E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF DEISM IN ENGLAND. _LONDON_: Printed for the Author, MDCXCVI. 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_.