From the fo different principles that go-
verned men of fpeculation an public life, and
the clofet, it is amply accounted for. " That
" pradtice " too often creeps where theory
" can foar, and the philofopher proves as
" w^eak as thofe whom he contemns." The
philofophers indeed, in this refped:, afted
in the fame manner precifely, as the culti-
vators of every other fcience. Each follows
the train of thought, and ufes the inftru-
ments (if there be any) adapted to his own
philofophical purpofe : but in the tranfadtion
of public or domeftic bufinefs, conforms to
the obvious rules of prudence, and to the
common maxims of expediency. A fcience
of fpeculation, fuch an intellediual fyftem,
fo limited to men of great abftraction, and
philofophic leifure, is not worthy of the
appellation of natural or rational religion.
Let it retain the title of philofophy, or
affume the name of wifdom, the wifdom of
the world : but let nothing pafs for rational
religion, that will admit of any other limita-
tions, than thofe which mark the definition
of the fpecies. For this religion (as the
name imports) in its obligations and its fanc-
tions applies to every partaker of the faculty

^ Harris.
of



SERMON II. 35

of reafon ; and therefore ought to render the
principles, the foundation, the means, the
advantages and end of rehgion, level to the
underftanding and capacity of the inquirer
of every clafs and denomination. Were it
not fo, this abfurdity w^ould follovvr : the
religious qualifications of men would not be
moral, but natural and intelledtual ; and
every man's rank, in this refpedt, would
bear proportion to his natural abilities, to
his education, and fuch extraneous caufes,
totally adventitious to him.
