Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 5.djvu/325

Rh granted, than that how indifferent soever most men are in faith and morals, yet, whether out of artifice, natural complexion, or love of contradiction, none are more obstinate in maintaining their own opinions, and worrying all who differ from them, than those who publickly show the least sense either of religion or common honesty.

As to the latter, bishop Burnet tells us, that the presbyterians, in the fanatick times, professed themselves to be above morality; which, as we find in some of their writings, was numbered among the beggarly elements: and accordingly at this day, no scruples of conscience with regard to conformity, are, in any trade or calling, inconsistent with the greatest fraud, oppressions, perjury, or any other vice.

This brings to my memory a passage in Montaigne, of a common prostitute, who in the storming of a town, when a soldier came up to her chamber and offered violence to her chastity, rather chose to venture her neck by leaping out of the window, than suffer a rape; yet still continued her trade of lewdness, while she had any customers left.

I confess, that in my private judgment, an unlimited permission of all sects whatsoever (except papists) to enjoy employments, would be less pernicious to the publick, than a fair struggle between two contenders; because, in the former case, such a jumble of principles might possibly have the effect of contrary poisons mingled together which a strong constitution might perhaps be able for some time to survive.

But however I shall take the other and more probable supposition, that this, battle for employments is to