2 Sep. 1809

Parl y Reform

B. I. Necessity

Ch.18. Mischief of Idol-worship

§.2. King’s interest. 2. power

Elogiums mischievous

Elogiums &c

6

4

4

4

The King is a good King – may be so: the King is a good King – so says every body,

that speaks of him.

May be so. But does this afford any the smallest evidence of his being so? – Not it

indeed.

The King is a most gracious and religious King. So says every body that ever enters

into a church. But in all this is there any thing in which by a rational man by which

any the slightest reason can be found for thinking him so.

This was said of Charles the 1 st who was a religious King but

not a gracious one: this was said of Charles the 2 who was a gracious King but not a

religious one. This was said again of James the 2 d who though not

a gracious King was indeed a religious one /King/, but with such a religion as to the

purpose of the Church of England was worse than none.

When then in a solemn & religious service all regard to truth is thus

solemnly and regularly trodden under foot by every man of the Ecclesiastical

profession, the same praise being in the same words poured out like the holy chrism

upon the head of every royal person /crowned head/ in whatsoever degree the object

thus bepowered is in the estimation of the bepowerer deserving of it or undeserving,

what degree of credence is it possible for any man of that profession to make title

to, when on every profane /political/ occasion without the special /present/ sanction

of religion to put a bridle upon his pen or his tongue, he is seen occupied in

bedawbing[?] the same idol with the same /that or any other/ praise?