In England, the Reformation was brought in after a somewhat different manner, but upon the same principle of robbing the Church.  However, Henry VIII. with great dexterity, discovered an invention to gratify his insatiable thirst for blood, on both religions.

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THOUGHTS ON RELIGION.

NOTE.

In the “Gent.  Mag.,” vol. xxxv., p. 372 (August, 1765), is a reprint of these “Thoughts,” and “Further Thoughts” from Deane Swift’s edition of his relative’s works, just then published.  The note introducing the reprint is signed “T.B.”; but neither the note nor T.B.’s remarks are of much importance.  The present text is that of Scott, and collated with the quarto edition of Swift’s Works, vol. viii. 1765.

[T.S.]

THOUGHTS ON RELIGION.

I am in all opinions to believe according to my own impartial reason; which I am bound to inform and improve, as far as my capacity and opportunities will permit.

It may be prudent in me to act sometimes by other men’s reason, but I can think only by my own.

If another man’s reason fully convinceth me, it becomes my own reason.

To say a man is bound to believe, is neither truth nor sense.

You may force men, by interest or punishment, to say or swear they believe, and to act as if they believed:  You can go no further.

Every man, as a member of the commonwealth, ought to be content with the possession of his own opinion in private, without perplexing his neighbour or disturbing the public.

Violent zeal for truth hath an hundred to one odds to be either petulancy, ambition, or pride.

There is a degree of corruption wherein some nations, as bad as the world is, will proceed to an amendment; till which time particular men should be quiet.

To remove opinions fundamental in religion is impossible, and the attempt wicked, whether those opinions be true or false; unless your avowed design be to abolish that religion altogether.  So, for instance, in the famous doctrine of Christ’s divinity, which hath been universally received by all bodies of Christians, since the condemnation of Arianism under Constantine and his successors:  Wherefore the proceedings of the Socinians are both vain and unwarrantable; because they will be never able to advance their own opinion, or meet any other success than breeding doubts and disturbances in the world. Qui ratione suae disturbant moenia mundi.

The want of belief is a defect that ought to be concealed when it cannot be overcome.

The Christian religion, in the most early times, was proposed to the Jews and heathens without the article of Christ’s divinity; which, I remember, Erasmus accounts for, by its being too strong a meat for babes.  Perhaps, if it were now softened by the Chinese missionaries, the conversion of those infidels would be less difficult:  And we find by the Alcoran, it is the great stumbling-block of the Mahometans.  But, in a country already Christian, to bring so fundamental a point of faith into debate, can have no consequences that are not pernicious to morals and public peace.