The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D. D., Volume IV:
by
Jonathan Swift
Part 6 out of 6
balcony, I am confident, I saw several thousands in the street, and
counted at least seventeen, who were upon their knees, and seemed in
actual devotion. Eleven of them, indeed, appeared to be old women of
about fourscore; the six others were men in advanced life, but (as I
could guess) two of them might be under seventy.
It is highly probable, that an event of this nature may be passed over
by the greater historians of our times, as conducing very little or
nothing to the unravelling and laying open the deep schemes of
politicians, and mysteries of state; for which reason, I thought it
might not be unacceptable to record the facts, which, in the space of
three days, came to my knowledge, either as an eye-witness, or from
unquestionable authorities; nor can I think this narrative will be
entirely without its use, as it may enable us to form a more just idea
of our countrymen in general, particularly in regard to their faith,
religion, morals, and politics.
Before Wednesday noon, the belief was universal, that the day of
judgment was at hand, insomuch, that a waterman of my acquaintance told
me, he counted no less than one hundred and twenty-three clergymen, who
had been ferried over to Lambeth before twelve o'clock: these, it is
said, went thither to petition, that a short prayer might be penned, and
ordered, there being none in the service upon that occasion. But, as in
things of this nature, it is necessary that the council be consulted,
their request was not immediately complied with; and this I affirm to be
the true and only reason, that the churches were not that morning so
well attended, and is in noways to be imputed to the fears and
consternation of the clergy, with which the freethinkers have since very
unjustly reproached them.
My wife and I went to church, (where we had not been for many years on a
week-day,) and, with a very large congregation, were disappointed of the
service. But (what will be scarce credible) by the carelessness of a
'prentice, in our absence, we had a piece of fine cambric carried off by
a shop-lifter: so little impression was yet made on the minds of those
wicked women!
I cannot omit the care of a particular director of the Bank; I hope the
worthy and wealthy knight will forgive me, that I endeavour to do him
justice; for it was unquestionably owing to Sir Gilbert Heathcote's[1]
sagacity, that all the fire-offices were required to have a particular
eye upon the Bank of England. Let it be recorded to his praise, that in
the general hurry, this struck him as his nearest and tenderest concern;
but the next day in the evening, after having taken due care of all his
books, bills, and bonds, I was informed, his mind was wholly turned upon
spiritual matters; yet, ever and anon, he could not help expressing his
resentment against the Tories and Jacobites, to whom he imputed that
sudden run upon the Bank, which happened on this occasion.
[Footnote 1: Sir Gilbert Heathcote had before signalized his care for
the Bank when in equal danger, by petitioning against the Lord-Treasurer
Godolphin's being removed, as a measure that would destroy the public
credit. [H.]]
A great man (whom at this time it may not be prudent to name) employed
all the Wednesday morning to make up such an account, as might appear
fair, in case he should be called upon to produce it on the Friday; but
was forced to desist, after having for several hours together attempted
it, not being able to bring himself to a resolution to trust the many
hundred articles of his secret transactions upon paper.
Another seemed to be very melancholy, which his flatterers imputed to
his dread of losing his power in a day or two; but I rather take it,
that his chief concern was the terror of being tried in a court, that
could not be influenced, and where a majority of voices could avail him
nothing. It was observed, too, that he had but few visitors that day.
This added so much to his mortification, that he read through the first
chapter of the book of Job, and wept over it bitterly; in short, he
seemed a true penitent in everything but in charity to his neighbour. No
business was that day done in his counting-house. It is said too, that
he was advised to restitution, but I never heard that he complied with
it, any farther than in giving half-a-crown a-piece to several crazed
and starving creditors, who attended in the outward room.
Three of the maids of honour sent to countermand their birth-day
clothes; two of them burnt all their collections of novels and romances,
and sent to a bookseller's in Pall-Mall to buy each of them a Bible, and
Taylor's "Holy Living and Dying." But I must do all of them the justice
to acknowledge, that they shewed a very decent behaviour in the
drawing-room, and restrained themselves from those innocent freedoms,
and little levities, so commonly incident to young ladies of their
profession. So many birth-day suits were countermanded the next day,
that most of the tailors and mantua makers discharged all their
journeymen and women. A grave elderly lady of great erudition and
modesty, who visits these young ladies, seemed to be extremely shocked
by the apprehensions, that she was to appear naked before the whole
world; and no less so, that all mankind was to appear naked before her;
which might so much divert her thoughts, as to incapacitate her to give
ready and apt answers to the interrogatories that might be made her. The
maids of honour, who had both modesty and curiosity, could not imagine
the sight so disagreeable as was represented; nay, one of them went so
far as to say, she perfectly longed to see it; for it could not be so
indecent, when everybody was to be alike; and they had a day or two to
prepare themselves to be seen in that condition. Upon this reflection,
each of them ordered a bathing-tub to be got ready that evening, and a
looking-glass to be set by it. So much are these young ladies, both by
nature and custom, addicted to cleanly appearance.
A west-country gentleman told me, he got a church-lease filled up that
morning for the same sum which had been refused for three years
successively. I must impute this merely to accident: for I cannot
imagine that any divine could take the advantage of his tenant in so
unhandsome a manner, or that the shortness of the life was in the least
his consideration; though I have heard the same worthy prelate aspersed
and maligned since, upon this very account.
The term being so near, the alarm among the lawyers was inexpressible,
though some of them, I was told, were so vain as to promise themselves
some advantage in making their defence, by being versed in the practice
of our earthly courts. It is said, too, that some of the chief pleaders
were heard to express great satisfaction, that there had been but few
state trials of late years. Several attorneys demanded the return of
fees that had been given the lawyers; but it was answered, the fee was
undoubtedly charged to their client, and that they could not connive at
such injustice, as to suffer it to be sunk in the attorneys' pockets.
Our sage and learned judges had great consolation, insomuch as they had
not pleaded at the bar for several years; the barristers rejoiced in
that they were not attorneys, and the attorneys felt no less
satisfaction, that they were not pettifoggers, scriveners, and other
meaner officers of the law.
