Part 6

The real Doctrine of Christ can give no Encouragement for Fighting

Instances, where Divines seem not to think themselves strictly tied to the Gospel

The Art of Preaching in Armies

The Use which Politicians may make of extraordinary Days of Devotion, abstract from all Thoughts of Religion

The miserable Nations, which many of the Vulgar have of Religion

How the Rememberance of a Fast-Day may affect a Wicked Soldier

The Power which Preaching may have upon ignorant Well-wishers to Religion

The Days of Supplication among the Ancients

A general Show of Religion cannot be procured at all Times

What Conjuncture it is only practicable in

A Character of Oliver Cromwell

A Spirit of Gentility introduced among Military Men

An improvement in the Art of Flattery

A Demonstration that what made the Men fight well in the late Wars was not their Religion

Why no Armies could subsist without Religion

A Recapitulation of what has been advanced in this and the former Dialogue

Horatio's Concurrence

ERRATA Page 81. Line 6. read Influence. P. 94. l. 12. r. Proprætors. P. 174. l. 3. r. Rites.

The First Dialogue Between Horatio and Cleomenes.

Horatio. I Wonder you never attempted to guess at the Origin of Honour, as you have done at that of Politeness, and your Friend in his Fable of the Bees has done at the Origin of Virtue.

Cleo. I have often thought of it, and am satisfied within my self, that my Conjecture about it is Just; but there are Three substantial Reasons, why I have hitherto kept it to my Self, and never yet mention'd to any One, what my Sentiments are concerning the Origin of that charming Sound.

Hor. Let me hear your Reasons however.

Cleo. The Word Honour, is used in such different Acceptations, is now a Verb, then a Noun, sometimes taken for the Reward of Virtue, sometimes for a Principle that leads to Virtue, and, at others again, signifies Virtue it self; that it would be a very hard Task to take in every Thing that belongs to it, and at the same Time avoid Confusion in Treating of it. This is my First Reason. The Second is: That to set forth and explain my Opinion on this Head to others with Perspicuity, would take up so much Time, that few People would have the Patience to hear it, or think it worth their while to bestow so much Attention, as it would require, on what the greatest Part of Mankind would think very trifling.

Hor. This Second whets my Curiosity: pray, what is your Third Reason?

Cleo. That the very Thing, to which, in my Opinion, Honour owes its Birth, is a Passion in our Nature, for which there is no Word coin'd yet, no Name that is commonly known and receiv'd in any Language.

Hor. That is very strange.

Cleo. Yet not less true. Do you remember what I said of Self-liking in our Third Conversation, when I spoke of the Origin of Politeness?

Hor. I do; but you know, I hate Affectation and Singularity of all sorts. Some Men are fond of uncouth Words of their own making, when there are other Words already known, that sound better, and would equally explain their Meaning: What you call'd then Self-liking at last prov'd to be Pride, you know.