_Fifthly_, and _lastly_, Others make it a common _Rule_ to be observ'd in Controversy, that the _Disputants_ should consider each other's Arguments impartially, without the Byass of Prejudice and Interest. And a very good _Rule_ this is, if Men would but put it into Practice. But I shall long despair of such Impartiality in Controversy. Such is the Power of Prejudice and Interest, that they will influence Men to believe against the most apparent Reason and Truth. Even Prejudice will much darken the Eyes of Mens Understandings, but Interest will put them quite out. O what a horrible Obstacle to the free Enquiry after Truth, is Interest! Against Demonstration itself will Men contend for Interest. Interest, upon Occasion, will induce them to desert the best Opinions, and keep them tight to the worst. This Experience proves true, and the various Faces of the Church, and Changes of the _Clergy_ (all for Interest) is a Witness of it. God forbid that I should judge uncharitably of the Corruption of human Nature under the Power of Interest; but I believe, that was our _Legislature_ to do, what they never will, that is, set up the Figure of a _Calf_ in our Churches, there would be no want of Priests to worship him, if they were well paid for it; nor of Academical _Students_ to prove his divine Power and Godship, if the Road to Preferment lay that Way. For this Reason, among many others, I am for the Abolition of an hired and establish'd Priesthood, that this grand Bar of Interest may be removed out of our Way to Truth. And the _Bishop_ of _London_, that excellent Prelate, as _Bishop Smalbroke_ calls him (for so do we, like other Creatures, knab one another where it itches) should by rights be of my Mind, saying,[363] "Where there is an Unwillingness to part with worldly Interests, there must of Course be a _Desire_ that the Christian Religion should not be true; and a _Willingness_ to favour and embrace any Argument that is brought against it, and to cherish any Doubts and Scruples that shall be rais'd concerning it." So feelingly does this _Bishop_ speak of the Power of Interest, by which, as I would conceive, he honestly hints to the Inhabitants of _London_ and _Westminster_, that the _Bishop_ of their Diocese, and the _Parson_ of their Parish, are most unfit Guides in Religion, because of the worldly Interests they may have to deceive them, and keep them in Ignorance and Error. Thus by way of Preface having spoken to the foregoing _Rules_ to be observed in this Controversy, I come to a close. _Defence_ of myself against the Charge of Infidelity, and to vindicate the Usefulness of my _Discourses on Miracles_ for the Proof of the Truth of Christianity, and of the Messiahship of the Holy _Jesus_, against all my Adversaries. And the Method I shall take to this Purpose, is this following.