Where Learning and Trade flourish in a Nation, they produce so much Knowledge, and That so much Equality among Men, that the Greatness of Dependencies is lost, but the Nation in general will be the better for it: For if the Government be wise, it is the more easily governed; if not, the bad Government is the more easily overturned, by Mens being more united against it than when they depended upon great Men; who might sooner be gained over and weakend by being divided.
There is more reason for allowing Luxury in a Military Government than in another; the perpetual Exercise of War not only excuseth but recommendeth the Entertainments in the Winter. In another it groweth into a Habit of uninterrupted Expences and idle Follies, and the Consequences of them to a Nation become irrecoverable.
CLERGY.
If the Clergy did not live like temporal Men, all the Power of Princes could not bring them under the temporal Jurisdiction.
They who may be said to be of God Almighty’s Houshold, should shew by their Lives that he hath a well disciplined Family.
The Clergy in this Sense, of Divine Institution; that God hath made Mankind so weak that it must be deceived.
RELIGION.
It is a strange thing that the way to save Mens Souls should be such a cunning Trade, as to require a skilful Master.
The time spent in praying to God, might be better employed in deserving well from him.
Men think praying the easier Task of the two, and therefore choose it.