As to the army, far be it from me to conceal the truth. Every soldier's
behaviour was as undismayed, and undaunted, as if nothing was to happen;
I impute not this to their want of faith, but to their martial
disposition; though I cannot help thinking they commonly accompany their
commands with more oaths than are requisite, of which there was no
remarkable diminution this morning on the parade in St James's Park. But
possibly it was by choice, and on consideration, that they continued
this way of expression, not to intimidate the common soldiers, or give
occasion to suspect, that even the fear of damnation could make any
impression upon their superior officers. A duel was fought the same
morning between two colonels, not occasioned (as was reported) because
the one was put over the other's head; that being a point, which might,
at such a juncture, have been accommodated by the mediation of friends;
but as this was upon the account of a lady, it was judged it could not
be put off at this time, above all others, but demanded immediate
satisfaction. I am apt to believe, that a young officer, who desired his
surgeon to defer putting him into a salivation till Saturday, might make
this request out of some opinion he had of the truth of the prophecy;
for the apprehensions of any danger in the operation could not be his
motive, the surgeon himself having assured me, that he had before
undergone three severe operations of the like nature with great
resignation and fortitude.
There was an order issued, that the chaplains of the several regiments
should attend their duty; but as they were dispersed about in several
parts of England, it was believed, that most of them could not be found,
or so much as heard of, till the great day was over.
Most of the considerable physicians, by their outward demeanour, seemed
to be unbelievers; but at the same time, they everywhere insinuated,
that there might be a pestilential malignancy in the air, occasioned by
the comet, which might be armed against by proper and timely medicines.
This caution had but little effect; for as the time approached, the
Christian resignation of the people increased, and most of them (which
was never before known) had their souls more at heart than their bodies.
If the reverend clergy shewed more concern than others, I charitably
impute it to their great charge of souls; and what confirmed me in this
opinion was, that the degrees of apprehension and terror could be
distinguished to be greater or less, according to their ranks and
degrees in the church.
The like might be observed in all sorts of ministers, though not of the
Church of England; the higher their rank, the more was their fear.
I speak not of the Court for fear of offence; and I forbear inserting
the names of particular persons, to avoid the imputation of slander; so
that the reader will allow the narrative must be deficient, and is
therefore desired to accept hereof rather as a sketch, than a regular
circumstantial history.
I was not informed of any persons, who shewed the least joy; except
three malefactors, who were to be executed on the Monday following, and
one old man, a constant church-goer, who being at the point of death,
expressed some satisfaction at the news.
On Thursday morning there was little or nothing transacted in
'Change-alley; there were a multitude of sellers, but so few buyers,
that one cannot affirm the stocks bore any certain price except among
the Jews; who this day reaped great profit by their infidelity. There
were many who called themselves Christians, who offered to buy for time;
but as these were people of great distinction, I choose not to mention
them, because in effect it would seem to accuse them both of avarice and
infidelity.
The run upon the Bank is too well known to need a particular relation:
for it never can be forgotten, that no one person whatever (except the
directors themselves, and some of their particular friends and
associates) could convert a bill all that day into specie; all hands
being employed to serve them.
In the several churches of the city and suburbs, there were seven
thousand two hundred and forty-five, who publicly and solemnly declared
before the congregation, that they took to wife their several
kept-mistresses, which was allowed as valid marriage, the priest not
having time to pronounce the ceremony in form.
At St Bride's church in Fleet-street, Mr. Woolston,[2] (who writ against
the miracles of our Saviour,) in the utmost terrors of conscience, made
a public recantation. Dr. Mandeville[3] (who had been groundlessly
reported formerly to have done the same,) did it now in good earnest at
St James's gate; as did also at the Temple Church several gentlemen, who
frequent coffeehouses near the bar. So great was the faith and fear of
two of them, that they dropped dead on the spot; but I will not record
their names, lest I should be thought invidiously to lay an odium on
their families and posterity.
[Footnote 2: Thomas Woolston (1669-1733), a deistical writer, born at
Northampton; became a Fellow of Sidney College, Cambridge. For his work,
"Six Discourses on the Miracles of Christ," he was sentenced to
imprisonment for one year and fined one hundred pounds. [T.S.]]
[Footnote 3: Bernard de Mandeville, M.D., author of the "Fable of the
Bees," a deistical work, the scope of which was to prove, that private
vices are public benefits. The work was attacked by Bishop Berkeley in
his "Alciphron." De Mandeville was born in Holland about 1670, but came
over to England and settled there about the middle of the eighteenth
century. He also wrote "The Virgin Unmasked," "The Grumbling Hive," and
"Free Thoughts on Religion." He died in 1733. [T.S.]]
Most of the players, who had very little faith before, were now desirous
of having as much as they could, and therefore embraced the Roman
Catholic religion: the same thing was observed of some bawds, and ladies
of pleasure.
An Irish gentleman out of pure friendship came to make me a visit, and
advised me to hire a boat for the ensuing day, and told me, that unless
I gave earnest for one immediately, he feared it might be too late; for
his countrymen had secured almost every boat upon the river, as judging,
that, in the general conflagration, to be upon the water would be the
safest place.
There were two lords, and three commoners, who, out of scruple of
conscience, very hastily threw up their pensions, as imagining a pension
was only an annual retaining bribe. All the other great pensioners, I
was told, had their scruples quieted by a clergyman or two of
distinction, whom they happily consulted.
It was remarkable, that several of our very richest tradesmen of the
city, in common charity, gave away shillings and sixpences to the
beggars who plied about the church doors; and at a particular church in
the city, a wealthy church-warden with his own hands distributed fifty
twelve-penny loaves to the poor, by way of restitution for the many
great and costly feasts, which he had eaten of at their expense.
