It mud be own'd, that in our facred Hifto- ry wre have both Leaders, Conquerors, Foun- ders of Nations, Deliverers, and Patriots, who, even in a human Senfe, are no way behind the chief of thofe fo much celebrated by the Antients. There is nothing in the Story of jEneas, which is not equal'd or exceeded by aJosHUA or a Moses. But as illuflrious as are the Acts of thefe facred Chiefs, 'twou'd be *VOL. III. p. 240, 241. in the Notes.
0 ' hard ADVICE to an Author. 357 hard to copy them in juft Heroick. 'Twou'd be hard to give to many of 'em that grateful Air, which is neceffary to render 'em natu- rally pleafing to Mankind; according to the Idea Men are univerfally found to have of Heroifm, and Generofity.
Notwithstanding the pious Endea- vours which, as devout Chriftians, we may have usd in order to feparate ourfelves from the Interefts of mere Heathens and Infidels'? not- withnanding the true pains we may have taken, to arm our Hearts in behalf of a chofen People, againft their neighbouring Nations, of a falfe Religion, and Worfhip; there will be (till found fuch a Partiality remaining in us, to- wards Creatures of the fame Make and Figure with our-felves, as will hinder us from view- ing with Satisfaction the Punifhments inflicled by human Hands on fuch Aliens and Idolaters.
In mere Poetry, and the Pieces of Wit and Literature, there is a Liberty of Thought and Eafmefs of Humour indulg'd to us, in which we are not fo well able to contemplate the Di- vine Judgments, and fee clearly into the Juf- tice of thofe Ways', which are declar'd to be fo far from our Ways, and above our higheft Thoughts or Underftandings. In fuch a Si- tuation of Mind, we can hardly endure to fee Heathen Heathen treated as Heathen, and the Faithful made the Executioners of the Divine Wrath. There is a certain perverfe Humanity in us, which inwardly refifts the Divine Commiflion, tho ever fo plainly reveal'd. The Wit of the heft Poet is not fufficient to reconcile us to the Campaign of a Joshua, or the Retreat of a Moses, by the afliftance of an Egyptian Loan. Nor will it be poffible, by the Mufes Art, to make that Royal Hero appear amiable in human Eyes, who found fuch favour in the Eye of Heaven. Such are mere human Hearts; that they can hardly find the leaft Sympathy with that only one which had the Character of being after the Pattern of the Almighty's.
'Tis apparent therefore that the Manners, Actions, and Characters of Sacred Writ, are in no wife the proper Subjecl of other Authors than Divines themfelves. They are Matters incomprehenfible in Philofophy: They are above the pitch of the mere human Hijiorian, the Politician, or the Aloralift; and are too fa- cred to be fubmitted to the Poet's Fancy, when infpir'd by no other Spirit than that of his pro- fane Miftrefles, the Muses.
I shou'd be unwilling to examine rigo- roufly the Performance of our great * Poet, * Milton.
who ADVICE to an Author. 359 \yho fung fo pioufly the Fall of Man. The War in Heaven, and the Catajircphe of the original Pair from whom the Generations of Mankind were propagated, are Matters fo abflrufely re- veal'd, and with fuch a refemblance of Mytho- logy, that they can more eafily bear what fi- gurative Conftruction or fantaflick Turn the Po- et may think fit to give 'em. But fhou'd he venture farther, into the Lives and Characters of the Patriarchs, the holy Matrons, Heroes and Heroines of the chofen Seed; fhou'd he employ the facred Machine, the Exhibitions and Interventions of Divinity, according to Holy Writ, to fupport the Action of his Piece; he wou'd foon find the Weaknefs of his pre- tended Orthodox Muse, and prove how little thofe Divine Patterns were capable of human Imitation, or of being rais'd to any other Ma- jefly, or Sublime, than that in which they ori- ginally appear.
The Theology, or T h e o g o n y, of the Hea- thens cou'd admit of fuch different Turns and figurative Expreffions, as futed the Fancy and Judgment of each Philosopher or Poet. But the Purity of our Faith will admit of no fuch Variation. The Chrijlian Theology; the Birth, Procedure, Generation, and Perfonal Dif- tintlion of the Divinity, areMyflerys only to be determin'd by the initiated, or ordain d; to whom whom the State has affign'd the Guardianfhip and Promulgation of the Divine Oracles. It becomes not thofe who are un-infpird from Heaven, and un-commiflion'd from Earth, to fearch with Curiofity into the Original of thofe holy Rites and Records, by Law eJlabliJKd. Should we make fuch an Attempt, we mould in probability find the lefs Satisfaction, the further we prefum'd to carry our Speculations. Having dar'd once to quit the Authority and Direction of the Law, we ffiou'd eafily be fub- ject to Heterodoxy and Error, when we had no better Warrant left us for the Authority of our facred Symbols, than the Integrity, Candour, and Difintereftednefs of their Com- pilers, and Regijlers. How great that Can- dour and Difintereftednefs may have been, we have no other Hiflorys to inform us, than thofe of their own licenfing or compofmg. But bufy Perfons, who officioufly fearch into thefe Records, are ready even from hence to draw Proofs very Difadvantageous to the Fame and Character of this Succejfwn of Men. And Per- fons moderately read in thefe Hiflorys, are apt to judge no otherwife of the Temper of an- tient Councils, than by that of later Synods and modern Convocations.
