The Free-Thinker (Volume 1)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1722. Excerpt: .... Obstinacy's ne'er so stiff, As when 'tis in a wrong Belief. Hudib. H E Foregoing Paper may be considered as the Mirrour of Fanaticism: And I have endeavoured to make this Looking-Glass so Large for the Use of the Publick, that every One may view himself in it, in his full Proportions; and so True, that the Reflection it casts, may neither flatter, nor aggravate, the Deformities of those, who shall be Philosophers enough to consult it. There are some Persons in every Communion of Christians, who, if they approach it nearly in the full Light of Reason, may perhaps discover some little Blemishes of Fanaticism in the Complexion of their Religion; which may be easily worn out by the Gentle Application of a few cool Thoughts. But the Persons I more earnestly exhort, for their own Good and the Quiet of their Neighbours, to look into it with Attention, are a considerable Number of the King's Subjects, who have set Themselves up against the Established Church, and the Legal Constitution of the Nation. And, notwithstanding we know them to be surrounded by a Thick Mist of Prejudices, yet I am in hopes the Mirrour will bear so strongly upon them, that they will fee themselves, as they are; in a quite different Shape and Figure to what they imagine. They will be apt from hence, at first, to take it for a Magical Glass; while it only represents the Truth of Things, to the Astonishment of such as are not accustomed to Truth. Nevertheless, lest they Ihould wilfully shut their Eyes, and unanimoufly resolve not to know themselves, I shall paint them out to others for Co?npleat Fanaticb; in which Light (though it be their proper Representation) they have not yet been shewn. Before I apply what has been laid down in Friday's Paper to this Sect of Visionaries, I beg leave t...