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.