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vils; and in the Management of his Argument there is fuch a Confufion of Sentiments, fuch a Jumble of Light and Darkness, Truth and Error, Reafon and Imagination, that one knows not where to begin, or in what Order to proceed, how to disentangle Truth from Error, to feparate the Precious from the Vile, to distinguish the cool Dictates of Reason and Philofophy, from the wild Flights of Imagination and Fancy. To follow him through all his Excurfions, would be an endless and useless Undertaking. Our best and shortest way will be to examine the Goodnefs of the Foundation, and fee whether there be any Ground in Scripture or Reason to support fo monftrous a Superftructure; if not, it must fall to the ground, and leave room for a just and uniform Structure upon folid and lafting Foundations; which, (if you approve of this) fhall be the Subject of a fecond Letter.

In the mean time, Madam, I affure myself, you will be in no pain about the Event. You are too well acquainted with the Language and Genius of that lively Nation, as not to know that they have Gafconades in Philofophy, as well as in Gallantry, Romance, and Politics: You are bleffed with an Understanding too good to be impofed upon by vain Pretences to Reafon and Philofophy; you can easily distinguish betwixt empty Sounds, and folid Senfe; betwixt the wanton Sallies of a luxuriant Fancy, and the fevere Conclufions of Truth and Juftice. You have a Firmness of Mind too great to be mov'd by the vain Terrors of a frighted Imagination, which are too often the Curfe of weak and little Minds. Continue, there

fore,

fore, your wonted Care and Affection for your innocent Domesticks; they look up to you for their Support; from your Hand they receive the flender Provifions of Life, without murmuring or repining, which they endeavour to repay with the fincereft Gratitude, the most faithful Services, and unfeigned Affections that their Natures are capable of: If you are pleased, they rejoice with you; Do you carefs them? They are transported with Pleasure. Do you frown? They tremble. Do you chide or punish them? They endeavour to appeafe you by the most humble Proftration and Submiffion. Do not many of them discover more Gratitude, Sincerity, nay, I had almost faid Virtue, than many of their Masters, who value themfelves upon the Refinements, upon their Reafon, the Improvements of their Understandings, and nice Senfe of Honour? Are they wretched as well as we? Are they exposed with us to the unavoidable Calamities of Life? They are not wretched through their own faults, they are not the Authors of their own Mifery; they (as well as we) are made fubject to Vanity, but they not willingly, by a voluntary Abuse of their proper Faculties, but are by a Neceffity of Nature involv'd in the Guilt and Condemnation of their rebellious, attainted, natural Lord and Sovereign. Rom. viii. 20.

my

If you are not difpleafed with the Subject, tired with the Length, or difgufted with the manner of this tedious Epiftle, I fhall quickly do felf the Honour to fend you fome further Confiderations upon the fame Subject. I am, with great Refpect, Madam,

Your most humble Servant.

FREE, THOUGHTS

UPON THE

BRUTE-CREATION:

OR, AN

EXAMINATION

O F

Father BOUGEANT's

Philofophical Amusement, &c:

LETTER II.

(Price Eighteen Pence.)

The following Treatifes wrote by J.HIL DROP, A. M. Printed for R. MINORS.

I.

A

Propofal for bringing in a Bill to repeal certain abfolete Statutes, called the Ten Commandments. Price S.

II. The Contempt of the Clergy. In a Letter to a Friend. Price 23. 620

II. An Effay for the better Regulation and Improvement of Free-Thinking. Price 15.

IV. An Effay on Honour. Price 1 s. 6d.

V. A Commentary upon the fecond-Pfalm. 15, 6d.

VI. Free Thoughts on the Brute-Creation, Letter I. Price rs.

FREE THOUGHTS

UPON THE

BRUTE-CREATION:

OR, AN

EXAMINATION

OF

Father BOUGEANT'S

Philofophical Amusement, &c.

In Two LETTERS to a LADY.

By JOHN HILDROP, M. A. Rector of Wath, near Rippon in Yorkshire : And Chaplain to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Ailesbury and Elgin.

LETTER II.

LONDON:

Printed for R. MINORS, Bookfeller and Stationer in St. Clement's Church-yard. M.DCC.XLIII.

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