Page 230.  “In these freer countries, as the clergy have less power, so religion is better understood, and more useful and excellent discourses are made on that subject, &c.”  Not generally.  Holland not very famous, Spain hath been, and France is.  But it requireth more knowledge, than his, to form general rules, which people strain (when ignorant) to false deductions to make them out.

Page 232.  Chap.  VII.  “That this hypothesis of an independent power in any set of clergymen, makes all reformation unlawful, except where those who have this power, do consent.”  The title of this chapter, A Truism.

Page 234.  “If God has not placed mankind in respect to civil matters under an absolute power, but has permitted them in every society to act as they judge best for their own safety, &c.”  Bad parallels; bad politics; want of due distinction between teaching and government.  The people may know when they are governed well, but not be wiser than their instructors.  Shew the difference.

Ibid.  “If God has allowed the civil society these privileges can we suppose He hath less kindness for His church, &c.”  Here they are distinguished, then, here it makes for him.  It is a sort of turn of expression, which is scarce with him, and he contradicts himself to follow it.

Page 235.  “This cursed hypothesis had, perhaps, never been thought on with relation to civils, had not the clergy (who have an inexhaustible magazine of oppressive doctrines) contrived first in ecclesiasticals, &c.”  The seventh paragraph furious and false.  Were there no tyrants before the clergy, &c.?

Page 236.  “Therefore in order to serve them, though I expect little thanks, &c.”  And, why so?  Will they not, as you say, follow their interest?  I thought you said so.  He has three or four sprightly turns of this kind, that look, as if he thought he had done wonders, and had put all the clergy in a ferment.  Whereas, I do assure him, there are but two things wonderful in his book:  First, how any man in a Christian country could have the boldness and wickedness to write it:  And, how any government would neglect punishing the author of it, if not as an enemy of religion, yet a profligate trumpeter of sedition.  These are hard words, got by reading his book.

Ibid.  “The light of nature as well as the Gospel, obliges people to judge of themselves, &c. to avoid false prophets, seducers, &c.”  The legislature can turn out a priest, and appoint another ready-made, but not make one; as you discharge a physician, and may take a farrier; but he is no physician, unless made as he ought to be.

Ibid.  “Since no more power is required for the one than the other.”  That is, I dislike my physician, and can turn him off, therefore I can make any man a physician, &c. “Cujus est destruere, &c.”  Jest on it:  Therefore because he lays schemes for destroying the Church, we must employ him to raise it again.  See, what danger lies in applying maxims at random.  So, because it is the soldiers’ business to knock men on the head, it is theirs likewise to raise them to life, &c.