EXOD. xx. 4, 5.

THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, OR ANY LIKENESS OF ANY THING THAT IS IN HEAVEN ABOVE, OR THAT IS IN THE EARTH BENEATH, OR THAT IS IN THE WATER UNDER THE EARTH. THOU SHALT NOT BOW DOWN THYSELF TO THEM, NOR SERVE THEM.

HE medicine adminiftered for the cure of one diftemper will fometimes bring on another; and this in dif

THE

orders

orders of the mind as well as body; and in both chiefly where the habit is bad. What wonder indeed that our applications are unsuccessful, when, to use the Jer.xv.18. expreffion of the Prophet, The wound' REFUSETH to be healed?

Where little pomp, and few ceremonies are used in the celebration of God's worship, it is too often neglected, or attended with indifference,

His adorable perfections, and divine benefits are all loft upon us. The imagination, wanting a fenfible object to lay hold on, is unmoved: and we can present our fupplications with lifelefs lips and a cold heart before the Author of all Being, and Giver of all good.

But when an English Proteftant happens to be present in the congregations of Catholics abroad, he is amazed to observe fuch fervours of devotion, as he was never

á witness of among his own countrymen; fuch violent emotions and rapture, as are not produced by prayers put up directly to Heaven, and the fimplicity of a reafonable fervice.

On the other hand, we allege that those very representations and fymbols which appear fo great a help to devotion, are the hindrance of true piety and virtue; and this both among the higher ranks of mankind, and the vulgar.

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The former of thefe, having the sense to fee that Religion cannot confist in such ceremonies, haftily conclude that it is wholly imposture and delufion; and that' all the preaching of the Gospel is but fraud, and the profeffion of it hypocrify or enthusiasm. They are made utterly unbelievers by fuch pious fhews: religion is killed by being cherished overmuch : and there is no where to be found fo much Infidelity, as in thofe countries, VOL. II. B

where

where there is most of this appearance of Devotion.

The common people too, for whofe benefit these decorations of religion were defigned, are not a little injured. For befides that they are apt to take up the opinions of their betters, and when Irreligion is esteemed Politenefs, foon think themselves qualified to be infidels, they get by these means wrong notions of religion, which are always favourable to corruptions in practice: if they fall not into Atheism, they become either enthufiaftical or fuperftitious; and in all the three cafes, their lives, it is likely, will be wicked.

When they are kindled into enthufiaftic fervours, they feel an internal impulse, which will hearken to no restraint, and are carried out a great way beyond the ordinary road of duty. The offices of common life are neglected; the calls of nature,