail with him to turn the Course of things into that Channel which they conceive most advantagious to Themselves, whether these are supposed to be derived from Divine Revelation, or Authority purely Humane; I fay in These things Men have vary'd exceedingly; and one Age from another. Sacrifices are now no more throughout the World; and the Multitude of Sacred Names ador'd or or rever'd in Ancient Rome are fucceeded there by others intirely New, but most of these are Already Forgotten, and Unknown to many Other Parts of Christendom. To come to our own Island in particular. How the Cafe ftood Before God knows, but for many Ages the Druids were our Spiritual Guides: At length Heathenifm gave place to Christianity: How different That was which was brought hither by Auftin the Monk, from what it was at the time of the Reformation, those that are acquainted with Ecclefiaftical History know very well: And that the Monk's Christianity differ'd much from that of the firft Christians (that of Jofeph of Arimathea who 'tis faid first preach'd the Gospel here,) is as well known. At the Reformation a Great, and a Noble Change was made; but what Changes have we gone through fince! Calvinifm, Arminianism, EP 2 pifcopacy, pifcopacy, Presbytery, Independency, Anarchy, all have prevail'd in their Turns. One while a furious Averfion to Popery, then comes another as furious against Proteftant Diffenters: At one time Zeal for Religion as a Means of Salvation, at another Zeal for the Church, almost as great without that Appearance of Piety. This puts me in mind of a Humorous Epigram I have met with somewhere. Our Grandfires they were Papifts, Their Bearns 'tis faid are Atheifts, All Nature is in perpetual Motion; as Time never ftands ftill, neither do our Bodies continue the Same, but are ever changing; and Tenderness of Infancy is transform'd to Wither'd Old Age by Infenfible Steps; but we are always stepping on: So 'tis with our Minds, |