JB/006/120/001

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27 Decr 1812
Church

III
Ch. 15 Ceremonies

1

1
Against all ceremonies
in religion there are
three objections.
1. They weaken the
force of the three sanctions.
in its application
in behalf of morality.
2. They weaken the intellect.
3. They enslave the
active faculty. p.1.

2
Good works (on the score
of moral duty)
Faith in things to be
believed — And purely
religious observances
or ceremonies, —
p.2

3
Suppose on all these
grounds of salvation
a man had performed
his duty, he could not
be termed a sinner
much less a miserable
one — as under infinite
justice, he would
be entitled to salvation
of course. p.3.

4
As to make any such
title, is impossible,
out of what compartment
shall articles
be left out? — The
moral department
answer, Passion & Interest
— Yes, adds
Superstition, infringe
on any thing but belief
and ceremonies. p.2.

5
Every supposed duty
not a moral one, elbows
out some moral —
lets in some immoral
duty — besides unhappiness
or deprivation
of happiness to the
individual. p.3

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6
That we are all — the
best of us — miserable
sinners — is among
the articles of information
regularly supplied
to omniscience under the
liturgy. Yet there is
hope that by a being
of infinite benevolence
the best at least may
be saved. If this be so
there exist (what to
avoid controversy
may be called) grounds
of salvation. p.3

7
Thus it is that only at
the expense of genuine
morality, spurious do
established itself.
p.4

8
By every item added
to the creed and to
the ceremonies, some
good work is kept
out, some agreeable
evil one let in. p 4

9
There is a Prussian
exercise by which men
may be disciplined to
believe any thing —
impossibilities rather
than plausible errors.
Credo quia impossibile
est, is not unnatural
or uncommon.
p.4

10
There is a pantomine
by which men are
led to admire & be
awed by the most
idle gesticulations
under the name of
ceremonies. p.4

11
Unfortunately to
bear part in such
ceremonies, is less
irksome than the
keeping a tight rein
on the dissocial or
selfish passions. p.4

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12
Such commutation
tax is never established
but at the expense
of morality. What a
man pays in ceremonies,
he is exempt
from paying in good
works. p.5

13
Ex. gr.
Henry 3rd. of France
entered in the Devils
books by his sensual
irregularities — his
name struck out by
walking in flagellant
procession & burning
heretics. p.6.

14
Henry 8th saved himself
from the sin
of adultery, by commuting
it under form
of marriage. To keep
himself pure from
fornication, he beheaded
his wives. p.6.

15
To strain gnats, & swallow
camels, the work
of such feeble-minds.
p.6.

16.
The above calculation
has every where been
made under technical
religion, & practice
influenced accordingly.
p.7.

17.
Every where and alway
inversely as the value
set by a religion on
ceremonies, has been do
set on morality.
Established churches
form in this respect
a climax. p.7

18
Grecism, Romanism
Anglicism, Scoticism
this scale will serve
alike for degree of
regard to ceremonies
& morality, but when
applied to morality
it must be reversed.
p.7.

Identifier: | JB/006/120/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 6.
Date_1	1812-12-27	Marginal Summary Numbering	1-18
Box	006	Main Headings	church of englandism
Folio number	120	Info in main headings field	church
Image	001	Titles
Category	marginal summary sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	e1
Penner	walter coulson	Watermarks	<…> co
Marginals		Paper Producer	a. levy
Corrections	jeremy bentham	Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	2853
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