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some Noise, but there's nothing in them. And farther, they are so frank as to confess, that a Man ought not to balk himself in any Lewdness, [1] Crime or Scandal, that has either Profit or Pleasure in't : Not to balk himself, I say, upon the Score of any Moral Deformity of the Action; For to say [2] an Action is evil in it self, is a Jest : 'Tis true, one should be cautious when there's likely to be Damage, [3] or Danger in the Case. But as for any Apprehensions about the Displeasure, and Vengeance of Heaven, that's all Superstition and stuff, with these Gentlemen ; Conscience is a Cypher in their Philosophy ; their Reason to forbear doing Mischief is only to save their Carkass; 'tis not the Law, but the Gallows which frights them ; and besides, they are afraid a Provocation may be return'd by private Revenge ; for let them be never so cunning, [4] there's no Ensuring of Falshood, and foul play.
Let us proceed, and examine the Strictness and Sobriety of their Philosophy ; Alass ! They suffer, [5] if you will take their Word for't, under a wrong Imputation : They are represented to breed their Disciples to Niceness, and Luxury, whereas the Case is quite otherwise ; For their Lectures declare strongly for Regularity and Temperance, and are full of Gravity, and Discipline. Is
