1817 Sept. 8

Not Paul

Ch Paul’s success―its causes

As to nonsense so far from being obstructive, it is in its nature in a high degree conducive―not to say necessary―to the production of the effect. Suppose it any thing but nonsense argument, if there be any thing of weakness in it which in the case in question by the supposition there can not fail to be will in proportion to its weakness be exposed to refutation. But of nonsense it is a property an effectual an indisputable property to be / to be / altogether refutation proof. To words to which no ideas / conceptions / are / stand / asserted no erroneous conceptions can be shewn to be attached to words, by which no intelligible propositions are expressed nor false propositions can be shewn to be expressed.

Thus it is and hence it is, it is by the most absurd propositions that the firmest faith or belief the most intense and most irrefragable / firmest / degree of persuasion has been produced. Among propositions / positions / In the scale of absurdity the highest place is beyond dispute that which is occupied by those of the self-contradictory class. But it is by these / propositions of this class / that the most intense and consequently the most impatient and irritable persuasion has been engrossed: unless that in which the composition / compositeness / of the uncompounded Godhead / object is declared / and that in which in which an / one and the same / object is declared to be eaten[?] and not eaten[?] at the same time. False[?] propositions for a man to die for rather than contradict them the powers / power / of imagination can not frame to itself.

Proportioned not to the reasonableness but to the unreasonableness of it is the intensity of the persuasion which the religion of this world have been seen to produce. In no part / spot / within the field of its dominion, even in the Catholic edition of it will the religion of Jesus be seen capable of giving birth to / producing / self sacrifices approaching in respect of the self-command and power of endurance manifested by them, to those of which in such prodigious abundance the religion of Bramah has been seen productive.  In a note give examples from Mill’s India.