The Project Gutenberg eBook, An Account of the Growth of Deism in England, by William Stephens

Title: An Account of the Growth of Deism in England

Author: William Stephens

Release Date: September 3, 2011 [eBook #37302]

Language: English

Character set encoding: UTF-8

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM IN ENGLAND***

E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper,
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AN

ACCOUNT

OF THE

GROWTH

OF

DEISM·

SIR,

'Tis now three Years since you and I had a serious Discourse concerning the rise and progress of Deism: which is an Opinion of late Years crept into England, tho not so widely spread here as in other parts of Europe. I well remember we were both agreed, that there was no shadow of Reason why any one should suspect the Gospels of Forgery, since the matter contain'd in them hath not the least favour of any worldly Interest, or indirect Design, but all the Lines of them do only center in the highest Improvement Humane Nature is capable of. So that in conformity every Man may take great comfort in himself, and all Mankind live well with one another. Besides, the Preachers of this excellent Doctrine had at first all the Discouragements which an irreligious and idolatrous Age could give them, (as is confessed by their Enemies) insomuch that nothing but their own personal full Conviction of the Truths they professed could engage them to Preach 'em; and the intrinsick Goodness of the Law of Christ, was sufficient to gain mens hearts, after Miracles had born down their Prejudices, and gain'd their serious Attention. In fine, you and I could see no reason to doubt of the Truth of any matter of Fact contain'd in the Gospels, which relate the miraculous Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ; but what would oblige us to deny the truth of all History whatsoever. And from these Considerations laid together, we concluded that the Doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ was undoubtedly sent to us by God.

This still made it appear more strange to us both, how DEISM (which is a denial of all reveal'd Religion) should creep in upon us where the Scriptures are made so publick, and where so many Learned Treaties are written, which so strongly assert their Authority to be Divine. I confess, I was as desirous to know upon what Grounds Men rejected the Gospel, as you your self were, and therefore I willingly undertook the Task you laid on me, viz. To collect and put together those Motives whereby some had been induced to lay aside all Revelation. For which Performance I was the fitter, because it doth not require any Learning and strength of Wit, but only Observation, and Inquiry, which I might easily make, because of the numerous Acquaintance I have contracted in Town, where (you know) I spend the Winter, and in the Country, where I bestow my Summer Visits. But all I shall do in this matter, is barely to give you a Relation of those Prejudices, and (as I think) false Reasonings, which have drawn some of my Acquaintance from Revelation to DEISM.

1. Now, first I have observed, that some who pretend themselves Deists, are Men of loose and sensual Lives; and I make no wonder that they dislike the Christian Doctrine of Self-denial, and the severe threatnings against wilful Sinners. You may be sure they will not alledge this Reason: But having read Spinosa and Hobbes, and been taught to laugh at the story of Baalam's Ass, and Sampson's Locks; they proceed to ridicule the reality of all Miracle and Revelation. I have conversed with several of this Temper, but could never get any of 'em serious enough to debate the reality of Revelation: But a witty Jest and t'other Glass puts an end to all further Consideration. These are meer Sceptics, and practical Atheists, rather than real Deists.

2. But there are others, who, although they have not a due regard to Revelation, are Men of Sobriety and Probity, who with great freedom have let me into their Thoughts, whereby I can very clearly and fully (as I think at least) discern the rise and progress of this their Opinion, which is this;

1. In the time of King Charles the First, (which confineth my longest acquaintance with Men) 'twas usual for Gentlemen to send their Sons abroad into Italy, Spain, France, Germany, &c. to accomplish themselves by Travel. But lest they should be prevail'd upon to change their Religion, care was taken that their Tutor or Governour, who travelled with 'em, should shew them the Idolatry and Superstition of the Roman Religion; and also let 'em in to see that Popery in all its Branches was only a device of the Priesthood, to carry on a particular Interest of their own; to encrease their Wealth, Honours, and Power over the Lay-people; to exalt the Head of their Order above all the Crowned Heads in the World, and equal one whole Order of their Clergy, viz. the Cardinals, to the Princes of Christendom. Nay, since all People were obliged to make their Confessions to, and receive their Absolution from the Priest, the meanest of which Order could create a God for the People's Worship; 'tis plain, that their Religion was calculated for the Profit, Power and Honour of the whole Order of the Priesthood in this World, whatsoever advantages they might find by it in the other. Now the Young Gentleman being throughly convinced of this Holy Cheat, returneth to Old England; where he meets with very zealous Contests about Religion (as was pretended) between the Church of England, headed by Arch-Bishop Laud on the one part, and the Presbyterian Kirk on the other; and having carefully read the Debate (as it appeared in the Prints) on both sides, with those very Eyes which he had so lately cleared up in Italy or France, he could not forbear to see that both these Protestant Parties, under the pretence of Religion, were only grasping at Power, and that the Controversy at bottom, was not who's Religion was best, but only what Sect of the Clergy should make the best Market of the meer Lay-men. And as this Young Gentleman had before resolved with himself not to become a Property to the Popish Priesthood, no longer now will he be such to the Protestant Clergy of any Denomination, since