Three great ladies, a valet-de-chambre, two lords, a
customhouse-officer, five half-pay captains, and a baronet, (all noted
gamesters,) came publicly into a church at Westminster, and deposited a
very considerable sum of money in the minister's hands; the parties,
whom they had defrauded, being either out of town, or not to be found.
But so great is the hardness of heart of this fraternity, that among
either the noble or vulgar gamesters, (though the profession is so
general,) I did not hear of any other restitution of this sort. At the
same time I must observe, that (in comparison of these) through all
parts of the town, the justice and penitence of the highwaymen,
housebreakers, and common pickpockets, was very remarkable.
The directors of our public companies were in such dreadful
apprehensions, that one would have thought a parliamentary inquiry was
at hand; yet so great was their presence of mind, that all the Thursday
morning was taken up in private transfers, which by malicious people was
thought to be done with design to conceal their effects.
I forbear mentioning the private confessions of particular ladies to
their husbands; for as their children were born in wedlock, and of
consequence are legitimate, it would be an invidious task to record them
as bastards; and particularly after their several husbands have so
charitably forgiven them.
The evening and night through the whole town were spent in devotions
both public and private; the churches for this one day were so crowded
by the nobility and gentry, that thousands of common people were seen
praying in the public streets. In short, one would have thought the
whole town had been really and seriously religious. But what was very
remarkable, all the different persuasions kept by themselves, for as
each thought the other would be damned, not one would join in prayer
with the other.
At length Friday came, and the people covered all the streets;
expecting, watching, and praying. But as the day wore away, their fears
first began to abate, then lessened every hour, at night they were
almost extinct, till the total darkness, that hitherto used to terrify,
now comforted every freethinker and atheist. Great numbers went together
to the taverns, bespoke suppers, and broke up whole hogsheads for joy.
The subject of all wit and conversation was to ridicule the prophecy,
and rally each other. All the quality and gentry were perfectly ashamed,
nay, some utterly disowned that they had manifested any signs of
religion.
But the next day even the common people, as well as their betters,
appeared in their usual state of indifference. They drank, they whored,
they swore, they lied, they cheated, they quarrelled, they murdered. In
short, the world went on in the old channel.
I need not give any instances of what will so easily be credited; but I
cannot omit relating, that Mr. Woolston advertised in that very
Saturday's Evening Post, a new Treatise against the Miracles of our
Saviour; and that the few who had given up their pensions the day
before, solicited to have them continued: which as they had not been
thrown up upon any ministerial point, I am informed was readily granted.
INDEX.
Abjuration oath.
Accusation, false, a means for injuring a community.
Action, motives for, often interested.
Administration and Legislature.
Agriculture, encouraged by the clergy.
Alberoni, Cardinal.
Ale-houses, should be closed at midnight.
Alsatia.
Ammianus Marcellinus.
Anabaptists.
Anne, Queen, her good qualities,
"Bounty" of.
Arber, Mr. Edward.
Arians.
Arius.
Army, English, its bad discipline.
Aristotle, his dictum about happiness and wisdom.
Asgill, John, biographical sketch of.
Athanasian creed.
Atheism, not worse than superstition or enthusiasm,
rise of, due to the Rebellion and murder of King Charles I.
Atheist, a perfect, is a perfectly moral man.
Atheology.
Atterbury, Bishop.
Austin.
Bacon, Lord.
Basilovitz, John.
Baumgarten's "Travels".
Beggars, often intercept charity intended for the poor,
distinct from the poor,
in Ireland,
methods for dealing with them,
should wear badges.
Belief, want of, a defect.
Benefices, value of dividing them.
Berkeley, Earl of,
his letter to Swift.
Berkeley, Lady,
Swift's character of.
Bettesworth, Sergeant, his rencontre with Swift,
Dr. Dunkin on,
and Dr. Theophilus Bolton.
Bible, the, difficult to understand.
Biblical terminology.
Bill for a Modus,
its hardships on the clergy.
Bill of Division,
its injustice.
Bill of Residence,
its injustice.
Bindon, F., portrait of Swift.
Bishoprics, value of,
manner of filling Irish,
necessity for increasing their revenues.
Bishops, their tyranny,
their power derived from the people
comparison between English and French,
Swift's description of the Irish,
arguments against their power to let leases,
their action at the Reformation,
reduction of their revenues,
evil of giving them power to let leases for lives,
their power over church lands,
two kinds lately promoted.
Blasphemy, "breaking" for.
Bolingbroke, Lord.
Bolton, Dr. Theophilus, Archbishop of Cashel,
and Bettesworth.
Bouffiers, Mons.
"Bounty," Queen Anne's,
Charles the Second's.
Bowen, Zachery.
Boyce, S.
Boyle, Dean.
Boyse, J.
Brodrick, Allen.
Brown, Rev. Mr.
Budgell, Eustace, his appropriation of Tindal's effects.
Bull, Dr. George.
Burke, Edmund, on Swift's sermon on "Doing Good."
Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury,
on occasional conformity,
Swift's satire on,
Dartmouth on,
biographical sketch of,
"History of the Reformation,"
"Vindication of the Church and State of Scotland,"
his criticisms on the Tories,
Swift's rejoinder,
his argument against Popery,
Swift's rejoinder,
his opinion of the clergy,
reference to the Tory clergy,
Swift's criticism on his methods,
Swift's criticism on his style,
on Presbyterians,
the oracle of the hypocritical zealots.
Business, corruptions in.
Campegi, Cardinal.
Carr, Charles, Bishop of Killaloe.
Catholic Church, the necessity for a head.
Catholics, Roman, their persecutions of Protestants,
their favour with King James II.,
reasons for repeals of Test Act in their favour,
first conquerors of Ireland,
their rebellions were purely defensive measures,
always defenders of the monarch,
are true Whigs,
their loyalty to the Hanoverian House,
have as fair a title to be called Protestants as Dissenters,
the bulk of them loyal to King Charles I.,
lost their estates in Ireland for fighting for the king,
merits of, and Dissenters, contrasted,
arguments for repeal of Test Act affecting the equally with
Dissenters, the heavy accusation they lie under,
Catholicism and Protestantism, differences between.
