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theologico-political treatise p1(神学与政治专题研究1)-第2章

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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 



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                               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; 



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                               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
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