Understanding of the People. And this is not owing to the want of Encouragement for such Labours: For, bad and wicked as the Age is, I never heard of a good Book, either of Science, Religion, or Morality, but what met with proper Encouragement from the Publick: but a Spirit of Lukewarmness, in Matter of Religion and Devotion, in those, who are well paid for being its Guardians, prevails so much, that they cannot be induced to enter the Lists with Error and Infidelity; but satisfy themselves with exclaiming, in general Terms, against the immoral Writings of others, without giving themselves the Trouble to impugn their Errors, or to furnish the People with Preservatives against their mischievous Effects. And if, at any Time, they are tempted to take up the Pen in Defence of some favourite Doctrine, the Controversy is handled with so little Charity or Decency, that an honest, well-meaning, Christian, throws aside the Book, disgusted at a Spirit so unbecoming the Followers of _Christ Jesus_. In a Word, Friend _Thomas_, I think this Laziness in those, endued with all the Advantages of Light and Knowledge, and whose Time ought to be chiefly employed in such Labours, to be a much greater Grievance, and a more infallible Sign of the total Decay of the true Spirit of Christianity, and a greater Reason for the Increase of Infidelity and Prophaneness, than all the bad Books, obscene Prints, and Histories of Prostitutes, that have been published for this Century past. And to shew thee, that if good Books are compiled, there is no fear of Encouragement even from this profligate Generation, Thou needst only recollect, that thy _little_ Letter has brought more Money to thy Bookseller, than all the Impressions of prophane Books, of any Kind, have brought to the whole Trade for this Twelvemonth past.