If Mr. _Dryden_ did distinguish herein, between real Vertue and that
Idol one of Men's Invention, he was, perhaps, not much in the wrong in
what he suggests: But if he design'd in this a Satyr against Marriage,
as a state in the which a Man can no way be happy, it appears then how
much Vertue is prejudiced by this foreign Support, whilst it becomes
thereby expos'd to such a Censure; which if it may be Just in
reference to a vain Glorious Chastity, yet can never be so of a truly
Vertuous one: Obedience to the Law of God, being an Universal
Principle, and admitting of no Irregularity in one thing any more than
in another, which falls under it's Direction.

It is indeed only a Rational Fear of God, and desire to approve our
selves to him, that will teach us in All things, uniformly to live as
becomes our Reasonable Nature; to inable us to do which, must needs be
the great Business and End of a Religion which comes from God.

But how differently from this has the Christian Religion been
represented by those who place it in useless Speculations, Empty
Forms, or Superstitious Performances? The Natural Tendency of which
things being to perswade Men that they may please God at a cheaper
Rate than by the Denial of their Appetites, and the Mortifying of
their Irregular Affections, these Misrepresentations of a pretended
Divine Revelation have been highly prejudicial to Morality: And,
thereby, been also a great occasion of Scepticism; for the Obligation
to Vertue being loosen'd, Men easily become Vicious; which when once
they are, the Remorse of their Consciences bringing them to desire
that there should be no future Reckoning for their Actions; and even
that there should be no God to take any cognizance of them; they often