A pretend to fay, that we were over- adminiftration, and that the new minifters not having been bred up at the pufillanimous fchool of the minifter lately deceased, will init upon higher terms than the prefent would readily agree to; which fufpicion will make them fettle every thing in difpute as foon as poffible; for from the experience they have had of our naval ftrength, I believe, they will be cautious of entering again into a war with this nation, till they think themfelves an equal match for us at fea; and that, I hope, we fhall take care to prevent, by increafing our naval ftrength in proportion as they increase theirs. As to the objection, Sir, that an inquiry would fo much employ our minifters, that they could not attend to the publick affairs of the nation, it might have fome weight, were we engaged in a war; but as it is now a time of profound peace, and as the inquiry could not be of any long duration, they may spare time enough to provide for their defence; and, I D think, they fhould defire to be put upon it, if they be innocent; for an innocent man who has the misfortune to be accufed of any heinous crime, will certainly be defirous of being put upon his trial, that he may have an opportunity to vindicate his character: Even a private man is in fuch a cafe bound, in juftice to his character, to defire a trial; but a minifter has a farther and higher obligation, because the infamy of his character may hurt that of his fovereign, and alienate the affections of the people. As to the objections made against our entering into fuch an inquiry, they will always be equally good against our entering spon an inquiry into any tranfaction that has a rela tion to foreign affairs, and this of itfelf is fuflicient to render them of no weight; but as to that of diminishing the influence of our minilters at the courts of France and Spain, and thereby retarding or difappointing the adjufting of thofe articles that ftill remain to be fettled relating to our commerce and plantations, it is fo far from being an objection, that, I believe, it is rather an argument for an inquiry. Both thofe courts know, that our prefent adminiflra- F tion is of the fame complexion with E a late one, which fubmitted to their In this light, Sir, let us confider the fituation of our prefent minifters, The complaints are loud againft their conduct of the late war: They are accufed not only of mifconduct, but of defigning to render the war unsuccessful tor private ends of their own. They can vindicate themfelves no way but by fubmitting to a ftrict and impartial parliamentary inquiry. This they are bound to fubmit fubmit to, in duty to their own C other tranfactions (thofe at Hanau) I was not fo much furprized, that gentlemen in power fhould be unwilling to lay before you, any pro pofitions that had been made of an advantageous nature to this country, which by a comparison with the terms, on which peace has fince been concluded, would convince us of their own mifconduct, which, I think, is the foftelt expreffion I can bestow on it. But, Sir, it is fomething extremely myfterious, that they fhould appear equally folicitous to conceal propofitions which were fo extremely difadvantageous, that we were affured from the throne itself, they were inadmifiable; and, therefore, it is impoffible to fuggelt any other motives for fuch a behaviour, but a confcioufnefs, that thofe very inadmiffable terms, or even fome ftill worse than thofe, have been fince admitted: For it feems, Sir, there are no terms fo bad that were previoufly offer'd and rejected, with which this treaty of peace, as it D now ftands, will bear the test of comparison. And, upon my word, I do not conceive what terms they were that could have been more inadmiffable, efpecially, as far as relates to Great Britain, than those of this treaty, which have fixt an indelible ftamp of infamy on our national reputation, and have facrificed the great commercial interell of this country, by the precarious footing on which it has left all your trade to Spain; and in this refpect, whatever difadvantages your Spanish F trade labours under, is fo much given to France, which will fupplant you in it. What I fay, I do not intend merely in regard to the affair of fearching our fhips, but the leaving the treaty of 1715 unconfirmed t, by which your commerce may be expofed to fuch high duties, as will entirely cut it up by the roots; or can we imagine France 4 A The next Debate we had in our Club was upon a Motion, That an humble addrefs be prefented to his majefty, that he would be graciously pleafed to give directions for laying before the house, copies of the overtures for a general pacification, men- E tioned, &c. (as in our Magazine for laft October, page 455, col. 1. *) As the Arguments made use of for and against this Motion were nearly the fame with thofe in the former Debate, I fhall give you only two or three fort Speeches upon this Subject; and the firft 1 jhall give was that made by Lart. Tolumnius, which was to this Effect: Mr. Prefident, SIR, W HEN a motion was made December, 1749. G Sir E--T-~. * See London Magazine for 1748, p. 140, col. 2. 