30 JOSEPH PRIESTLEY i 



lary of the Church of Eiighiiul, might not thirty-eight out 

 of the thirty-nine be very well s{)ared 1 It is a reproach to 

 any Christian establishment if every man cannot claim the 

 benefit of it who can say that he believes in the religion of 

 Jesus Christ as it is set forth in the New Testament. You 

 say the terms are so general that even Deists would quibble 

 and insinuate themselves. 1 answer that all the articles 

 which are subscribed at present by no means exclude Deists 

 who will prevaricate ; and upon this scheme you would at 

 least exclude fewer honest men." * 



Tlie second reform suggested is the equalisa- 

 tion, in proportion to work done, of the stipends 

 of the clergy; the third, the exclusion of the 

 Bishops from Parliament; and the fourth, com- 

 ])lete toleration, so that every man may enjoy the 

 rights of a citizen, and be qualified to serve his 

 country, whether he belong to the Established 

 Church or not. 



0})inions such as those I have quoted, respect- 

 ing the duties and the responsibilities of governors, 

 are the commonplaces of modern Liberalism; 

 and Priestley's views on Ecclesiastical Establish- 

 ments would, I fear, meet with but a cool re- 

 ception, as altogether too conservative, from a 

 large proportion of the lineal descendants of the 

 people who taught their children to cry " Damn 

 Priestley; " and with that love for the practical 

 application of science which is the source of the 

 greatness of Birmingham, tried to set fire to the 

 doctor's house with sparks from his own electrical 



* "Utility of Establishments." in Essay on First Prin- 

 ciples of Governmtnt, p. 198, 1771. 



