按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sound reason； not even enough to doubt with。
（18） But if； in despotic statecraft； the supreme and essential mystery be
to hoodwink the subjects； and to mask the fear； which keeps them clown；
with the specious garb of religion； so that men may fight as bravely for
slavery as for safety； and count it not shame but highest honour to risk
their blood and their lives for the vainglory of a tyrant； yet in a free state
no more mischievous expedient could be planned or attempted。 （19）
Wholly repugnant to the general freedom are such devices as enthralling
men's minds with prejudices； forcing their judgment； or employing any of
the weapons of quasi…religious sedition； indeed； such seditions only spring
up； when law enters the domain of speculative thought； and opinions are
put on trial and condemned on the same footing as crimes； while those
who defend and follow them are sacrificed； not to public safety； but to
their opponents' hatred and cruelty。 （20） If deeds only could be made the
grounds of criminal charges； and words were always allowed to pass free；
such seditions would be divested of every semblance of justification； and
would be separated from mere controversies by a hard and fast line。
（20） Now； seeing that we have the rare happiness of living in a
republic； where everyone's judgment is free and unshackled； where each
may worship God as his conscience dictates； and where freedom is
esteemed before all things dear and precious； I have believed that I should
be undertaking no ungrateful or unprofitable task； in demonstrating that
not only can such freedom be granted without prejudice to the public
peace； but also； that without such freedom； piety cannot flourish nor the
5
… Page 6…
A Theologico…Political Treatise
public peace be secure。
（21） Such is the chief conclusion I seek to establish in this treatise； but；
in order to reach it； I must first point out the misconceptions which； like
scars of our former bondage； still disfigure our notion of religion； and
must expose the false views about the civil authority which many have
most impudently advocated； endeavouring to turn the mind of the people；
still prone to heathen superstition； away from its legitimate rulers； and so
bring us again into slavery。 （22） As to the order of my treatise I will speak
presently； but first I will recount the causes which led me to write。
（23） I have often wondered； that persons who make a boast of
professing the Christian religion； namely； love； joy； peace； temperance；
and charity to all men； should quarrel with such rancorous animosity； and
display daily towards one another such bitter hatred； that this； rather than
the virtues they claim； is the readiest criterion of their faith。 （24） Matters
have long since come to such a pass； that one can only pronounce a man
Christian； Turk； Jew； or Heathen； by his general appearance and attire； by
his frequenting this or that place of worship； or employing the phraseology
of a particular sect … as for manner of life； it is in all cases the same。 （25）
Inquiry into the cause of this anomaly leads me unhesitatingly to ascribe it
to the fact； that the ministries of the Church are regarded by the masses
merely as dignities； her offices as posts of emolument … in short； popular
religion may be summed up as respect for ecclesiastics。 （26） The spread of
this misconception inflamed every worthless fellow with an intense desire
to enter holy orders； and thus the love of diffusing God's religion
degenerated into sordid avarice and ambition。 （27） Every church became a
theatre； where orators； instead of church teachers； harangued； caring not to
instruct the people； but striving to attract admiration； to bring opponents to
public scorn； and to preach only novelties and paradoxes； such as would
tickle the ears of their congregation。 （28） This state of things necessarily
stirred up an amount of controversy； envy； and hatred； which no lapse of
time could appease； so that we can scarcely wonder that of the old religion
nothing survives but its outward forms （even these； in the mouth of the
multitude； seem rather adulation than adoration of the Deity）； and that
faith has become a mere compound of credulity and prejudices … aye；
6
… Page 7…
A Theologico…Political Treatise
prejudices too； which degrade man from rational being to beast； which
completely stifle the power of judgment between true and false； which
seem； in fact； carefully fostered for the purpose of extinguishing the last
spark of reason！ （29） Piety； great God！ and religion are become a tissue of
ridiculous mysteries； men； who flatly despise reason； who reject and turn
away from understanding as naturally corrupt； these； I say； these of all
men； are thought； 0 lie most horrible！ to possess light from on High。 （30）
Verily； if they had but one spark of light from on High； they would not
insolently rave； but would learn to worship God more wisely； and would
be as marked among their fellows for mercy as they now are for malice； if
they were concerned for their opponents' souls； instead of for their own
reputations； they would no longer fiercely persecute； but rather be filled
with pity and compassion。
（31） Furthermore； if any Divine light were in them； it would appear
from their doctrine。 （32） I grant that they are never tired of professing their
wonder at the profound mysteries of Holy Writ； still I cannot discover that
they teach anything but speculations of Platonists and Aristotelians； to
which （in order to save their credit for Christianity） they have made Holy
Writ conform； not content to rave with the Greeks themselves； they want
to make the prophets rave also； showing conclusively； that never even in
sleep have they caught a glimpse of Scripture's Divine nature。 （33） The
very vehemence of their admiration for the mysteries plainly attests； that
their belief in the Bible is a formal assent rather than a living faith： and the
fact is made still more apparent by their laying down beforehand； as a
foundation for the study and true interpretation of Scripture； the principle
that it is in every passage true and divine。 （34） Such a doctrine shoul