given over to mockery and scorn, are of the Ro|man Catholic, that is, of their own pretended per|suasion. I have no doubt that some miserable bigots will be found here as well as elsewhere, who hate sects and parties different from their own, more than they love the substance of religion; and who are more angry with those who differ from them in their particular plans and systems, than displeased with those who attack the foundation of our common hope. These men will write and speak on the subject in the manner that is to be expected from their temper and character. Burnet says, that when he was in France, in the year 1683,
the method which carried over the men of the finest parts to popery was this—they brought themselves to doubt of the whole Christian re|ligion. When that was once done, it seemed a more indifferent thing of what side or form they continued outwardly.If this was then the ecclesiastic policy of France, it is what they have since but too much reason to repent of. They preferred atheism to a form of religion not agree|able to their ideas. They succeeded in destroying that form; and atheism has succeeded in destroy|ing them. I can readily give credit to Burnet's story; because I have observed too much of a simi|lar spirit (for a little of it is "much too much") amongst ourselves. The humour, however, is not general.
The teachers who reformed our religion in Eng|land bore no sort of resemblance to your present reforming doctors in Paris. Perhaps they were (like those whom they opposed) rather more than