Catholicism, Roman, its condition in England.
Cato, the wisest Roman,
a stoic by manners not by conviction.
Censor, the office of, suggestion for its establishment in England.
Charity, the outcome of self-knowledge.
Charles I., Act of, concerning the bishops and the church lands,
his trial,
sermon on the martyrdom of,
his ill-treatment by the Puritans
ingratitude to him by the House of Commons
history of the events which led to his death
Charles the Second's Bounty
Cheerfulness, a blessing of the poor
Chesterfield, Earl of
Children, a blessing and assistance to the poor
Chinuchii, Cardinal de
Chocolate Houses
Christianity, Real or Primitive,
inconveniences attending its abolition
advantages proposed by its abolition
has no share in the opposition to sectaries
abolition of, would mean loss of occupation to freethinkers
no necessity for extirpating it
evils attending its abolition
its organization
its truth denied by freethinking
usefulness of preaching on its mysteries
early
its want of truth a source of joy to the wicked
suffered by being blended with Gentile philosophy
Church and Dissent, their mutual attitudes
Church, sleeping in, sermon on
Church, the, not answerable for the depravity of human nature
its total exclusion of Dissent from its emoluments
the necessity for it being a corporation
duty to, of the members of
condition of, in Ireland
Church of Christianity, its inconsistencies
Church of England Man, his religious attitude
his attitude to the various forms and ceremonies
his toleration for worship
his passion for the Church
his abhorrence of flinging scandals upon the clergy
his opinion that publications against religion should not be
unlimited his sentiments with respect to government
his idea of the freedom of a nation
he is not bound to opinions of either party
independent of the civil power
Churches, necessity for their increase
their destruction due to the Rebellion
Church lands,
reasons for the rise in the value of
bad effects if sold to the laity
Church of Ireland, the National Church
Church revenues, expedients for increasing
Church thermometer
Cicero
Clarendon, Edward Hyde, Earl of,
"History of the Great Rebellion"
Clendon, John
Clergy, the, their ignorance and servility
mistaken in not mixing more with the laity
care to be taken by them because of the distinct habit they wear
better if they appeared dressed like ordinary men
unreasonableness of the charge of their persecuting spirit
their antagonism to Dissent springs from a worthy motive
have they any power independent of the civil
their relation to Divine Right
their love of power not a peculiar characteristic
their claim to judicial power
the allegation that it is their interest to corrupt religion,
combated excellent as a body
what they pretend to
their power in choosing bishops
Burnet's opinion of the
the Tory, Burnet's reference to
presumption on their part to teach matters of speculation
the bill for their residence
English _versus_ Irish
English, their poverty
concerning the hatred against
not popular in Christian countries
their writings against popery
consequences to them of the repeal of the Test Act
their attitude to the Test Act
Clergy, Irish, James I.'s dealings with
condition of
their maintenance precarious
their resort to flattery for preferment
plan for a parliamentary taxation of
their impoverished state
want in them of concerted action
attitude of landlords to
their right to self-taxation,
their interests allied with the interests of the country
Clergyman, Swift's position as a
Young, letter to
Clergymen, handicapped by small means
the fates of
Climate, its influence on Government
Cokayne, Sir Thomas
Collins, Anthony
biographical sketch of
Swift's attitude to
his "Discourse of Freethinking" put into plain English by Swift
Collins, J. Churton, his opinion of Swift's motive in writing the
"Project" his opinion on Steele and "The Guardian"
on Swift's criticism of Burnet
Commissioners, Itinerary, for inspection of official conduct
Common-place books, use of
Commons, Irish House of, its alacrity in supporting the king against
the Pretender
Commonwealth, our duty to
corruptions in
Community, influence of private people on
injured by false accusations
injured by false rumours
Commutation, its purpose
Compton, Dr. Henry, Bishop of London
Concordate of the Gallican church
Connill, J.
Conscience, liberty of
defined,
testimony of, sermon on
its definition
our director and guide
its limitations
no higher than knowledge
liberty of
a due regard to its dictates conducive to general happiness
well founded, if guided by religion
moral honesty in place of
a good guide to motives
fear and hope the offsprings of
directs us to the love of God
the laws appeal to
Constantine the Great
Constitution, English, a growth
Contentment, the poor man's, sermon on
Conversation
Convocation, Lower House of
Convocation, should be abolished among Protestants
"Correspondent, The"
Corruption, in all departments of trading
Cotton, Sir John
Court Party
Coward, William, biographical sketch of
Coyne, Nicholas
Craik, Sir Henry, his opinion on Swift's tract on Collins
Cranmer, Archbishop
Creation, scripture system of
Creech, Thomas
Cromwell, Oliver, his notion of liberty of conscience
Cromwell, Richard
Cromwell, Thomas
Dartmouth, Lord, his opinion of Burnet
Deanery, income necessary for a
Death, its evil an impossibility
Debt, National, proposal for a fund for
Deceit, its practice detrimental to the well-being of a community
De Foe, D.
Demosthenes
Deposition, can a king of England be deposed?
