But as these
appearances are sure, all of them, to prove deceitful, philosophy
will soon find herself very unequally yoked with her new associate;
and instead of regulating each principle, as they advance together,
she is at every turn perverted to serve the purposes of
superstition. For besides the unavoidable incoherences, which must
be reconciled and adjusted; one may safely affirm, that all popular
theology, especially the scholastic, has a kind of appetite for
absurdity and contradiction. If that theology went not beyond reason
and common sense, her doctrines would appear too easy and familiar.
Amazement must of necessity be raised: Mystery affected: Darkness
and obscurity sought after: And a foundation of merit afforded to
the devout votaries, who desire an opportunity of subduing their
rebellious reason, by the belief of the most unintelligible
sophisms.
Ecclesiastical history sufficiently confirms these reflections.
When a controversy is started, some people always pretend with
certainty to foretell the issue. Whichever opinion, say they, is
most contrary to plain sense is sure to prevail; even where the
general interest of the system requires not that decision.
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