Another part of the Province in which Wit is properly exercis’d, are ingenious Writings, intended to please and improve the People; and this is more various and extensive than Comick Poetry, tho of the same Kind; for it takes in not only the Subjects of Prudence and Decency, regular Behaviour and vertuous Actions, but likewise the justness of Human Sentiments and Opinions in Points of Controversy; of the last, the Dialogue of Dr. Eachard against Mr. Hobbes is a famous Example, where, by great Strength and Solidity of Reason, mixt with agreeable Wit and Raillery, he entertains and informs the Reader, and at once exposes and confutes the conceited Philosopher.  An Instance of the first is, the celebrated History of Don Quixote, compil’d by the Spanish Wit Michael de Cervantes; a Book so well imagin’d, and writ with so much Spirit and fine Raillery, that it effectually procur’d the End of the admirable Author; for by turning into Mirth and Ridicule the reigning Folly of Romantick Chivalry, and freeing the Minds of the People from that fashionable Delusion, he broke the Force of as strong an Enchantment, and destroy’d as great a Monster as was ever pretended to be vanquish’d by their imaginary Heroes.  And many more Books on other moral Subjects have been compos’d with much Wit and Vivacity in our own and foreign Countries, to expose Vice and Folly, and promote Decency and Sobriety of Manners.  But the Productions of this Nature, which have of late appear’d in this Nation, whether we regard the just and generous Sentiments, the fertile Invention, the Variety of Subjects, the surprizing Turns of Wit and facetious Imagination, the genteel Satire, the Purity and Propriety of the Words, and the Beauty and Dignity of the Diction, have surpass’d all the Productions of this kind, that have been publish’d in any Age or Country.  The Reader no doubt is before-hand with me, and concludes, that I mean the Tatler and Spectator, which for the greatest Part, have all the Perfection of Writing, and all the Advantages of Wit and Humour, that are requir’d to entertain and instruct the People:  And it must chiefly be owing to the great Depravity of Manners in these loose and degenerate Times, that such worthy Performances have produc’d no better Effects.

But this excellent and amiable Qualification of the Mind is too apt to be abus’d and perverted to ill purposes.  Instead of being ingag’d on the Side of Vertue, and us’d to promote just Notions and Regularity of Life, it is frequently employ’d to expose the most Sacred Things, to turn Gravity and reserv’d Behaviour into Ridicule, to keep in Countenance Vice and Irreligion, and with a petulant and unrestrain’d Liberty, to deride the Principles and Practices of the wisest and best of Men.  The Conversation of ingenious Libertines generally turns upon Reveal’d Religion and the venerable Teachers of it; or on those of the Laity, who seem most sincere in the Belief of Christianity, and express