“The absurdities of bishops being by divine appointment, governors of the Christian Church, and no others are capable of being of that number, who derive not their right by an uninterrupted succession of bishops in the Catholic Church.” p. 313.

“The supreme powers had no way to escape the heavier oppressions, and more insupportable usurpations of their own clergy, than by submitting to the Pope’s milder yoke and gentler authority.” p. 255.

“One grand cause of mistake is, not considering when God acts as governor of the universe, and when as prince of a particular nation.  The Jews, when they came out of the land of bondage, were under no settled government, till God was pleased to offer himself to be their king, to which all the people expressly consented ...  God’s laws bound no nation, except those that agreed to the Horeb contract.” p. 151.

“Not only an independent power of excommunication, but of ordination in the clergy, is inconsistent with the magistrate’s right to protect the commonwealth.” p. 87.

“Priests, no better than spiritual make-baits, baraters, boute-feux, and incendiaries, and who make churches serve to worse purposes than bear gardens.” p. 118.

“It is a grand mistake to suppose the magistrate’s power extends to indifferent things ...  Men have liberty as they please, and a right ... to form what clubs, companies, or meetings, they think fit, either for business or pleasure, which the magistrate ... cannot hinder, without manifest injustice.” p. 15.

“God ... interposed not among the Jews, until they had chosen him for their king.” p. 312.

For a full account of Tindal and his work, see the “Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Matthew Tindal, with a History of the Controversies wherein he was engaged,” published in 1733.  The text of the present reprint of Swift’s “Remarks” is based on that given in “Works,” vol. vii. of the 4to edition of 1764.  It has also been collated with the 8vo edition of same date (vol. xiii.) and with that of 1762 (vol. xiii.).

[T.  S.]

  REMARKS UPON A BOOK INTITULED
  “THE RIGHTS OF THE CHRISTIAN
  CHURCH, &c.”

Before I enter upon a particular examination of this treatise, it will be convenient to do two things: 

First, To give some account of the author, together with the motives, that might probably engage him in such a work.  And,

Secondly, to discover the nature and tendency in general, of the work itself.

The first of these, although it hath been objected against, seems highly reasonable, especially in books that instil pernicious principles.  For, although a book is not intrinsically much better or worse, according to the stature or complexion of the author, yet, when it happens to make a noise, we are apt, and curious, as in other noises, to look about from whence it cometh.  But however, there is something more in the matter.