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You know the sentiments they entertain of that nation； under the hope
of their protection they will immediately stiffen against cessions of
lands to us。 We had better； therefore； do at once what can now be
done。
I must repeat that this letter is to be considered as private
and friendly； and is not to control any particular instructions which
you may receive through official channel。 You will also perceive how
sacredly it must be kept within your own breast； and especially how
improper to be understood by the Indians。 For their interests and
their tranquillity it is best they should see only the present age of
their history。 I pray you to accept assurances of my esteem and high
consideration。
JESUS； SOCRATES； AND OTHERS
_To Dr。 Joseph Priestley_
_Washington； Apr。 9； 1803_
DEAR SIR； While on a short visit lately to Monticello； I
received from you a copy of your comparative view of Socrates &
Jesus； and I avail myself of the first moment of leisure after my
return to acknolege the pleasure I had in the perusal of it； and the
desire it excited to see you take up the subject on a more extensive
scale。 In consequence of some conversation with Dr。 Rush； in the
year 1798…99； I had promised some day to write him a letter giving
him my view of the Christian system。 I have reflected often on it
since； & even sketched the outlines in my own mind。 I should first
take a general view of the moral doctrines of the most remarkable of
the antient philosophers； of whose ethics we have sufficient
information to make an estimate； say of Pythagoras； Epicurus；
Epictetus； Socrates； Cicero； Seneca； Antoninus。 I should do justice
to the branches of morality they have treated well； but point out the
importance of those in which they are deficient。 I should then take
a view of the deism and ethics of the Jews； and show in what a
degraded state they were； and the necessity they presented of a
reformation。 I should proceed to a view of the life； character； &
doctrines of Jesus； who sensible of incorrectness of their ideas of
the Deity； and of morality； endeavored to bring them to the
principles of a pure deism； and juster notions of the attributes of
God； to reform their moral doctrines to the standard of reason；
justice & philanthropy； and to inculcate the belief of a future
state。 This view would purposely omit the question of his divinity；
& even his inspiration。 To do him justice； it would be necessary to
remark the disadvantages his doctrines have to encounter； not having
been committed to writing by himself； but by the most unlettered of
men； by memory； long after they had heard them from him； when much
was forgotten； much misunderstood； & presented in very paradoxical
shapes。 Yet such are the fragments remaining as to show a master
workman； and that his system of morality was the most benevolent &
sublime probably that has been ever taught； and consequently more
perfect than those of any of the antient philosophers。 His character
& doctrines have received still greater injury from those who pretend
to be his special disciples； and who have disfigured and
sophisticated his actions & precepts； from views of personal
interest； so as to induce the unthinking part of mankind to throw off
the whole system in disgust； and to pass sentence as an impostor on
the most innocent； the most benevolent； the most eloquent and sublime
character that ever has been exhibited to man。 This is the outline；
but I have not the time； & still less the information which the
subject needs。 It will therefore rest with me in contemplation only。
You are the person who of all others would do it best； and most
promptly。 You have all the materials at hand； and you put together
with ease。 I wish you could be induced to extend your late work to
the whole subject。 I have not heard particularly what is the state
of your health； but as it has been equal to the journey to
Philadelphia； perhaps it might encourage the curiosity you must feel
to see for once this place； which nature has formed on a beautiful
scale； and circumstances destine for a great one。 As yet we are but
a cluster of villages； we cannot offer you the learned society of
Philadelphia； but you will have that of a few characters whom you
esteem； & a bed & hearty welcome with one who will rejoice in every
opportunity of testifying to you his high veneration & affectionate
attachment。
THE MORALS OF JESUS
_To Dr。 Benjamin Rush； with a Syllabus_
_Washington； Apr。 21； 1803_
DEAR SIR； In some of the delightful conversations with you；
in the evenings of 1798…99； and which served as an anodyne to the
afflictions of the crisis through which our country was then
laboring； the Christian religion was sometimes our topic； and I then
promised you； that one day or other； I would give you my views of it。
They are the result of a life of inquiry & reflection； and very
different from that anti…Christian system imputed to me by those who
know nothing ofmy opinions。 To the corruptions of Christianity I am
indeed opposed； but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself。 I
am a Christian； in the only sense he wished any one to be； sincerely
attached to his doctrines； in preference to all others； ascribing to
himself every _human_ excellence； & believing he never claimed any
other。 At the short intervals since these conversations； when I
could justifiably abstract my mind from public affairs； the subject
has been under my contemplation。 But the more I considered it； the
more it expanded beyond the measure of either my time or information。
In the moment of my late departure from Monticello； I received from
Doctr Priestley； his little treatise of 〃Socrates & Jesus compared。〃
This being a section of the general view I had taken of the field； it
became a subject of reflection while on the road； and unoccupied
otherwise。 The result was； to arrange in my mind a syllabus； or
outline of such an estimate of the comparative merits of
Christianity； as I wished to see executed by some one of more leisure
and information for the task； than myself。 This I now send you； as
the only discharge of my promise I can probably ever execute。 And in
confiding it to you； I know it will not be exposed to the malignant
perversions of those who make every word from me a text for new
misrepresentations & calumnies。 I am moreover averse to the
communication of my religious tenets to the public； because it would
countenance the presumption of those who have endeavored to draw them
before that tribunal； and to seduce public opinion to erect itself
into that inquisition over the rights of conscience； which the laws
have so justly proscribed。 It behoves every man who values liberty
of conscience for himself； to resist invasions of it in the case of
others； or their case may； by change of circumstances； become his