I answer, first, we say the same of priests, and other believers.  But the truth is, men of all sects are equally good and bad; for no religion whatsoever contributes in the least to mend men’s lives.

I answer, secondly, that freethinkers use their understanding, but those who have religion do not; therefore the first have more understanding than the others; witness Toland, Tindal, Gildon[23], Clendon, Coward, and myself.  For, use legs and have legs.

[Footnote 23:  John Clendon, of the Middle Temple, published in 1709-1710, “Tractatus Philosophico-Theologicus de Persona; or, a Treatise of the Word Person.”  This singular book appears to have been written principally to prove that the doctrine of the Trinity was very well explained by an Act of Parliament, 9 and 10 Will.  III.  It was complained of in the House of Commons, March 25th, 1710, and was judged to be a scandalous, seditious, and blasphemous libel .... and was burnt by the common hangman at the same time with Tindal’s “Rights.” [N.] ]

I answer, thirdly, that freethinkers are the most virtuous persons in the world; for all freethinkers must certainly differ from the priests, and from nine hundred ninety-nine of a thousand of those among whom they live; and are therefore virtuous of course, because everybody hates them.

I answer, fourthly, that the most virtuous people in all ages have been freethinkers; of which I shall produce several instances[24].

[Footnote 24:  What follows is in ridicule of a long list of freethinkers, as he calls them, with which Collins has graced his discourse; in which he includes not only the ancient philosophers, but the inspired prophets, and even “King Solomon the wise.” [S.] ]

Socrates was a freethinker; for he disbelieved the gods of his country, and the common creeds about them, and declared his dislike when he heard men attribute “repentance, anger, and other passions to the gods, and talk of wars and battles in heaven, and of the gods getting women with child,” and such like fabulous and blasphemous stones.  I pick out these particulars, because they are the very same with what the priests have in their Bibles, where repentance and anger are attributed to God; where it is said, there was “war in heaven;” and that “the Virgin Mary was with child by the Holy Ghost,” whom the priests call God; all fabulous and blasphemous stories.  Now, I affirm Socrates to have been a true Christian.  You will ask, perhaps, how that can be, since he lived three or four hundred years before Christ?  I answer, with Justin Martyr, that Christ is nothing else but reason, and I hope you do not think Socrates lived before reason.  Now, this true Christian Socrates never made notions, speculations, or mysteries, any part of his religion, but demonstrated all men to be fools who troubled themselves with enquiries into heavenly things.  Lastly, ’tis plain that Socrates was a freethinker, because he was calumniated for an atheist, as freethinkers generally are, only because he was an enemy to all speculations and inquiries into heavenly things.  For I argue thus, that if I never trouble myself to think whether there be a God or no, and forbid others to do it, I am a freethinker, but not an atheist.