Devil, the, his power
Diogenes, his saying, "that a poor old man was the most miserable
thing in life"
his opinion of Socrates
Discretion
Disobedience, breeds sedition in a state
Dissenters, their natural union with Whigs
their attitude to the Bills of Residence and Division
their enjoyment of toleration
Swift's attitude to
his description of them in "A Tale of a Tub"
tracts written by Swift against them
their expedient addresses of loyalty
representation of the House of Lords against
address of, against their representation
their encouragement to refuse the oath of abjuration
the disadvantages they lie under will be remedied by the repeal of
the Test Act
allied to the Puritans
Divine Right, the clergy's relation to
Dolben, Bishop of Rochester
Dorset, Earl of, Swift's letter to
Doubts, not answerable for
Downing, Sir George
Drogheda, persecution at
siege of
Dudley and Empson
Dunkin, Dr. William, on Serjeant Bettesworth
his copy of Dr. Gibbs's "Paraphrase of the Psalms"
Dunkirk
Duns Scotus
Dunton, John
Dutch, the, their recognition of liberty of conscience in religious
matters
their Commonwealth
though they have liberty of conscience they yet enforce tests for
office
Duties, of each to the other in a state
Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, should be vested in the hands of catholic
archbishops and bishops
Education, value of, to a young clergyman
university
Election,
Elisha and Hazael
Employments, battle for
Empson and Dudley
English language, value of its study
"Englishman, The"
Epicurus
Epiphonema
Episcopacy
Erasmus
Establishment, enquiry into its nature
Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli
Evans, Dr., Bishop of Meath
Executive Power, the care it should take
Faction, detrimental to brotherly love
Fagel, Mons
Fairfax, General
Faith, its great power
Falkiner, Sir F.
Falkland, Viscount, biographical sketch of
his method in writing
False witness, sermon on,
Fanatics, their insolence
Filmer, Sir Robert, biographical sketch of
First fruits and tenths
First fruits
Flattery, self-knowledge secures us against
its snares
Flax, bill for the encouragement of its growth
Forbes, Edward
Forster, Dr., Bishop of Raphoe
Forster, John, his "Life of Swift"
his suggested date for the writing of "The Project" and "The
Sentiments"
Fountaine, Sir A.
Freedom, of a nation, in what it consists
Freethinker, indispensable duty of
Freethinkers, their natural connection with Whigs
the most virtuous people in all ages
ignorance and vice their principal characteristics
Freethinking, its mischief
denies Christianity
and missionaries
enjoined by Christ
means free-speaking and free-writing
some thoughts on
Friendship, depends on brotherly love
Fuller, Dr. Thomas
Gallican Church, concordate of
Gaming, addiction to
how to stop it
Gardiner's "History of England"
Gay, John, "The Espousal"
Genevan system
Gibbs, Dr., Swift's Remarks on his Paraphrase of the Psalms
Gildon, Charles
Giving, more blessed than receiving
Godolphin
Good, doing, sermon on
Gospel, the, too difficult for freethinkers
want of faith in
value of its truth
Government, Hobbes's principles of, combated
if every species of, be equally lawful, they are not equally
expedient English, its advantage over all other forms
its nature least understood by lawyers
in the body of the people
how invested in England
what it cannot do
its relation to a state religion
from God
Grabe, Dr.
Grant, Col. F.
Greed, often results in ill to a state
"Grub Street Journal," on the Swift-Bettesworth Controversy
"Guardian, The"
Hanover Club
Happiness, does not depend on wealth
Harley, Earl of Oxford
Hazael and Elisha
Health, the best of all earthly possessions
Heathcote, Sir Gilbert
Heathens, the groundwork of their virtues
Henry VII., value of land and money in the reign of
Henry VIII.,
his seizures of Church revenues
his attitude to Catholicism
his favouritism
his attitude to the clergy
Heptarchy, the, its power
Heresy, the beginning of dissent among the early Christians
Heylin, Dr. Peter
"Observations on the History of Presbyterians"
Hickeringil, Edmund, biographical sketch of
Hickes, Dr. George,
biographical sketch of
his replies to Tindal
High Church, how considered by the press
Hilary, St.
Hill, Samuel
Hobbes, Thomas,
biographical sketch of
Swift's arguments against his theory of the sovereign power
his opinion that the youth of England corrupted their political
principles by reading the classical writers
his opinion of the bad influence of classical histories
Holiness, of life, most worthy to God
Holland,
the worst governed country on account of its having no state
religion Honour,
largely a false principle
private, different from public
Hospitality, depends on brotherly love
House of Commons, Irish, the clergy's complaint against
Howard, Robert, Bishop of Elphin
Howard, Col. Thomas
Huguenots, the
Humility,
a virtue fitting every station in life
the outcome of self knowledge
Hypocrisy, better than vice
Ignorance, the mother of superstition, but not of devotion
Immorality,
legislation against, ineffective
an incentive to good conduct
_Imperium in imperio_, doctrine of
Independents
differences between, and Presbyterians
their end
Infidelity, its infamy
Infidels,
their advice interested
cannot satisfy the general reason of mankind
the fallacy of their arguments against the Trinity
Informers, their interest
Inns of Court, "the worst instituted seminaries in any Christian
country"
Intemperance, dangerous to upright men
Interest, self, the spring of most actions
Interests, private and national
Ireland,
present condition of the Church in
wretched condition of plantations in
condition of the clergy of
first conquerors of, English Catholics
Rebellion in
its misery and want
the causes of this misery
its intolerable hardships
the folly and vanity of its landowners
pride and vanity of its people
discouragement of its manufactures
idleness and sloth in
cruelty by which it is governed
bondage of its laws
counteracting influence against the government
foundations and charities in
fraud of the servants in
necessity for proper training of the children of the poor in
the beggars in
its poor laws
methods for dealing with beggars
badges for beggars in
sermon on wretched condition of
Ireton, General
James the First's Bounty
James I., his dealings with the Irish clergy
James II.,
his abdication
attempted illegal and unjustifiable exercise of power
his conduct contrasted with that of Charles I.
his relations with the Church
Jerome, St.
Jethro, his advice to Moses
Jews, disbelief in their teachings
Jezebel
John, King
Johnson, Esther, three prayers for
Johnson, Rev. Samuel
Josephus
Kevan Bayl's new ballad
King, Dr. W.,
Archbishop of Dublin
biographical sketch of
the Dublin clergy's representation to
his way of encouraging the clergy to residence
Swift's letter to, on the Repeal for the Test Act
Kit-Cat Club
Kite, Serjeant
Lancaster, Henry Duke of
Land, history of the rise in the value of
Landlords, Irish, their attitude to their clergy
Laud, Archbishop
Lauderdale, Lord
Laws, human and divine
Lawyers,
of all people least understand the nature of government
ignorant of the early history of England
Learning, its prevalence during early Christian times
Leases, bishops'
evils of letting, for lives
"Legion Club, The"
Legislature and administration
Legislature, the supreme power in a state
Leslie, Charles
Libertines, their principles
Liberty,
Roman idea of
enjoyment of, better than contentions
Life, its love, an essential impulse of our nature
a trust from God
its advantages for general use
Limiting Act
Lindsay, Dr.