1743, P. 50%, col. 2. will † See London Magazine for Our trade is now left on the foot A of the explanatory articles of the treaty of Utrecht, which were thought fo bad, that they did not dare at that time to infert them in the body of the treaty, nor were they figned by the plenipotentaries, no traces of them were to be found B in the fecretaries offices; but they were clandeftinely negotiated by an Irish papift, then refident in Spain, and privately foifted into the ratifications. How this matter comes to be neglected now, muft create fufpicions of a moft alarming nature; for as C we have given up every pledge in our hands, that could induce a com. pliance from the courts of Spain and France hereafter, this may be referved as a plea for what dare not now be avowed, and for which neceffity then will be urged as a juftifi- D cation. And let every gentleman, who hears me, reflect on this occafion, that our negotiations with Spain are intrufted to the fame perfon, who a few years ago conluded the fo much detefted and infamous convention with that crown. But, Sir, it becomes this houfe more particularly to exert their right or rather duty of enquiry at this time, from a confideration of the very contemptuous manner in which it has been treated, in regard to the prefent peace, as it was not thought worthy to have even the preliminaries, when figned, communicated to it, tho' figned and fent over while parliament was fetting, and when a total difregard, in thofe preliminaries, to the united fenfe of parliament, moft folemnly expreffed by the unanimous refolution of both houses, in relation to the pretenfions of Spain to vifit our fhips, made fuch a communication more particularly decent and neceflary. E F As therefore, on the other hand, there is not the leaft ill confequence pretended from giving us a fight of the propofitions now moved for; as nothing but a confcioufnefs of guilt, can induce a defire to keep them concealed; as the knowledge of them is neceffary to form and determine our judgment on fubfequent tranfactions, I am moft fincerely for the motion. [This JOURNAL to be continued in our next.] The reader is defired to correct the following errata, occafioned by a mistake of the transcriber, viz. p.495, col. 2. line 31 and 46, for 1744 read 1743. Line 36, read 51,043, 347. Line 38, read 53,043,347. And line 46. read 22,956,653. 683868689'6383828888 REFLECTIONS on ATHEISM and SUPERSTITION, occafion'd by what Dr. Fofter has lately publib'd. I Will not enter into an examination of Dr. Fofler's reasonings on thefe fubjects; I only offer my own fentiments. The calamities and mifchiefs which arife from the unrighteous and unreafonabic behaviour of men, are generally imputed to one or both of thefe caufes. But if we nearly and truly furvey what paffeth in the world, we shall more properly afcribe them to intenfe felfiflineis, to a brutal, unthinking temper, or to the dominion of paffion and appetite. The bulk of mankind live, indeed, without God in the world; not that they have a formal difbelief, for they are abfolute strangers to thought and reflection. They of fuperior rank have their understandings as little exercis'd in ftrict reasoning, and as rarely employed in fpiritual contemG plations, as the meanelt of the vul gar. In their days of health and profperity, they deny his being, or day unto God, Depart from us, for we defire not the knowledge of thy ways ways; but when furrounded with diftreffes and troubles, then are their minds wholly poffefs'd with fuperftitious conceits and devices. A How fmall is the number of thofe, who are in any degree uniform and confiftent in the whole of their lives? Fixed and lafting notions are very uncommon, and, therefore, the real characters and fentiments of men are, rarely known. We must form the best judgment we can from their pretenfions and behaviour. A neceffary brevity will not allow me to enlarge: I therefore proceed. B In order to a proper difcuffion of the cafe of atheifm, and fuperftition, let us attend to facts and obfervations. Let us inquire, by means of which of these two errors, most dis. honour is done to the great Governor C of the world, and the greateft differvice to human beings. The many evidences of fupreme power, wifdom and goodness, which every where appear, make the cause of atheiím inexcufably bad. They who are unaffected with thefe proofs, D feem much worfe than their caufe, when they endeavour to draw difciples after them. Suppofing the believer to be mistaken, what harm can arise from this miftake? Was their doctrine generally received, vould it contribute to the benefit of E the world? They cannot demonftrate the impoffibility of the being of God; but if he doth exift, is not all imaginable honour and regard due to him? And, therefore, to difparage and deride this great truth, is intolerable. The fuperftitious pretend to have high and reverential