Let. 1. Lord HERBERT ef Cherbury. 3

uncertain thing. And though theſe are, by ſome among them- ſelves, repeſented under a very diſadvantageous character, and as little better than Atheiſts, they are, it is to be feared, the more numerous of the two. And indeed ſome of their moſt eminent modern writers ſeem to be very eaſy about theſe diffe- rences. With them all are true Deiſts who oppoſe revelation, whether they own future rewards or puniſhments or not. And they ſpeak with great regard of thoſe diſintereſted Deiſts, who profeſs to purſue virtue for its own ſake, without regard to fu- ture retributions c.

In giving an account of the deiſtical writers that have appeared in theſe nations(for I ſhall not meddle with thoſe of a foreign growth), I fhall go back to the former part of the laſt century: and the firſt I fhall mention, and who deſerves a particular no- tice, is that learned nobleman, Lord Edward Herbert, Baron of Cherbury. He may be juſtly regarded as the moſt eminent of the deiſtical writers, and in ſeveral reſpects ſuperior to thoſe that ſucceed him. He may be alſo conſidered as the firſt re- markable Deiſt in order of time, that appeared among us as a writer in the laſt century. For the firſt edition of his book de Veritate was in 1624, Wwhen it was publiſhed at Barir. It was afterwards publiſhed at London, as was alſo his book de Cauſis errorum, to which is ſubjoined his treatiſe de Religione Laici. Some years after this, and when the author was dead, his cele- brated work de Religione Gentilium was publiſhed at Amſterdam, in 1663, in quarto, and it was afterwards reprinted there in 1700, OCtavo, which is the edition I make uſe of; and an Eng- li% tranſlation of it was publiſhed at London in 1705.

His lordſhip ſeems to have been one of the firſt tliat formed Deifſm into a Syſtem, and aſſerted the ſufficlency, unve ality, and abiolute perfection of natural religion, with a view to diſcard all extraordinary revelation as uſeleſs and needleſs. He ſcems to aſſume to himſelf the glory of having accompliſhed it with great labour, and a diligent inſpection into all religions; and applauds himſelf for it, as happier than any Archimedos d. This univerſal religion he reduceth to five articles, which he fre- quently mentioneth in all his works. 1. That there is one ſupreme God. 2. That he is chiefly to be worſhipped. 3. That piety and virtue is the principal part of his worſhip. 4. That we muſt repent of our ſins: and if we do ſo, God will Pardon them. 5. That there are rewards for good men, and

s See Chriſtianity as old as the Creation, P. 332, 333. ed. Svo. 4 De Relig. Gent. cap. 15. init. B 3 puniſhments