Linen, encouragement of its manufacture
Loch, Lord
Locke, John,
his idea of government
"Human Understanding"
London,
its influence on the kingdom
the power it may have for good
a law for closing its ale-houses at twelve
Londonderry, siege of
Lords, House of,
character of
their representation against Dissenters
Lorrain, Duke of
Love, brotherly,
among the early Christians
the causes of the want of, among us
Papists and fanatics one cause for the want of
weakness and folly a cause for the want of
its non-insistence a cause of the want of
politics a cause of the want of
the evil consequences of the want of
the want of, puts an end to hospitality and friendship
motives for embracing
injured by faction
helped by religion
of country, defined
Love, the last legacy of Christ
of self, not a fault
Loyalty, a means to obtaining good character
Lucretius
Ludlow, Edmund
Machiavelli
Magdalen College, its justification of William of Orange's declaration
Magistrates,
their abuses
care taken in their appointment
supreme, doctrine of resistance to
Mandeville, Bernard de
Manilius, Marcus
Manners,
degeneracy of, a preceding to the ruin of a state
its corruption ruin to a state
depravation of
Manufacture, influence of, on a community
Margarita. _See_ Margherita, Francesca de l'Epine
Margherita, Francesca de l'Epine
Marprelate tracts
Marsh, Dr. Narcissus
Marten, John
Martyrdom of Charles I.,
its lessons
the duty of all protestants to keep holy the day of the
Mason, Monck,
his "History of St. Patrick's Cathedral"
his list of tracts on the Test Act controversy
on the date of the "Narrative of the attempts against the Test Act"
on "Roman Catholic reasons for the Repeal of the Test"
McBride, John
M'Carthy, Charles
McCrackan
Midleton, Lord
Milton, John, his work on Divorce
Minutius Felix, Marcus
Miracle,
as much a mystery as the Trinity
positively affirmed by the Gospels
Missionaries and freethinking
Moderation,
a clerical cry
in politics, true and false
Modus, a
petition against
Molesworth, Robert, Viscount
Molloy, Neale
Monarchy,
absolute, doctrine of
hereditary, to be preferred to elective
the hereditary right to be sacred, if not dangerous to the
constitution
King _de facto_, and King _de jutre_
succession discussed
Monasteries, their scandals
Money, history of its values
Montaigne, citation from
Moore, Bishop, of Norwich
Moral honesty, in place of conscience
Morality,
classical _versus_ scriptural
without religion is a half virtue
Morals, schemes for the improvement of
More, Dr. Henry
More, Sir Thomas
Mortmain, statute of
Motives, the best ground for judgments
Mystery,
to declare against, is to declare against scripture
conditions when it may be suspicious
faith, necessary for a belief in
nature full of
not contrary to reason
"Narrative of what passed in London"
National debt, proposal for a fund for
Nayler
Neighbour, our duty to
Nelson, Mr.
Nichols's "Speculum Sarisburianum"
Non-residence
Non-resistance
Oath of abjuration
Oath of supremacy.
Obedience,
St. Peter's directions for
St. Paul's directions for
avoid running into extremes on the question of
"Observator, The"
Occasional conformity
Office, qualifications for, as they are generally accepted
"Old and New Lights"
Oldisworth, Mr.
O'Neill, Owen Roe
O'Neill, Philip Roe McHugh
O'Neill, Sir Phelim
Opinion,
difference in, not a matter for quarrel
compared with fashions
its power
difficulty of changing in
Orange, William of
Oratory
Origen
Ormonde, Marquis of
Oxford, Earl of
Oxford University, its revenues
Papists
in Ireland, their reduced condition
loyalty to King George
no cause for fear from the
Parishes, their union under one incumbent
Parliaments, annual
Parties, our attitude to
Party Government,
tends to enslave senates
tends to misunderstanding of personal character
establishes an incorrect standard for character
Passive obedience
Peace, the last legacy of Christ
Pedantry, the fear of
Pembroke, Lord
Penn, William
Penny, Rev. John
Peter the Cruel
Philip II. of Spain
Philips, Ambrose
Philosophy, classical
unrevealed, imperfect
fails to explain the Deity
its failure to inculcate the doctrine of Providence
defective in its moral teachings
contrasted by personal examples with Christian
disputes amongst the teachers of
Christian, its perfection
teaches reliance on God
teaches courtesy and kindness
is "without partiality"
is without hypocrisy
contrasted by personal examples with unrevealed
Pilkington, M., reference to sermon on "Doing Good"
Plato, his maxim on worship
his divine precept
his doctrine of happiness
Platonic philosophy, its relation to the early church
Plays, their bad influence on morals
Pluralities
Plutarch
Politics, dangerous to upright men
Poor, the, are not the object of envy
less subject to temptations than the rich
the blessings they enjoy
their power for doing good to others
have a greater share of happiness than the rich
Poor Laws, Irish
Pope, the supremacy of
his power in France
Popery, Burnet's arguments against,
its dangers
national leaning to
the most absurd system of Christianity
its merits
Protestants must not be charged with its errors and corruptions
its increase
penal laws against should be abrogated
its priests should be settled by law in Ireland
its priests should be entitled to tithe
the results of this
proposal for effectually preventing its growth
Popes, their seizure of power
Potter, Dr. John, biographical sketch of
Power, absolute, belief in, dangerous to any state
legislate
not pleaded for by Swift
Prasini
Pratt, Dr., Dean of Down
Prayer, an evening
Preaching, value of practice in
simplicity in, a prime requisite
the popular manner the best
styles to be avoided in
the moving manner
jesting in
plain reasoning in
pathetic _versus_ rational
two principal branches of
quotations in
uselessness of taking the mysteries of Christian religion for
subjects for
not to perplex with doubts in
one of the disadvantages it labours under
its great neglect
its neglect attended by the misbehaviour of worshippers
objections against, and the unreasonableness of these
causes for the neglect and scorn of
neglect of, due to ignorance of religious principles
