juftice that they fhould be excluded, if they still persist in their Difobedience after Admonition.

Since therefore it appears, that a Man's being of a wrong Opinion is not that which properly denominates him an Heretic, but rather his being of a different Opinion from the Majority; one would be apt to wonder why that Word, in general, fhould have fo bad an Idea annexed to it; but that the Answer thereto is obvious, viz. That it arises from our having too great a Fondness for ourselves, and our own Opinions; and too great an Averfion to those who differ in Opinion from us.

There

There is indeed no Reafon to be affigned in general, why Men should be more displeased with one another for being of different Opinions, than for their being of different Sizes, or for having a different perfonal Appearance. And were it not that Experience convinces us of the Matter of Fact, it would be hard to believe that Men's Paffions could carry them to that Degree of Animofity against each other, on account of Opinions barely fpeculative, which we find practifed in all Countries, and almoft all Ages.

I can very well conceive why Men fhould contract an Averfion

and an Hatred for one another about Opinions where their temporal Interefts are concerned; and do not wonder, when I read, that [1] Demetrius the Silverfmith raised a Tumult against Paul at Ephesus, for faying, that they be no Gods which are made with Hands, be caufe by this bold Affertion, as Demetrius acknowledged, this Craft was in danger to be fet at nought, and, ye know, Sirs, faid he, that by this Craft we have our Wealth.

But it is not so easy to account why one Man fhould bear an ill Will to his Neighbour, or any of his Fellow-Creatures, for being of

[1] Acts xix. 24.

4.

a dif

In which

a different Opinion from him in Matters barely speculative, in which the other is no way concerned, further than as he is a [2] Man, and a Lover of Mankind. Respect every Body ought to be fo far concerned for his Fellow-Creature as to do all that lies in his Power to contribute to the Happinefs of each other; but then this is to be done in a proper, kind, and friendly Manner: And, if that will not prevail, contrary Methods ought by no means to be attempted; fince that Principle which directs us to use all Men well, can never vindicate us in ufing any Man ill.

[2] Homo fum, bumani nihil à me alienum puto.

If one Man is a Chriftian, and another is a few, Turk, or Infidel, of any Denomination, there can be no more Reason for having a Diflike upon that account to each other, than because they were not all born in the fame Country, or bred up under the fame Tutor, or do not all speak the fame Language; fince ninety-nine in an hundred of those who are Chriftians, would probably have been Mahometans, if they had been born in Turkey, and would have imbibed their Religion, as they do their native Tongue, along with their Mother's Milk: And the fame may be faid of Jews or Mahometans, that they would have been Chri