therefore Transgression against that Rule which Men profess'd
themselves oblig'd to act by, has always, every where been; and but
few Men comparatively, were strictly Vertuous: That is, did in all
things conform, or sincerely endeavour to conform their Actions to
that, which they acknowledged for the Rule of them.

Those yet who believ'd a Superior Invisible Power that made them,
could not be satisfy'd with themselves in Transgressing against that
which they thought ought to be their Rule: For however they
understood this Rule to be deriv'd, they yet believ'd it carry'd with
it, some way or other, an obligation upon them to Obedience; since
otherwise they would not have look'd upon it as a Rule. Now, as they
could not know that God would not punish their Disobedience to That
which they look'd upon as obliging them to Obedience; but, on the
contrary, had more, or less, Reason to apprehend that he would do so,
They therefore (thinking him to be an exorable as well as an
Omniscient, and Omnipotent Being) were hereby on These occasions
taught to deprecate his Vengeance, and implore his Mercy: And hence
the more Guilty and Fearful came to invent Attonements, Expiations,
Penances and Purgations, with all that various Train of Ceremonies
which attended those Things; Naturally imagining that the Divine
Nature resembled their own; and thence believing that they should the
more easily appease his Anger, and avert the effects of his Wrath, if
by such means, as these, they did, as it were, in Gods behalf Revenge
upon themselves their Disobedience to him. And as the Solemnity of
these Matters requir'd peculiar Hands to Execute them; and Devotion
exacted that such should be liberally rewarded, and highly respected
for their Pious performances; from hence the profit which some reap'd
by these things, as well as the satisfaction that others found
therein, who were unwilling to be rigorously restrain'd by the Rule of