CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

CLXX.

MADAM,

MIstress D. O. and Mistress G. B. were th' other day to Visit me, where Mistress D. O. told for News, that Sir B. C. had Chan∣ged his religion, whereupon G. B. said, she was Sorry for that, for she did verily believe he could not Change for a Better than he formerly

Profess'd; then she ask'd D. O. to which Reli∣gion he was Turned, for there were but four that ever she could hear of, viz. the Gentil, the Jewish, the Christian, and the Mahometan, and, said she, in every one of these Religions were Different Opinions, and those Opinions almost Innumerable, yet they were not Different Reli∣gions; wherefore D. O. said she had been Mistaken, for it was only a Different Opinion from the Opinion he Profess'd before; G.B. said that was no wonder, for many did Change their Party for Interest, and it was to be Observed, that what Opinion a King or Chief Governour did Profess, the most part of their Subjects did the same, and so many Strangers that did but dwell in their Terri∣tories, either for Safety, or Traffick, or Ex∣ample, but Natives Changed out of hope of Preferment, as some for Honours, Offices, and Commands, others to Enjoy their Estates, and to save Fines, or Taxes, or the like, some through Perswasion of Friends, some for Fashi∣ons sake, and some for fear of Banishment or Death: Thus some for Fear, and some for Fa∣vour, some through Covetousness, and some for Humor, changed their Opinions in Religi∣on, but few for Conscience, and none for Rea∣son, for Opinions in Religion are all built upon Faith, wherein Reason hath no Place, at least no Foundation; but if any Changed for Con∣science, said she, it were the Meaner, and most Ignorant sort of People, who are most apt to

Fear, for Moral Conscience, said she, is the most Tender Effect of a Fearful Passion, but Divine Conscience is an Effect of Grace, which the Common People hath but little of: Where∣upon Mrs. D. O. told Mrs. G. B. that her Dis∣course proceeded from an Uncharitable Mind; Mrs. G. B. answered, her Discourse proceeded from the Observation of the course of the World, and from the Actions of Mankind, which she thought were the Best Informers of their Inward Dispositions, but if D. O. had Ob∣served otherwise, she desired her to tell; D.O. said, she did not take so much notice of the World of Mankind; then said G.B. you did not well to Judg me; And hereupon D. O. ask'd her of her Opinion, as whether she thought Sir B. C. was not in a Dangerous Condition; G.B. ask'd her, whether she meant Dangerous to his Soul, Body, or Estate; D. O. said, for the Sal∣vation of his Soul; Truly, answered G. B. I do believe, that the Great Omnipotent God is Good, Wise, Powerful, Knowing, Fore-seeing, and Just, as not to Damn a man for that which he could not possibly know, or for that which Nature made him to do, neither was he Igno∣rant, as not to Fore-see what Man could, or would do, and if Man could do nothing with∣out Gods Permission, Gods Mercy would not Permit, or Suffer Man to Damn himself, for that would be to Make Man to that End, Know∣ing it before, as Fore-seeing it, and if he gave Man a Free-Will, that were to give away one

of his Attributes, and so to make Man Great, and himself Less, and only to Impower Man to Damn himself; or for God to Make Man, and then Damn him, whereby to shew his Power, would neither stand with God's Justice nor Goodness; but certainly God could shew his Power other wayes, than by Damning those Creatures he Made, or Makes; and that God be as much, if not more Glorified by the Dam∣ned as by the Blessed, is but an Odd Belief, that Gods Glory should Arise from Torments, as if God had no other way to be Glorified, this would not Express Justice so much as Severity, if not Cruelty, as first, to Fore-see the Evil, then to make the Creature, and at last to Suffer that Evil, and to Damn the Creature for the Evil; neither, said she, can that Rational Part that God hath given me, perceive how it can stand with his Goodness and Mercy, or his Wis∣dom and Glory, to Suffer more Devils, than to Make Saints; neither doth it stand with his Wisdom and Power, to have more Enemies than Friends, for Wicked men and Devils are said to be the Enemies, and Good men and Saints to be the Friends, and Servants of God; but most Men have Blasphemous Opinions, as to make God either Cruel, or Ignorant, as not to Fore-know, or else to Make to Damn. But the Lady W. N. who was also Present at their Discourse, prayed Mrs. G. B. to Break off, since Man was so Ignorant, as he Knew not him∣self, yet would Pretend to Know God, and his

Attributes, Counsels, Laws, Rules, and De∣crees, also whom he Loved, and whom he Ha∣ted, who should be Damned, and who should be Saved, what Angels were in Heaven, and what Devils in Hell, who Served him a Right, and who Served him a Wrong way; also Man is so Presumptuous, as to Assimilize God, as also to Pretend to know what God sayes, making him to Speak like Man; also to Express him to have Passions; but if God be Absolute, and In∣comprehensible, it is an High Presumption to Assimilize God to any Creature; besides, it is Absurd and Ridiculous to Compare that which is Incomprehensible, for if he cannot be Con∣ceived, how shall he be Express'd? Also to say God's Goodness and Humanity is such, as to Bow to Man, since Man cannot Fully, or Know∣ingly Rise to Him, for 'tis Ridiculous to think that God's Great Omnipotency, or Incompre∣hensibility, can either Bow, Submit, or Humble it self; for God cannot Lessen himself, no more than Heighten himself, for he cannot be More nor Less, there are no Degrees in God, nor Con∣tractions, nor Dilatations, for he is all Fulfil∣ling; Indeed he is that which no Creature can tell, but something that is too Great and Migh∣ty to be Declared, his Works are only a Glimpse of his Might; yet Proud Men call themselves God's Friends; O Foolish and Con∣ceited Men! O Great and Incomprehensible God! Thus, Madam, I write the Several Discourses which these three Ladies had, by

which Relation, I, and my three Visitors, have as it were, Visited you; but lest our too long Stay should be Troublesome, I take my leave for this time, and rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.