Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 16.djvu/236

228 Page 261. "Christendom has been the scene of perpetual wars, massacres, &c.&c." [sic] He does not consider that most religious wars have been caused by schisms, when the dissenting parties were ready ta join w ith any ambitious discontented men. The national religion always desires peace, even in her notions, for its interests.

Page 270. "Some have taken the liberty to compare a high church priest in politicks, to a monkey in a glass-shop, where, as he can do no good, so he never fails of doing mischief enough." That is his modesty, it is his own simile, and it rather fits a man that does so and so, meaning himself. Besides, the comparison is foolish: So it is with men, as with stags.

Page 276. "Their interest obliges them directly to promote tyranny." The matter is, that Christianity is the fault which spoils the priests, for they were like other men before they were priests. Among the Romans, priests did not do so; for they had the greatest power during the republick. I wonder he did not prove they spoiled Nero.

Page 277. "No princes have been more insupportable, and done greater violence to the commonwealth, than those the clergy have honoured for saints and martyrs." For example in our country, the princes most celebrated by our clergy are, &c. &c. &c. And the quarrels since the Conquest were nothing at all of the clergy, but purely of families. &c. wherein the clergy only joined like other men.

Page 279. "After the Reformation, I desire to know whether the conduct of the clergy was any ways altered for the better, &c." Monstrous represen-