Why should I mention the pious cheats of the priests, who in the New Testament translate the word ecclesia sometimes the church, and sometimes the congregation; and episcopus, sometimes a bishop, and sometimes an overseer?  A priest,[19] translating a book, left out a whole passage that reflected on the king, by which he was an enemy to political freethinking, a most considerable branch of our system.  Another priest, translating a book of travels,[20] left out a lying miracle, out of mere malice, to conceal an argument for freethinking.  In short, these frauds are very common in all books which are published by priests:  But however, I love to excuse them whenever I can:  And as to this accusation, they may plead the authority of the ancient fathers of the Church, for forgery, corruption, and mangling of authors, with more reason than for any of their articles of faith.  St Jerom, St Hilary, Eusebius Vercellensis, Victorinus,[21] and several others, were all guilty of arrant forgery and corruption:  For when they translated the works of several freethinkers, whom they called heretics, they omitted all their heresies or freethinkings, and had the impudence to own it to the world.

[Footnote 19:  Collins refers to the Rev. Mr. Brown, who translated Father Paul’s “Letters,” and omitted the words, “If the King of England [James I.] were not more a doctor than a king.”]

[Footnote 20:  Baumgarten’s “Travels.” [T.  S.]]

[Footnote 21:  Jerome, or St. Hieronymus (circa 340-420), wrote the Latin vulgate translation of the Scriptures.  Is accepted as one of the Fathers of the Church.

St. Hilary, another accepted Father, was bishop of Poictiers.  He died 367 or 368.

The Eusebius here named was Bishop of Vercelli, a city of Liguria.  He flourished about A.D. 360, and distinguished himself at the Council of Milan in A.D. 355, for his attacks against Arianism.  He was exiled to Upper Thebais, with several other bishops who refused to subscribe to the condemnation of Athanasius; but was recalled with Lucifer, bishop of Cagliari, Sardinia.  In conjunction with Athanasius he attended an Alexandrian synod which declared the Trinity consubstantial.  He travelled much, in the Eastern provinces and Italy, engaging in missionary work.  He died about A.D. 373.

Fabius Marius Victorinus was born in Africa, and died at Rome in 370.  He was a distinguished orator, grammarian, and rhetorician.  His chief work was a treatise entitled “De Orthographia.”  He also wrote many theological books. [T.  S.]]

From these many notorious instances of the priests’ conduct, I conclude they are not to be relied on in any one thing relating to religion; but that every man must think freely for himself.

But to this it may be objected, that the bulk of mankind is as well qualified for flying as thinking, and if every man thought it his duty to think freely, and trouble his neighbour with his thoughts (which is an essential part of freethinking,) it would make wild work in the world.  I answer; whoever cannot think freely, may let it alone if he pleases, by virtue of his right to think freely; that is to say, if such a man freely thinks that he cannot think freely, of which every man is a sufficient judge, why, then, he need not think freely, unless he thinks fit.