neglect of, due to an evil conscience
neglect of, due to the heart being set upon worldly things,
neglect of, due to the habit of decrying religion,
neglect of, remedies against,
good preaching, not so essential as right dispositions,
Predestination,
Preferment, qualifications necessary for,
given for zeal and not capacity,
Presbyterianism, possibility of its becoming the National Church,
consequences from its establishment as the national religion,
Presbyterians,
in Ireland, persecuted for their religion,
their complaint against persecution,
their "Plea of Merit,"
"Plea of Merit," discussion as to date of its first edition,
differences between, and Independents,
against the execution of King Charles I,
and King James II.,
and the Pretender,
their loyalty and religious principles,
their plea of merit absurd,
their great position in Ireland,
their loyalty to King George,
will join the army but not the militia,
their case to defend the country against the Pretender,
must not be reformed,
their church government independent of the state,
their opinion of Episcopacy,
Presbytery,
Press, legislation for its limitation,
its restraint a badge of popery,
Pretender, the, his cause,
not supported by the Irish dissenters,
Priests, cannot be relied on for anything relating to religion,
hired to lead men into mischief,
Princes, influence of their bad example,
their duties for good,
their influence on a nation,
should be careful in choosing advisers,
Prophets, the, were freethinkers,
Proselytism, consequences of,
dangerous in a state,
Prostitution, condemned by the priests,
Protestantism and Catholicism, differences between,
Publicans, suggestion for their prosecution if they serve drink to
drunken persons,
Public spirit, a blessing,
Punishment, eternal, doctrine of,
Puppet-shows,
Puritanism,
Puritans, the,
destroyers of the Reformation,
their attitude to the state in the time of Charles I,
their murderous parliament,
they corrupted the old virtues of the English nation,
how they injured the country,
Quakers, the,
Quarrels, religious,
Queen, the, her power for good,
her power over the stage,
Quotations, value of their sparing use,
Reason, particular, fallible,
Rebellion of 1648,
objections against,
of 1642,
the of 1688
contrary to the teaching of Christ
"Reconciler, The"
Reeves, Rev. Mr., Swift's letters to Dr. King
Reformation, its establishment
censure of the clergy on its methods
"Rehearsal, The"
Religion, schemes for the improvement of
its negligence by the people
suggestion for it being necessary to any preferment
should be made fashionable
necessity for union in
impossible to remove opinions in its fundamentals
thoughts on
further thoughts on
national, legal to change
necessary for the well-governing of mankind
its denial often the spring of sin
to raise difficulties against, not conducive to virtuous living
conducive to brotherly love
Republics
Resolutions, easily broken
Restitution, impossible to make, when the injury is to a state
Resurrection, doctrine of
Revolution, considerations for,
Reward, an incentive to good conduct
Rich, the, more subject to diseases
often have little appetites
subjected to worry
their wants are more numerous than those of the poor
are more prone to melancholy
often grow so, by unjust means
their only advantage that of the power they possess to be good to
others
Richards, Col.
Richard III.
Riches, may be blessings
attainment of, does not necessitate the possession of noble
qualities not conducive either to ease of body or quiet of mind
Riddell
"Rights of the Christian Church," Tindal's book examined
its notoriety due to its critics
Rome, decline in the spirit of liberty there
Rooke, Mr. George, linen-draper and Quaker
Rumours, false, the spreading of, a means for injuring a community
Rump parliament
Sacheverell, Dr. Henry
Sacrament, the
Its mercenary use
Presbyterian objection to prostituting the service of
our falsification of the
Sacrilege
Sancroft, Archbishop
Satan, his depths
St. Patrick's, liberty of, petition of to Swift
St. Paul, on obedience
on mutual service
his opinion of philosophy
St. Peter, on obedience
Schism, its danger and spiritual evil
Schoolmen, the
Scotch, the
characteristics of
Scott, Sir W., his opinion on Swift's tract on Collins
his criticism on Swift for writing his tracts against the bishops
his criticism on Swift's tracts against the bishops
his suggestion on Swift's Test tracts
Scriptures, various,
Christian
various readings in
Christian, different opinions about, among Christians themselves
the, abounding in expressions setting forth the depravity of man
Sects, the reason for their toleration in a state
their position in a state
the power they should have
various
Sedition, caution for its prevention
Self-knowledge, the want of, common
man himself most ignorant in
reasons for the ignorance of
self-communion conducive to
business interferes with the time for
fear of discovering vices interferes with
inclination often a hindrance to
advantages of
humility the outcome of
a security from flattery
its value in time of adversity
its charity
Self-love not a fault
Senates, their disregard of outside proposals
Seneca
Sermons, the reading of
Sermons, Swift's, on Mutual Subjection
on the Testimony of Conscience
on the Trinity
on Brotherly Love
on the Difficulty of Knowing One's Self
on False Witness
on the Wisdom of this World
on Doing Good
on the Martyrdom of King Charles I
on the Poor Man's Contentment
on the Wretched Condition of Ireland
on Sleeping in Church
Servants, Irish, fraud of
Service, mutual
Sharp, Dr. John, Archbishop of York
Shaster, the
Sheridan, Dr. T.
Shrewsbury, Duke of
Sin, original, doctrine of
Slang
Sleep, often a poor man's privilege
Sleeping in church, sermon on
Smallridge, Dr.
Smoking, habit bad among the youth
Society for propagating Free-thinking
Socinus, Leelius
his teachings on worship
the greatest of the heathen philosophers
Diogenes' opinion of
Solemn league and covenant
Solomon,
on wisdom
Solon, his confession of weakness, against death
Somers, Lord
South, Dr. Robert
Spinke, J.
