Thoughts on nature and religion. Or, an apology for the right of private judgment / maintained by Michael Servetus [i.e. P. Blair] M.D. in his answer to John Calvin. [Anon].

  • Blair, Patrick, M.D., of Cork, active 1738-1780.
Date:
1774
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thoughts on nature and religion. Or, an apology for the right of private judgment / maintained by Michael Servetus [i.e. P. Blair] M.D. in his answer to John Calvin. [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    THE INTRODUCTION ERE one to conffder the various feels and opinions, which have fprung up at different times in the world, and have divided mankind into parties ; and reflect with what bigotted zeal, each adheres to the fyftem it has embraced, fo as to look on others, as men to be either defpifed for their ignorance, or perfecuted as enemies to truth; it muff raiffe in his mind, a very difagreeable idea of human underffanding. For as each party look on their own belief as the ftandard of truth, fo do they look on all who differ from them to be wrong. To affign a caufe for this felhfh uncharitable way of condemning others, one is aim oft tempted to imagine, that con¬ ception, in different people, is not conveyed to the mind thro’ the fame channel, but that the ideas of truth and falfhood, right and wrong, moral and im¬ moral, do not prefent themfelves in the fame light to all men ; or that there muff: be forne jarring in the firft principles of the human underffanding: for if thefe firft principles were the fame in all men, it is difficult to comprehend how fuch different concluhons could be drawn from them. I can only account for this, by fuppoftng the mind to be as liable to be led affray, and as capable to be enffaved, as the body is. When the body is enffaved, an appeal to the mind makes it feniible of its fetters ; and altho* it knows its condition, it is (till obliged to obey: but when the A mind