What would these Men have, or why can’t they be content to sink single into the bottomless Gulph, without dragging so much Company thither with ’em?  Can they grapple Omnipotence, or are they sure they can be too hard for Heaven? Can they Thunder with a Voice like God, and cast abroad the Rage of their Wrath? Cou’d they annihilate Hell, indeed, or did it only consist of such painted Flames as they’d fain believe it, they might make a shift to be tolerably happy, more quietly rake through the World, and sink into Nothing. There’s too great reason to apprehend, that this Infection is spred among Persons of almost all Ranks and Qualities; and that tho’ some may think it decent to keep on the Masque, yet if they were search’d to the bottom, all their Religion wou’d be found that which they most blasphemously assert of Religion in general, only a State Engin to keep the World in Order. This is Hypocrisie with a Witness; the basest and meanest of Vices; and how come Men to fall into these damnable Errors in Faith, but by Lewdness of Life?  The Cowards wou’d not believe a God because they dare not do it, for Woe be to ’em if there be one, and consequently any Future Punishments. From such as these, I desire no Favour, but that of their Ill Word, as their Crimes must expect none from me, whose Character obliges me to declare an eternal War against Vice and Infidelity, tho’ at the same time heartily to pity those who are infected with it.  If I cou’d be ambitious of a Name in the World, it shou’d be that I might sacrifice it in so glorious a Cause as that of Religion and Virtue:  If none but Generals must fight in this sacred War, when there are such infernal Hosts on the other side, they cou’d never prevail without one of the antient Miracles:  If little People can but well discharge the Place of a private Centinel, ’tis all that’s expected from us.  I hope I shall never let the Enemies of God and my Countrey come on without Fireing, tho’ it serve but to give the Alarm, and if I dye without quitting my Post, I desire no greater Glory. I have endeavour’d to shew that I had no Personal Pique against any whose Characters I may have given in this Poem, nor think the worse of them for their Thoughts of me.  I hope I have every where done ’em Justice, and as well as I cou’d, have given ’em Commendation where they deserve it; which may also, on the other side, acquit me of Flattery with all Impartial Judges; for ’tis not only the Great whose Characters I have here attempted.  And if what I have written may be any ways useful, or innocently diverting to the virtuous and ingenious Readers, he has his End, who is