Whatever be the _Virtue_ and _Religion_ of _Infidels_, it is all genuine, natural, and sincere; and consequently more Praise-worthy than _that_ of hired Priests, who may be suspected of Hypocrisy, because of their Interests. I heard a wild Spark say, that he could be as grave as the _Bishop_ of _London_, if he was but as well paid for it. Whether he believ'd the _Bishop_ would have been as loose as himself, but for his _Hire_, I can't tell. But this is certain that, what can't be said of Infidels, there are Priests who put on the Face and Form of Godliness, and want the Life and Power of it; who lift up their Hands and Eyes unto God, when their Hearts are far from him; and were not their Interests more than their Faith, a Restraint to their Lusts, it is commonly believ'd they would be a Company of loose _Blades_. What a Pother is here of the Danger and Mischief of Infidelity to Church and State? Do but take away the Cause of Infidelity, and the Effect ceases. And what is the Cause of Infidelity? Why, what _Origen_ predicted, I experience to be true, that the _Ministry of the Letter_ is the Cause of it; and I appeal to Mr. _Grounds_, Whether litteral Expositions on the Scripture, and the absurd Doctrines which the _Clergy_ have built upon the _Letter_, have not been one Cause of his calling into Question, the Truth of Christianity, and the divine Inspiration of the holy Scriptures? But this is not the only Cause of Infidelity; there are other grand ones, which Dr. _Moore_ writes of, saying thus:[350] "That Men are exceedingly tempted to think the whole Business of Religion is at best but a Plot to enrich the Priests, and keep the People in awe, from observing that they, who make the greatest Noise about Religion, and are the most zealous therein, do neglect the Laws of Honesty and common Humanity; that they easily invade other Men's Rights; that they juggle, dissemble, and lye for Advantage; that they are proud, conceited, love the Applause of the People, are envious, fierce, and implacable, unclean and sensual, merciless and cruel; care not to have Kingdoms flow in Blood, for maintaining their Tyranny over the Consciences of poor deluded Souls." If then there is any Danger of any kind in Infidelity, let the _Clergy_ take the Blame and Shame of it to themselves, and not lay that Fault, which is their own, upon other Men.