Let. 25. Lord BoLINGBROKLE. 15

ſtance diſtinct from the body, hath done what he could to take away the force of the natural argument for a future ſtate of exiſtence and retributions after this life is at an end: It re- mains that we take notice of what he hath offered to deſtroy the moral arguments ufually brought for it from the ſuppoſed unequal diſtributions of this preſent ſtate. He ſets himlelf at great length to prove that the ſuppoſition is abſolutely falſe and groundleſs; that it is highly injurious to God; and tendeth to caſt the moſt blaſphemous reflections upon his providence. In the management of this argument he hath broke out into the moſt opprobrious invectives againſt the Chriſtian divines and philoſophers, whom he abuſes and traduces without the leaſt regard to decency. He frequently charges them as in a con- federacy with the Atheiſts; and repreſents them as“ com- *e plaining of the uniform conduét of that providence of God «which is over all his works, and cenfuring their Creator in „the government of the world, which he has made and pre- *« ſerves.—— That they have done nothing more than repeat «l what all the Atheiſts from Democritus and Epbicurus have ¹*o faid: That they have puſhed their arguments on this ſubject ««c ſo far, that the whole tribe of theſe writers, like Wollaſton and Clarke, do in effect renounce God, as much as the rankeſt ** of the Atheiſtical tribe:“ And he undertakes to prove this, to their ſhame, to be truef. That the heathen Theiſts de- ¹ fended the divine providence againſt the Atheiſts who at- ¹ tacked it, and recommendęd a chearful reſignation to all e« the diſpenſations of it; whereas Chriſtian divines have made «c a common cauſe with the Atheiſts to attack providence, and «« to murmur agaianſt the neceſſary ſubmiſſion that they pay 8.“ That“the Chriſtian philoſophers, far from defending the pro- «« vidence of God, have joined in the clamour againſt it.—— That“ they have brought the ſelf-exiſtent Being to the bar of humanity,— and he has been tried, convicted, and con- demned, like the governor of a province, or any other in- **ferior magiſtrate?.“

Accordingly he ſets up as a zealous advocate for the goodneſs « and righteouſneſs of divine providence in the preſent conſti- ««c tution of things, and with great ſolemnity undertakes to * Plead the cauſe God againſt Atheiſts and Divines.“ He affirms, that„notwithſtanding the human race is expoſed ««α⅜ to various evils, there is no ground for complaint, but *c abundant cauſe for thankfulneſs. i“ That“ if we are ſub-

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Vol. v. p. 484, 483. s Ibid. p. 486. d Ibid. p. 438. IIbid. p. 333. 334.

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