JB/081/184/002

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from whom it emanated. Behold here
a mode of proceeding, dictated by a real
desire to elicit true and appropriately compleat
information: the desire accompanied
with a thorough knowledge of the most
effectual means for the accomplishment
of it.

Well then. For securing to each
article of information thus elicited the same
character of truth at the hands of each witness,
putting out of the question the spiritual motive,
what are the temporal motives which in
the shape of eventual punishment in case of
mendacity, your Honorable House makes
application of? Answer: in a direct shape,
imprisonment only; with or without fine:
in an unimmediate or indirect shape, fine,
for the extraction of which the imprisonment
is the only instrument.

Now then, as to the ceremony
called swearing, or taking an Oath. Whether
it be for want of power, whether it be for want
of will, — (the single case of Election Judicature
excepted — and that no otherwise than
in pursuance of a special Act of Parliament,)
no use does your Honorable House ever make
of this same ceremony. What follows? Does
mendacity find the Honorable House impotent?
On the contrary: much more effectual in it's
power against this vice than that of ordinary

4.

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nonacceptance, useful indications may
be afforded. On an occasion of this sort,
who are they whom you choose to be considered
as siding with? — this is the question,
propounded by the call to join in the declaration: and in this case, no mendacity need
have place.

So much for needlessness,
inefficiency and mischievousness. Now
as to repugnance to natural Religion.

This supposed punishment
for the profanation, on whom is the infliction
of it supposed to depend? On the Almighty?
No: but, in the first instance at any rate,
on man alone. No oath tendered, no offence
is committed: no offence committed, on no
man punishment inflicted. According
to the oath employing theory, man is the master;
the Almighty the servant. In respect of
the treatment to be given to the supposed liar,
the Almighty is not left to his own choice.
In the event in question, at the requisition
of the man, the choice divine functionary
is made to inflict an extra punishment.

Exactly of a piece with the authority
exercised by a Chief Justice of the Kings Bench
over the Sheriff of a County, is the authority thus
by every man who has purchased it, pretended
to be exercised over the Almighty. In Westminster
Hall the Chief Justice is the Magisterial
Officer, the Sheriff the County in question

13.

Identifier: | JB/081/184/002"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 81.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	081	Main Headings	petition for justice
Folio number	184	Info in main headings field
Image	002	Titles
Category	copy/fair copy sheet	Number of Pages	4
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	c3 / c4 / c13 / c14
Penner		Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	25971
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