THE OCCASIONAL PAPER. NUMBER. 1. A N ESSA A Y ON BIGOTRY. Goodness fits gloriously triumphant at the Top of Heaven: Uncharitablenefs lies miferably groveling at the Bottom of Hell: Heaven defcends from the One as its principal Caufe; Hell is built on the Other as its main Foundation. Dr. Barrow. Pride (and fo Bigotry) proceeds from a mean and narrow View of the little Advantages about a Man's felf! Meekness is founded on the extended Contemplation of the Place we bear in the Univerfe, &c. Chriftian Hero, The SECOND EDITION. LONDON: Printed for JAMES KNAPTON, at the Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard; J. ROBERTS, in WarwickLane, J. HARRISON, under the Royal Exchange; and A. DODD, without Temple-Bar. MDCCXVIII (Price Three Fences) THE Occafional Paper. T NUMBER I. Of BIGOTRY. HE prefent Pofture of Affairs feems to call upon every one who is able to ufe aright, either his Tongue, his Pen, or his Sword, to exert himself in the Service of his Country. A ftrong Conviction of this has overcome the Prejudices I had against being the Author of fuch a Paper; and a mighty Concern for the Profperity of my City and Nation, has transported me beyond all the Objections I could eafily A 2 raise raife against my felf as a Writer: And if I am not much mistaken, has given me Refolution enough to carry me through any ill Treatment I may meet with upon that Ac count. I would no more regard Cenfure or Oppofition in a good Caufe, than a Soldier, warmed with true Courage, regards the Roar of Guns, or the Whiftling of Bullets about his Ears. And yet I would not have my Reader imagine, I fet out with the Fury of a Warrior, when my highest Ambition is to ferve my Country in the Character of a Peace-Maker. I confefs, the Attempt is difcouraging enough, to think of putting one's felf between fquabling Parties; fince He who does fo, has little to expect but Blows from both Sides. However, I can folemnly declare, I had rather heal the Breaches of my Country, than deftroy even Those I moft diflike in it, My first Requeft therefore is, That Noise and Tumult may cease a little, and that my Country-men would give themselves leave to hear me. Lend me Your Attention, I beseech You, for one Quarter of an Hour, whilft I lay before You the Caufe of all Your Broils, and fhew You what is like to be the Confequence. I fhall not pretend to enumerate, at prefent, the Mifcarriges of any particular Perfons, or Reproach One Side or Another, with the Faults they have committed; tho', perhaps, there have been Faults on both Sides: The beft Way to amend them, is to make Men' fenfible of the Caufe of them; and that I take to be, in one word, BIGOTRY. By By which I mean an exceffive Fondness for a Man's own Sentiments; or ftanding up for this, or the other Set of Opinions, with more Conceit and Eagerness than the Reason and Importance of them require. 'Tis us'd alfo by the French Writers, to fignify Hypocrify and Superftition, a falfe Shew of Zeal, and Fondness for little Things. It commonly respects Matters of Religion, efpecially the outward Circumftances and leffer Appendages of it; and may indifferently relate to what is right or wrong: for an unreasonable and difproportionate Zeal in a right Way, partakes of the Nature of this Vice, as well as any lower Degrees in a wrong. 'Tis fometimes extended to other Things befide Religion: As to Publick Affairs; there is a State Bigotry, as well as Religious: To Philofophy and Common Life; an Addictedness to peculiar Opinions in the One, and Affectation of Singularity in the Other. It feems always to involve in it Partiality and Violence: An Attachment to One's own Way, join'd with a Rigor and Severity towards Others: Or fuch a Zeal of Mind to our Own Apprehenfions, as carries us to Perfecution, or Uncharitableness towards other Men. It stands oppos'd to a generous Freedom and Largenefs of Soul, which takes in the whole Compass of a Cafe, and lies open to the Evi-dence of Truth: And to Chriftian Charity, or the Love of other Men, notwithstanding a different Make of Mind, and other Apprehen-. fions of Things. And 'tis diftinguifh'd from true Zeal or earnest Contending for Truth; as true Zeal is always according to Knowledge, meafured by the Moments of Things, and within due |