The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a…

II. And for Inducements hereunto:

1. Nature teacheth it. Religion is as natural to Man as Reason: It is a Principle so firmly fixed in the Soul of Man, that he can scarce possibly raze it thence. And tho some barbarous Nations, have mist of the true God; yet there are none so savage, but that a Sense of Religion cleaves to them. Cicero an Heathen, could say, Nulla est gens tam fera, nemo omnium tam immanis, cujus mentem non imbuerit Deorum timor. So that he must devest himself of Humanity, that denies the Obligation of Religion. It is this that doth most clearly distinguish Men from Beasts, who have some shadow, some approaches to Reason, ⟨p. 188⟩but they are utter Strangers to any thing of Religion. It's true, Education doth cherish and ripen these natural Notions; but if we could conceive a Man to be brought up from his Infancy, without any Society or Instruction from others; he would no sooner reflect upon himself, and employ his Faculties, but he would be sensible of a Power above him, and of a deep Respect thereunto. So that this is no precarious Business, we need not to enlarge at all, when we propound Religion to a rational Creature: He must be a Brute that denies it. Now if all Mankind agree to it, the Tradesman must not think that he is exempt from it, whom we must suppose to be somewhat refined from the Dregs of Mankind.

1. Nature teacheth it. Religion is as natural to Man as Reason: It is a Principle so firmly six'd in the Soul of Man, that he can scarce possibly raze it thence. And tho some barbarous Nations, have mist of the true God; yet there are none so savage, but that a Sense of Religion cleaves to them. Cicero an Heathen, could say, Nulla est gens tam fera, nemo omnium tam immanis, cujus mentem non imbuerit Deorum timor. So that he must devest himself of Humanity, that denies the Obligation of Religion. It is this that doth most clearly distinguish Men from Beasts, who have some shadow, some approaches to Reason, ⟨p. 188⟩but they are utter Strangers to any thing of Religion. It's true, Education doth cherish and ripen these natural Notions; but if we could conceive a Man to be brought up from his Infancy, without any Society or Instruction from others; he would no sooner reflect upon himself, and imploy his Faculties, but he would be sensible of a Power above him, and of a deep Respect thereunto. So that this is no precarious Business, we need not to inlarge at all, when we propound Religion to a rational Creature: He must be a Brute that denies it. Now if all Mankind agree to it, the Tradesman must not think that he is exempt from it, whom we must suppose to be somewhat refin'd from the Dregs of Mankind.