examin'd and compar'd with that which they reject: But that their
opposition to a Deity, consists only in Objections which may as well
be retorted upon themselves, and which at best prove nothing but the
shortness of Humane Understanding) to me, I say, it appears from hence
probable that the greatest part of Atheistick Reasoners, do rather
desire, and seek to be Atheists, than that in reality they are so.
Men, who are accustom'd to Believe without any Evidence of Reason for
what they Believe, are, it is likely, more in earnest in this wild
Opinion: And in all appearance very many there are among us of such as
a Learned Man calls _Enthusiastick Atheists, viz._ who deny the
Existence of an Invisible, Omniscient, Omnipotent, first Cause of all
things, only through a certain Sottish disbelief of whatsoever they
cannot either see or feel; never consulting their Reason in the Case.
That there are some who do thus, their Discourses assure us: The
Actions of many others, are unaccountable without supposing them to be
of this Number; and it is very suspicious that to this Atheism as to a
secret Cause thereof, may be attributed the avow'd Averseness of many
Men to reveal'd Religion, since in a Country where People are
permitted to read the Scriptures, and to use their Reason freely in
matters of Religion; and where, in effect, there are so many Rational
Christians, 'tis hard to conceive that Men can be long Scepticks in
regard of Christianity, if they are indeed hearty Deists; and fully
perswaded of the Truths of Natural Religion.

But it being sufficiently obvious that want of Instruction concerning
Religion does in a Sceptical Age dispose Men to Scepticism and
Infidelity, which often terminates in downright Atheism; let us see
whether, or no, Ill, by which I mean, all irrational Instruction in
regard of Religion, has not the same Tendency.