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！
with regard to the retainers of those professions。 It must give
them public encouragement in order to their subsistence； and it
must provide against that negligence to which they will naturally
be subject； either by annexing particular honours to the
profession； by establishing a long subordination of ranks and a
strict dependence； or by some other expedient。 The persons
employed in the finances； fleets； and magistracy； are instances
of this order of men。
〃It may naturally be thought； at first sight； that the
ecclesiastics belong to the first class； and that their
encouragement； as well as that of lawyers and physicians； may
safely be entrusted to the liberality of individuals； who are
attached to their doctrines； and who find benefit or consolation
from their spiritual ministry and assistance。 Their industry and
vigilance will； no doubt； be whetted by such an additional
motive； and their skill in the profession； as well as their
address in governing the minds of the people； must receive daily
increase from their increasing practice； study； and attention。
〃But if we consider the matter more closely； we shall find
that this interested diligence of the clergy is what every wise
legislator will study to prevent； because in every religion
except the true it is highly pernicious； and it has even a
natural tendency to pervert the true； by infusing into it a
strong mixture of superstition； folly； and delusion。 Each ghostly
practitioner； in order to render himself more precious and sacred
in the eyes of his retainers； will inspire them with the most
violent abhorrence of all other sects； and continually endeavour；
by some novelty； to excite the languid devotion of his audience。
No regard will be paid to truth； morals； or decency in the
doctrines inculcated。 Every tenet will be adopted that best suits
the disorderly affections of the human frame。 Customers will be
drawn to each conventicle by new industry and address in
practising on the passions and credulity of the populace。 And in
the end； the civil magistrate will find that he has dearly paid
for his pretended frugality； in saving a fixed establishment for
the priests； and that in reality the most decent and advantageous
composition which he can make with the spiritual guides； is to
bribe their indolence by assigning stated salaries to their
profession； and rendering it superfluous for them to be farther
active than merely to prevent their flock from straying in quest
of new pastures。 And in this manner ecclesiastical
establishments； though commonly they arose at first from
religious views； prove in the end advantageous to the political
interests of society。〃
But whatever may have been the good or bad effects of the
independent provision of the clergy； it has； perhaps； been very
seldom bestowed upon them from any view to those effects。 Times
of violent religious controversy have generally been times of
equally violent political faction。 Upon such occasions； each
political party has either found it； or imagined it； for its
interest to league itself with some one or other of the
contending religious sects。 But this could be done only by
adopting； or at least by favouring； the tenets of that particular
sect。 The sect which had the good fortune to be leagued with the
conquering party necessarily shared in the victory of its ally；
by whose favour and protection it was soon enabled in some degree
to silence and subdue all its adversaries。 Those adversaries had
generally leagued themselves with the enemies of the conquering
party； and were therefore the enemies of that party。 The clergy
of this particular sect having thus become complete masters of
the field； and their influence and authority with the great body
of the people being in its highest vigour； they were powerful
enough to overawe the chiefs and leaders of their own party； and
to oblige the civil magistrate to respect their opinions and
inclinations。 Their first demand was generally that he should
silence and subdue an their adversaries： and their second； that
he should bestow an independent provision on themselves。 As they
had generally contributed a good deal to the victory； it seemed
not unreasonable that they should have some share in the spoil。
They were weary； besides； of humouring the people； and of
depending upon their caprice for a subsistence。 In making this
demand； therefore； they consulted their own ease and comfort；
without troubling themselves about the effect which it might have
in future times upon the influence and authority of their order。
The civil magistrate； who could comply with this demand only by
giving them something which he would have chosen much rather to
take； or to keep to himself； was seldom very forward to grant it。
Necessity； however； always forced him to submit at last； though
frequently not till after many delays； evasions； and affected
excuses。
But if politics had never called in the aid of religion； had
the conquering party never adopted the tenets of one sect more
than those of another when it had gained the victory； it would
probably have dealt equally and impartially with all the
different sects； and have allowed every man to choose his own
priest and his own religion as he thought proper。 There would in
this case； no doubt' have been a great multitude of religious
sects。 Almost every different congregation might probably have
made a little sect by itself； or have entertained some peculiar
tenets of its own。 Each teacher would no doubt have felt himself
under the necessity of making the utmost exertion and of using
every art both to preserve and to increase the number of his
disciples。 But as every other teacher would have felt himself
under the same necessity； the success of no one teacher； or sect
of teachers； could have been very great。 The interested and
active zeal of religious teachers can be dangerous and
troublesome only where there is either but one sect tolerated in
the society； or where the whole of a large society is divided
into two or three great sects； the teachers of each acting by
concert； and under a regular discipline and subordination。 But
that zeal must be altogether innocent where the society is
divided into two or three hundred； or perhaps into as many
thousand small sects； of which no one could be considerable
enough to disturb the public tranquility。 The teachers of each
sect； seeing themselves surrounded on all sides with more
adversaries than friends； would be obliged to learn that candour
and moderation which is so seldom to be found among the teachers
of those great sects whose tenets； being supported by the civil
magistrate； are held in veneration by almost all the inhabitants
of extensive kingdoms and empires； and who therefore see nothing
round them but followers； disciples； and humble admirers。 The
teachers of each little sect； finding themselves almost alone；
would be obliged to respect those of almost every other sect； and
the concessions which they would mutually find it both convenient
and agreeable to make to one another； might in time probably
reduce the doctrine of the greater part of them to that pure and
rational religion； free from every mixture of absurdity；
imposture； or fanaticism； such as wise men have in all ages of
the world wished to see established； but such as positive law has
perhaps never yet established； and probably never will establish；
in any country： because； with regard to religion； positive law
always has been； and probably always will be； more or less
influenced by popular superstition and enthusiasm。 This plan of
ecclesiastical government； or more properly of no ecclesiastical
government； was what the sect called Independents； a sect no
doubt of very wild enthusiasts； proposed to establish in England
towards the end of the civil war。 If it had been established；
though of a very unphilosophical origin； it would probably by
this time have