When we add to this the melancholy Gon- fideration of what Difturbances have been rais'd ADVICE to an Author. 361 rais'd from the Difputes of this kind; what Effufion of Blood, what Devaluations of Pro- vinces, what Shock and Ruin of Empires have been occafion'd by Controverfys, founded on the niceft Dininclion of an Article relating to thefe Myjlerys; 'twill be judg'd vain in any Poet, or polite Author, to think of rendering himfelf agreeable, or entertaining, whilft he makes fuch Subjects as thefe to be his Theme.
But tho the Explanation of fuch deep Myf- terys, and religious Dutys, be allotted as the peculiar Province of the J racred Order; 'tis pre- fum'd, neverthelefs, that it may be lawful for other Authors to retain their antient Privilege of inftruclmg Mankind, in a way of Pleafure, and entertainment. Poets may be allow'd their Ficlions, and Philqfophers their Syflems. 'Twoud go hard with Mankind, fhou'd the Patentees for Religion be commiffion'd for all Inftruclion and Advice, relating to Manners, or Converfation. The Stage may be allow'd to inftrucl; as well as the Pulpit. The way of Wit and Humour may be ferviceable, as well as that of Gravity and Serioufnefs: And the way of plain Reafon as well as that of exalted Re* velation. The main matter is to keep thefe Provinces diftincl, and fettle their juft Boun- darys. And on this Account it is that we have 362 ADVICE to an Author.
have endeavour'd to reprefent to modern Au- thors the neceflity of making this Separation juftly, and in due form.
'T would be fomewhat hard, methinks, if Religion, as by Lata ejlablifad, were not al- low'd the fame Privilege as Heraldry. 'Tis agreed on all hands, that particular Perfons may defign ox paint, in their private Capacity, after what manner they think fit: But they muft blazon only as the Pubiick direcls. Their Lion or Bear muft be figur'd as the Science ap- points; and their Supporters and Creji muft be fuch as their wife and gallant Anceflors have procurd for 'em. No matter whether the Shapes of thefe Animals hold juft Proportion with Nature. No matter tho different or con- trary Forms are join'd in one. That which is deny'd to Painters, or Poets, is permitted to Heralds. Naturalijls may, in their feparate and diclincl: Capacity, inquire, as they think fit, into the real Exiftence and natural Truth of Things: But they mufl by no means dif- pute the authorizd Forms. Mermaids and Griffins were the Wonder of our Forefathers; and, as fuch, deliver'd down to us by the au- thentick Traditions and Delineations above- mention'd. We ought not fo much as to cri- ticize the Features or Dimentions of a Saracens Face, Face, ADVICE to an Author. 363 Face, brought by our conquering Anceflors from the holy Wars; nor pretend to call in queftion the Figure or Size of a Dragon, on which the Hiftory of our national Champion, and the Eftablifhment of a high Order, and Dignity of the R.ealm, depends.
But as wormipful as are the Perfons of the illuftrious Heralds Clare ncieux, Garter, and the reft of thofe eminent fuftainers of Bri* tijli Honour, and Antiquity; 'tis to be hop'd that in a more civiliz'd Age, fuch as at pre- fent we have the good fortune to live in, they will not attempt to ftrain their Privileges to the fame height as formerly. Having been reduc'd by Law, or fettled Practice, from the Power they once enjoyd, they will not, 'tis prefum'd, in defiance of the Magiftrate and Civil Power, erecl anew their Stages, and Lifts, introduce the manner of civil Combat, fet us to Tilt and Turnament, and raife again thofe Defiances, and mortal Frays, of which their Order were once the chief Managers, and Promoters.
TO CONCLUDE: The only Method which can juftly qualify us for this high Pri- vilege of giving Advice, is, in the firft place, to receive it, our/elves, with due Submiftion; where the Publick has vouchfaf 'd to give it us, by 364 ADVICE to an Author.
by Authority. And if in our private Capa- city, we can have Refolution enough to criti- cize our-felves, and call in queftion our high Imaginations, florid Defires, and fpecious Sen- timents, according to the manner of Soli- loquy above prefcrib'd; we mall, by the na- tural courfe of things, as we grow wifer, prove lefs conceited; and introduce into our Cha- racter that Modefly, Condejcenfion, and juft Hu- manity which is effential to the fuccefs of all friendly Counfel and Admonition. An honeft //o^-Philosophy muft teach us the whole- fom Practice within our-felves. Polite Read- ing, and Converfe with Mankind of the better fort, will qualify us for what remains.
The End of the Fir ft Volume.