The Works of Jonathan Swift (Volume 1) (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: the Church: Next, their Veneration for Monarchical Government in the common Courfe of Succefli- on, and their Hatred to Republican Schemes. Thefe, I fay, are Principles which not only the Nonjuring Zealots profefs, but even Papifts them- felves fall readily in with. And every Extreme here mentioned, flings a general Scandal upon the whole Body'it pretends to adhere to. But, furely no Man whatfoever, ought in Juftice or good Manners to be charged with Principles he actually difowns, unlels his Practices do openly, and without the leaft Room for Doubt, contradict his Profeffion: Not upon fmall Surmifes, or becaufe he has the Misfortune to have ill Men fometimes a- gree with him in a few general Sentiments. However, although the Extreams of Whig and Tory feem with little Juftice to have drawn Religion into their Controverfies, wherein they have fmall Concern; yet they both have borrowed one leading Principle from the Abufe of it; which is, to have built their feveral Syftems of political Faith, not upon Enquiries after Truth, but upon Oppofition to each other, upon injurious Appellations, charging their Adver- faries with horrid Opinions, and then reproaching them for the Want of Charity, Et neuterfa/fo. In order to remove thefe Prejudices, I have thought nothing could be more effectual than to de- fcribe the Sentiments of a Churchof.England Man with Refpect to Religion and Government. This I ihall endeavour to do in fuch a Manner as may be liable to the leaft Objection from either Party; and which I am confident would be aflented to by great Numbers in both, if they were not mifled to thofe mutual Mifreprefentations, by fuch Motives as they would be afhamed to own. I Shall begin with Religion. And here, although it makes an odd Sound, yet it is neceflary to fay, that...