Spinoza, Baruch
Stage, the, the necessity for its reformation
Stanhope, Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield
State, the, ruined by corruption of manners
States-General, the
Stearne, Dr. John, Bishop of Clogher
Steele, Sir R. his opinions of the "Project," in the "Tatler"
his opinion of Swift in the "Apology"
the "Guardian"
"Englishman"
Stephen, Leslie, "History of English Thought in Eighteenth Century"
Stillingfleet, Edward, Bishop of Worcester
Stratford, Earl of
Style, faults to be avoided in
Suarez, Francis
Subjection, mutual, sermon on
its practice extinguishes pride
its practice contributes to the general happiness
brings about contentment
Succession, can the people of England alter the
instances in Greek and Roman history where it was altered
Sunday, the difference between, and weekdays
Swan, Captain
Sweet singers
Swift, his attitude towards the Church of England,
his position as a religious thinker
his High Church leanings made evident
his relation to the Whigs considered
as a party man
his letter to Pope
his championship of the Church of England
his sentiments with regard to it
no bigot either in religion or politics
his friendship with men of both parties
"the Importance of the 'Guardian' considered"
his letter to Stella on Collins's tract
his belief in the dignity of the Church.
his disinterested use of the Deanery lands
his disinterestedness in his remarks on the bishops
his opinion on his office of a clergyman
loss of favour with the Whigs for writing his "Letter on the
Sacramental Test"
his rencontre with Serjeant Bettesworth
his sermons
criticisms on
reference to his sermon on "Doing Good"
controversy with Serjeant Bettesworth
his letter to the Earl of Dorset
his reply to the address of the inhabitants of the Liberty of St.
Patrick's
his poem on "Brother Protestants and Fellow Christians"
his epigram to Serjeant Kite
Swift, Thomas
Synesius of Gyrene
Tackers
Talapoins
"Tale of a Tub"
Taxation, unequal
Taylor, Dr., Jeremy
Technical language, bad for style
Temple, Sir W.
Tenison, Dr. Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury
Test Act
letter on
reasons for repealing it combated
alteration in religion, if it be repealed
the consequences of its repeal on the offices of the Crown
likelihood of the success of the agitation for repeal of
attitude of the clergy to
arguments for its repeal combated
Churchman's argument against, combated
Swift's tracts against
Swift's successful agitation for
to be repealed in Ireland first
Presbyterians' attitude towards the
vindication of
attempts made by Dissenters for the repeal of
Dissenters. efforts for its repeal
address of Dissenters against
criticism on the pamphlet on "The Nature and Consequences of the
Sacramental Test"
queries relating to
criticism on the advantages proposed by its repeal
to write impartially on, one must be indifferent to particular
systems
of Christianity
consequences of its repeal to the clergy
its repeal will remedy the disadvantages the Dissenters lie under
reasons offered for its repeal in favour of Catholics
King Charles Second's
arguments for its repeal affecting Dissenters and Roman Catholics
equally ostensible commendation of a criticism on "The Presbyterians
Plea of Merit"
some few thoughts on
ten reasons for repealing it
Thales, his dictum for bearing ill-fortune
Thermometer, the church
Throckmorton, Job
Tiberius, his saying about the offences against the gods
Tidcomb, Colonel
Tillotson, Archbishop
Tindal, Dr. Matthew, biographical sketch of
considerations as to his fitness for writing on Christianity
Swift's criticism on the style of his book
his disregard for truth and justice
his motives for writing his book
his vanity
published his book in hopes of being bribed to silence
nature and tendency of his work
his ridicule of Christianity
his work "a twig for sinking libertines to catch at"
Tisdal, Dr., his tract on "The Sacramental Test"
Tithes
their application to the maintenance of monasteries, a scandal
Tofts, Mrs. Catherine
Toland, John
Tom's coffee-house
Toricellius Evangelista
Tories, their aims
their aversion for sects which once destroyed the constitution
their veneration for monarchical government
and Whigs, their common agreements
their differences
contrasted
Tradesmen, power they have for public weal or woe
Trimmers, the
Trinity, doctrine of
sermon on
defence of, by the learned, a mistake
our ignorance or incapacity no test of its fallacy
its affirmation, opinion, and distinction, a mystery
to declare against mystery is to declare against Scripture
faith necessary for a belief in
probably we could not understand it, if it were explained
fallacy of the infidel's arguments against
Tutchin, John
Universities, the want of discipline there
Valentini
Varro, Marcus Terentius
Veniti
Vicar, condition of a
Vicar general
Victorious, Fabius Marius
Wallis, Dr. John
Walls, Archdeacon
Warreng, Mr., letter from
Washington's "Observations on the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the
Kings of England
Waterford, Swift and the vacancy of its see
Wharton, Henry, biographical sketch of,
Emmet's character of
Whig and Tory contrasted
attitude to each other
their common agreements
their differences
Whigs, their want of zeal against Popery
definition of
their encouragement of intemperate language
their Jacobitism
their scandalous reflections on the universities
Whiston, Dr. W.
biographical sketch of
his prophecy
Whitefriars
White's coffee-house
Williams, Dr. Daniel
Wisdom, sorrow in much
heathen, high opinion of
bad opinion of
Witness, faithful, duty to bear
false, how a man may be justly so-called
how to defend against
Women of the day, their low standard of morality
Wood's project, sermon on
Woollen manufacture
Woolston, Thomas
World, the wisdom of the, sermon on
Worrall, Rev. John
Worship, Plato's maxim on
Socrates on
the established, any separation from, dangerous to the public peace
Wotton, Dr. W.
"Yahoo's Overthrow, The"
York, Duke of, Popish plot against
Zeal, in politics, dangerous in a state
violent, a synonym for pride
Zendavesta, the
Zeno, makes vice indifferent
Back to Full Books
|