thoughts of God; but how notoriously are these contradicted by their practices, and in their precepts! How numerous are their mean and low devices? How ridicu lous are their penances and pilgrim ages, by which they intend to do him honour, and to give him fatisfaction? But the felf-denial and mortifications inflicted on themfelves, are F G trivial fufferings, compared to the ufage of thofe who are under their cognizance, and within their power. They make themselves judges of the proper degrees of wholesome severities. With this plea of whole fomencfs, they juflify the horrid and deteftable manner, in which they are treated, who profefs, or are fufpected to diffent from any of the particulars of their fuperftition. Prolonging the lives of fuch in wretchednefs and flavery, cruel torturings, and inflicting death, in the most painful and ignominious manner, are inftances of laudable zeal in the infallible church. Such are their notions of God, and of the homage and regard due to him. If there is a God, all poffible perfection, and all imaginable excellency and goodness must be inherent in him. With which then of thefe are we to conclude the righteous and all difcerning Judge to be moft difpleafed with him who denieth his existence, or with the formal and folemn believer, who annexeth to his existence, the most odious, mean and fhocking qualities? Such muft their ideas be of him, who are confidently affured, the addresses and worship which have been mention'd, are proper and acceptable, and that cruelties and inhumanities inflicted, are not only for his fake, but perfectly agreeable to his will and pleasure. To fuppofe fuch a fupreme being, is much more offenfive, than all utter denials, and downings of nim. Every wife and good man will reafon in this manner, and muft not this be neceffarily fuppofed of the Fountain of all wisdom and goodness? As fuperftition has reduced God to the level of the worlt of men, it has raised some of the worft of men to the prerogatives of the deity. Infallibility, and an intire and abfolute power of abfolving from all fin and guilt, and their confequences, are previleges affumed by the pon.if and priests of the Romish churr 4 A 2 Thinking men, who have no other reprefentations of religion and its great object, will naturally have an averfion to both. When their words and actions are most constrained, their thoughts will be moft operative. Domineering fuperftition is the grand parent of abfolute infidelity, and the deepest hypocrify. Let us now briefly examine from whence the greateft differvice arifeth to human beings. They are commonly divided into the good and the ill-natured; let us confider how they are both affected. The contemplations of the atheift afford nothing to improve goodness of temper, but their tendencies A tion, have been employed in the wholefome difcipline of dragooning, and confining proteltants to dungeons and gallies; fome of them were originally averfe to cruelties and feverities; but merit and duty effectually cared all their averfions. Ill-natured men become more fo, thro' the influence of both these pernicious errors. The effects of which of them are moft pernicious, may be inferred from what hath been faid. A world deftitute of a fupreme GoB vernor, and where all events are afcribed to fate or chance, is a difmal and uncomfortable place. Such an opinion muft difpofe the four and perverfe, to perfift in their humour, and aggravate every evil and unfocial quality. Human laws are their only reftraint, and, therefore, where they have nothing to apprehend from them, the natural malignancy of their temper will be fully gratified. are contrary. However, the evil aers. While But, are the tendencies of high fuperftition lefs pernicious? Is it not much more operative and inforcing? D The maddeft and moft meritorious zealots, are naturally cruel and gloomy. They have every motive and encouragement to gratify all their rancour and fpleen. they are indulging themfelves in all acts of diabolical cruelty, they have the pleafure of being affured by their facred and infallible directors, that they are labouring in the caufe of God and his church. As by this means they fecure to themselves applaufe, and all ecclefiaftical immunities and favours, fo are they affured of immortal rewards hereafter. E But fuperftition transformeth the good-natured man into a malignant, and divefteth him of humane and tender affections. Whoever is not thus prepared, cannot be deemed a G true difciple, much lefs is he quali hed to be a useful agent. The officers and chiefs of the inquifition, and they who, in a neighbouring na It remaineth to confider them both, as they are members of fociety. Affurances from oaths are nullites with an atheist; on this account his opini ons are intolerable. But he is not therefore more to be detefted by the community than the patrons and difciples of fome fuperftitions. The one may poffibly think himself obliged in honour, to pay a proper regard to his promifes and declarations. The other |