Letter to a Deist, Imprimatur – Preface
IMPRIMATUR hic Liber (cui Titulus, A Letter to a DEIST.)
Feb. 8. 1676. Guil. Jane, R. P. D. Henr. Episc. Lond. a Sacris Domest.
A LETTER TO A DEIST, In Answer to several OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE TRUTH and AUTHORITY OF THE Scriptures,
LONDON, Printed by W. G. and are to be sold by M. Pitt, at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1677.
THE PREFACE.
THis following Discourse was Written for the satisfaction of a particular Person, who owned the Being and Providence of God, but expressed a mean Esteem of the Scriptures, and the Christian Religion. Which is become so common a Theme among the Scepticks of this Age, that the Author of this Discourse thought it worth his time and care, to consider the force of the Objections that were made against them. Especially, being written in a grave and serious manner, and not with that Raillery and Buffonry, which the rude Persons of this Age commonly bestow upon Religion. It might be justly expected from such who pretend to Breeding and Civility, that they would at least shew more respect to a thing, which hath prevailed so much among Men of the best Understanding and Education, and who have had no Interest to carry on by it. For it is against the ordinary Rules of Conversation, to affront that which others think they have great Reason to esteem and love; and they would not endure that scorn and contempt of their meanest Servant, which they too often shew towards Religion, and the things belonging to it. If they are not in earnest when they scoff and mock at sacred things, their own consciences will tell them it is a horrible impiety; if they are in earnest, let them debate these things calmly and seriously, and let the stronger Reason prevail. Men may speak sharply and wittily against the clearest things in the World, as the Scepticks of old did against all Certainty of Sense and Reason; but we should think that Man out of his senses, that would now dispute the Being of the Sun, or the Colour of the Snow. We do not say, the Matters of Religion are capable of the same evidence with that of Sense; but it is a great part of judgment and understanding, to know the proportion and fitness of evidence to the Nature of the thing to be proved. They would not have the Eye to judge of tasts, nor the Nose of Metaphysicks; and yet these would be as proper as to have the senses judge of Immaterial Beings. If we do not give as good Reason for the Principles of our Religion, as the nature of Religion considered, can be given for it, let us then be blamed for our weakness in defending it; but let not Religion suffer, till they are sure nothing more can be said for it.
There is a late Author, I hear is Tractat. Theol. politic.mightily in vogue among many, who cry up any thing on the Atheistical side, though never so weak and trifling. It were no difficult task to lay open the false Reasonings, and inconsistent Hypotheses of his Book; which hath been sufficiently done already in that Language wherein it was written. But if for the Advancement of Irreligion among us, that Book be, as it is talked, Translated into our Tongue, there will not, I hope, want those who will be as ready to defend Religion and Morality, as others are to decry and despise them.