and who endeavour, by their rational Arguments, and the Genteelnefs of their Language, by the Nervoufnefs of their Expreffion, and Propriety of their Sentiments, to prove that the Religion we profefs (I mean the Protestant Religion) is a reasonable Scheme; a Scheme every Way calculated to fatisfy the Mind here, and at the fame Time open to us a Door of abfolute Certainty (founded on the Revelation of the God of Truth) in regard to the Things which belong to our everlasting Peace.

In this Religion, and by the properest Means, may our P--ce (as no doubt he will) be educated! Not in the Stupidity of uncomfortable Infidelity, or Bigotry of Romish Juggling; not in the Libertinifm of the Age, which is nothing but Licentioufnefs, nor in the impolitic Policy of politely rejecting his God for his King, or his Saviour for his God, becaufe perhaps he may be taught fo, fhould he ever see it, in the improper School for Man*.

May his Teachers replenish his Royal Mind with every Princely and Chriftian Virtue; may they adorn it with Graces equal to the Largenefs of its comprehensive Capacity, the Part he

See Paul's Converfion: In a Letter to Gilbert Weft, Author of the Treatife on the Resurrection, which fee.

See Paraphrafe on Ifaiah's Prophecy, by Beddingfield.

See Parfon's Chriftian Directory.

With many more of both Sorts, which would make a Volume only to enumerate.

* A Book lately come from France.

is

is to act on the Stage of Life, and their own Abilities to fo important a Charge; then will the Robe and the Diadem be but fecondary Ornaments to his Royal Perfon hereafter, and only ferve (in the Room of fome petit Foible) as a Foil to his inimitable Accomplishments.

In order to his being a good and great King (1 humbly prefume) it is not neceflary that he fhould be brought up in the Spirit of Fear: No, but rather in the Spirit of Power, of Love, and of a found Mind: Not in the Spirit of Fear, becaufe our Religion has in it no Bulls, no Anathemas, no perfecuting Inquifitions; nothing in it terrifying or affrighting; but, on the contrary, indulges us in every innocent Amusement, and every harmlefs Joy; and his being brought up in the Spirit of Power, will enable him to exert that Power as Defender of our Faith.

His being brought up in the Spirit of Love will give him fuch a Love to his Religion, that he will foon feel how eafy the Yoke, and how light the Burden of Chriftianity is; and his being educated in the Spirit of a found Mind will help him to difcern the Reasonablenefs, and fee the Beauties, of his Religion, which will not then proceed from Bigotry but Reafon.

The Religion of the MESSIAH will bear the Teft of the ftricteft Examen, and in that to inftruct him will be to give him Statutes which are really good; and thus to educate him will prove, that the Judgments of his Teachers are Judgments by which he may live: This performed with Fidelity and Care (as there needs no Sufpicion of the contrary) will, in time to come,

Hiding-place from the Wind of false Doctrines, an Enemy to dangerous Publications, a Covert from the Tempest of Prophaneness, and a Meridian Sun to disperse the Clouds of Idolatry.

How too will fuch an Education as this alleviate the Minds of all true Lovers of their Country, under the affecting Reflection on the Death of our late Pe! How will it support them under that Anxiety, otherwife infupportable, which must fill every Breast at that Time, when (may the Day be far off) our present gracious Monarch fhall be convened to the Affembly of the Just made perfect, and be permitted (as a Punifhment to us, though a Reward of his Labours for us) to change this his corruptible and fading Crown for one which never shall decay, and this his Kingdom, which is made with Hands, for one whofe Builder and Maker is GOD! Then to fee his every Royal Virtue renewed in him, and our King himfelf, as it were, eternalized to his People.

How, laftly, will fuch Inftructions quadrate with her Royal Mind! How joyous will the Profpect be to her (whofe Heart is ever anxious, and whofe Bowels are, as it were, continually yearning after him) whilft fhe fees that thus inftructed, his Power and Wifdom do not only make him a Friend, but that his Goodness and Religion too render him even a kind of GOD to MAN.

Great are the Troubles, and many the Temptations, incident to a Throne; and their Minds

ought

ought to be well riveted in the best Principles, who are to be fubject to the Flattery of every Person about them, and whofe Situation generally debars them from hearing the Truth.

How foon will the Principles of Ethics, Philofophy, or Divinity, be obliterated, unless they have been strongly impreffed, Line upon Line, and Precept upon Precept, upon his Heart, who is to guide the Helm of a State, fupport the Majefty of Government, and be fatigued with the Burden of political Affairs, both foreign and domeftic! How foon may the nipping Froft of Infidelity kill the tender Plant, and the witty Scoffers at Religion turn his every serious Principle into Ridicule, by the Sophiftry of their Arguments, and artificial Contrivances to lay Stumbling-blocks in his Way, unless Care is taken to give a happy Bias to the Prince's Mind whilft it is young, and, like the Molle udum, fufcep tible of any Impreffion!

Thefe Reflections, dear TIMOTHEUS, I thought fit to convey to you, to make what Use you pleafe of: I hope you will forgive the Length of the Epiftle, and, on Second Thoughts, believe I could not fay lefs: I fhall be glad to fee you on this Side the Water, where I enjoy my little Villa with Content and Liberty, fuch Liberty as is more than a Counter-balance for the highest Dignities and Poffeffions in the Universe; where I enjoy my own folitary Reflections, endeavouring to convince myself, that Nature is content with a little; that he is happieft who has the greatest Command over his Paffions, and that

our

res, properly

Satisfactions; or as the Poet expreffes it,

Nature craves little, Grace fometimes craves lefs, 'Tis Avarice, Pride, and Luft, demand Excefs. RAWLET.

And, as you are a Philofopher, I hope this plain Defcription of greater Plainnefs will induce you foon to vifit,

Yours affectionately,

CHRISTIANUS.

P. S. For my Answer to yours on Retirement, for my Letter to Nathan Dan Saddi the Jew, that to Alcoranus the Mahommedan, and my farther Hints on Moravianifm, be pleafed to be referred to my next.