Page:Rights of men.pdf/127

 count of their personal merit, religion may be benefited by the vulgar nomination.

The sophistry of asserting that Nature leads us to reverence our civil institutions from the same principle that we venerate aged individuals, is a palpable fallacy 'that is so like truth, it will serve the turn as well.' And when you add, 'that we have chosen our nature rather than our speculations, our breasts rather than our inventions ,' the pretty jargon seems equally unintelligible.

But it was the downfall of the visible power and dignity of the church that roused your ire;