27 Sep r 1809

Thamophthora[?] Septology

Parl y Reform

Thamophthora[?] Septology

B. I Necessity

Ch. […?] […?]

Title. On the Remote Causes of Mendacity and insincerity

in English minds: together with the means of cure.

Title. Phthorology

Psychophthora

On National Corruption its causes & remedies

Septology: or

Elements of the act of corruption moral and intellectual.

corruption as applied to the mental including the intellectual and

moral parts of mans frame as applied to the head and heart of man: with an

1 Purposes of tests. 1. Purely political: 2. Religious.

Inutility and mischief of Religious Tests

2. If the credence[?] were probable, no need of, no use in exacting declaration of

it.

3. If improbable, the more improbable the greater the probability of producing

insincere declarations of belief, instead of sincere belief. Such insincerity will it

affect salvation or not?

4 If not, there can be no motive for abstaining from it: and the commission of it

being urged by the most cogent motives, takes place of course.

5 If salvation be affected by it, think of /what is/ the price

paid for the advantage supposed to be gained?

6. As to the 39 articles the date coupled with the number and length of them is

conclusive though but circumstantial evidence of the falshood and absurdity of at

least a great part of them.

Clergy, and all others who take the such[?] test are exposed to the action of a

cause of immorality over and above what applies to any other men

They have not a claim equal to that of men at large to be taken at their word.

Test-swallowing, a stronger objection to evidentiary trustworthiness, than

prostitution to females.

A test an instrument for the manufacturing political tools: profligate subordination

for the use of profligate superiors.

Inutility and Mischief of tests (religious.)

7. Be the fact probable or improbable what moral merit can there be in believing it?

what use[?], as to all such, from the belief of which it

follows not that any thing ought by men to be done?

8. If the fact be probable and appear so, it will be believed of course: the more

probable it is the more likely to be believed that where can be the merit of

believing it. I believe what I am sitting on to be […?] a chair: &c. but

where is any merit in so doing?

9. If, being improbable it appears so to me I can not believe it: to say it appears

improbable to me and yet that I believe it is a contradiction in terms. I may try to

believe it, (viz. as above) but this is all I can do: and while I am only trying to

believe it, I do not believe it.

10. If being improbable, it does not appear so to me that is if it being really

improbable I believe it notwithstanding, I believe it without sufficient reason. I am

credulous, weak, foolish.

Aggravation of the Mischief.

11. What aggravates the mischief is that men – ashamed of the insincerity – the original insincerity – and confident of not being in danger

of being convicted of it, persevere in it and add to it.

12. It is not every man that will have the honesty to confess, as Caley[?] did, that

he could not afford to keep a conscience.

13. But though A and B. can not be proved guilty /no person individually taken can be

convicted/ of insincerity in denying their original insincerity[?], if he chooses to

persevere in it and add to it, yet that a great part say the greater of those who

subscribe subscribe without believing, may be established beyond dispute.

Interposition of Bishops & Women in politics[?] […?] […?] ridiculous: Women

obliged to conceal their desires: Bishops their opinions.

To the continued explanation of the several instruments therein employed viz. 1.

Subscriptions to articles of faith. 2. University Matriculation Oaths. 3. Creeds. 4.

Jurymen’s unanimity Oaths 5. Custom House Oaths 6. Judicial Fictions.

Protestants reproaching Catholics with bearing a head who occasionally has released

men from the obligations contracted by an Oath. But Anglican Protestants release

themselves habitually and universally.