The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 07 (of 12) by Edmund Burke
page 41 of 430 (09%)
page 41 of 430 (09%)
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first proposition, read their primary association. 2nd, That their
purpose of proselytism is to collect a multitude sufficient by force and violence to overturn the Church. In proof of the second proposition, see the letter of Priestley to Mr. Pitt, and extracts from his works. 3rd, That the designs against the Church are concurrent with a design to subvert the State. In proof of the third proposition, read the advertisement of the Unitarian Society for celebrating the 14th of July. 4th, On what _model_ they intend to build,--that it is the _French_. In proof of the fourth proposition, read the correspondence of the Revolution Society with the clubs of France, read Priestley's adherence to their opinions. 5th, What the _French_ is with regard to religious toleration, and with regard to, 1. Religion,--2. Civil happiness,--3. Virtue, order, and real liberty,--4. Commercial opulence,--5. National defence. In proof of the fifth proposition, read the representation of the French minister of the Home Department, and the report of the committee upon it. Formerly, when the superiority of two parties contending for dogmas and an establishment was the question, we knew in such a contest the whole of the evil. We knew, for instance, that Calvinism would prevail according to the Westminster Catechism with regard to _tenets_. We knew that Presbytery would prevail in _church government_. But we do not know what opinions would prevail, if the present Dissenters should become masters. They will not tell us their present opinions; and one principle of modern Dissent is, not to discover them. Next, as their religion, is in a continual fluctuation, and is so by principle and in profession, it is impossible for us to know what it will be. If religion only related to the individual, and was a question between God and the conscience, it would not be wise, nor in my opinion equitable, for human authority to step in. But when religion is embodied into faction, and |
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