date

24 Sep. 1809 Parl y Reform
24 Sep. 1809

Parl y Reform

B.I. Necessity

'. Soil[?] how prepared

Tests

10

Whatever may have been the design of it, the effect of this declaration in its /the/ professed character of a test, may be set down as next to nothing.

{{two /Certain/ other shapes may be mentioned in which the effect of it is but too incontestable.}

1. As a security for an conclusive evidence of his really entertaining the opinion in question it amounts to next to nothing.

What is made his interest is to profess to entertain it.

What is or is not made his interest is - really to entertain it.}

As to the entertainment of this or that opinion, if it could /can/ be made, and really were made, his interest to entertain it /such opinion/, in what respect would he be the nearer to the entertaining it? Would it be in his power? Has a man, any man, has he it in his power to believe any thing he pleases? The understanding is it thus completely and instantaneously at the command of the will?

Yes and No: - two things, and two only can he do towards bringing to the purpose /with reference to the great[?] opinion/ in question his understanding into the state desired by his will. One is, to glue /rivet/ /point and fix/ his attention to /upon/ every consideration tending to represent the alledged fact in question as true: the other is, to keep the door of his conception shut - inexorably shut - against every consideration the tendency of which is seen to be to represent the fact as improbable or not true.

But in proportion as he habituates /succeeds in habituating/ himself to such a mode of dealing, in that same proportion he succeeds in debilitating and depraving that part of his mental frame: he habituates himself to the operation of partial judgment, of wilful error, or habit which so far as a man's conduct towards himself is influenced by it is folly; in so far as conduct towards others is influenced by it is injustice.
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  • Title: [25 Sep. 1809 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 25 Sep. 1809

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    B.I. Necessity

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    So far then as he succeeds in any such endeavour so to debilitate and deprave his own understanding, in so far is his understanding at the command of his will - in so far has he it in his power to believe any thing that he pleases. And that to no inconsiderable degree the exertions made in this lure of self-deception and self-depravation are successful is a point on which unfortunately there can be no room for doubt.

    But, be the opinion what it may /if/, if it be not of the number of those which are self-evident to all mankind, a result, producible with much more certainty as well as with much more care than the /a man's/ really entertaining it, is: the /his/ professing to entertain it: the professing to entertain /declaration made of his entertaining/ /a declaration made that he entertains/ it made, for example, by the repetition /pronuntiation/ or signature of a formulary drawn up for that purpose.
  • Title: [25[?] Sep. 1809 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 25[?] Sep. 1809

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    B.I. Necessity

    '. Soil[?] how prepared

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    But has it - and how has it?

    [...?] of tests are suborners of mendacity /insincerity/

    Yes, it may be said - for /and/ doubtless it has been said, Yes it may be said, by his having professed to entertain it is has been made his interest - his highest interest, his interest in the highest Degree, to /[...?]/ really to entertain it.

    I answer If it has, thus has it has been made his interest so to debilitate and deprave his understanding - to keep it in a constant course of preparation for and adaptation to the purpose of folly and injustice - of folly and wickedness as abovementioned.

    But has it? and in what mode and degree has it /the plan/ succeeded in the production of this mischief?
  • Title: [24 Sep. 1809 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 24 Sep. 1809

    Parl y Reform

    B.I. Necessity

    '. Soil[?] how prepared

    Tests

    9

    9

    1. Tests 2 Promissory Oaths

    False-oath-takers, sworn Bepraisers.

    Insincerity, having in former times been regarded as a vice, sincerity, the opposite quality a virtue, a problem that for some time remained for solution, and without solution, was - how to bring punishment to bear upon this virtue?

    By means of two instruments of nearly resembling make[?] This problem at length found its solution. These instruments were Tests, and promissory Oaths.

    A test is an appellation given to any form of words (or other voluntary mark intended to serve as an indication of a man's mind) say for shortness to any form of words by which he is understood /he seeks to cause men to believe/ that in relation to such or such a subject a judgment of an opinion, a persuasion a belief is entertained by him /has place in his mind/.

    An benefit - the matter of good /felicity/ in this or that shape - or (what is but a particular modification of the matter of good) exemption from evil in this or that shape being set before men in the character of candidates, as a qualification for being admitted /as a condition, precedent to his being admitted/ to the attainment /possession/ of it, he is required to deliver an expression of the state of his mind a form of words put together for that purpose. His consent or refusal or consent to deliver a declaration of this sort /to the effect in question/ is considered as a test or proof of his entertaining or not entertaining the opinion /persuasion/ in question: of his entertaining it, in case of his consenting to make the /such/ declaration and making it accordingly: his not entertaining the opinion, in case of his refusal or omission to make the declaration thus made requisite.