The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Vol. III. | Page 2

to him were founded on the fundamental
traits of humanity. The Church of England he considered to be such an
institution; and it was, moreover, regulated and settled by order of the
State. To follow its teachings would lead men to become good citizens,

honest dealers, truthful and cleanly companions, upright friends. What
more could be demanded of any religion?
The Romish Church led away from the Constitution as by law
established. Dissent set up private authority, which could no more be
permitted in religious than it was in political matters; it meant
dissension, revolution, and the upheaval of tried and trusted
associations. Therefore, the Church of Rome and the teachings of
Dissent were alike dangerous; and against both, whenever they
attempted the possession of political power, he waged a fierce and
uncompromising war. "Where sects are tolerated in a State," he says, in
his "Sentiments of a Church of England Man," "it is fit they should
enjoy a full liberty of conscience, and every other privilege of free-born
subjects, to which no power is annexed. And to preserve their
obedience upon all emergencies, a government cannot give them too
much ease, nor trust them with too little power."
Swift had no passionate love for ideals--indeed, he may have thought
ideals to be figments of an overheated and, therefore, aberrated
imagination. The practically real was the best ideal; and by the real he
would understand that power which most capably and most
regulatively nursed, guided, and assisted the best instincts of the
average man. The average man was but a sorry creature, and required
adventitious aids for his development. Gifted as he was with a large
sympathy, Swift yet was seemingly incapable of appreciating those
thought-forms which help us to visualize mentally our religious
aspirations and emotions. A mere emotion was but subject-matter for
his satire. He suspected any zeal which protested too much for truth,
and considered it "odds on" it being "either petulancy, ambition, or
pride."
Whatever may have been his private speculations as to the truth of the
doctrines of Christianity they never interfered with his sense of his
responsibilities as a clergyman. "I look upon myself," he says, "in the
capacity of a clergyman, to be one appointed by Providence for
defending a post assigned me, and for gaining over as many enemies as
I can. Although I think my cause is just, yet one great motive is my
submitting to the pleasure of Providence, and to the laws of my
country." If anyone had asked him, what was the pleasure of
Providence, he would probably have answered, that it was plainly

shown in the Scriptures, and required not the aid of the expositions of
divines who were "too curious, or too narrow, in reducing orthodoxy
within the compass of subtleties, niceties, and distinctions." Truth was
no abstraction--that was truth which found its expression in the best
action; and this explains Swift's acceptance of any organization which
made for such expression. He found one ready in the Church of
England; and whatever his doubts were, those only moved him which
were aroused by action from those who attempted to interfere with the
working of that organization. And this also helps to explain his political
attitude at the time when it was thought he had deserted his friends. The
Church was always his first consideration. He was not a Churchman
because he was a politician, but a politician because he was a
Churchman. These, however, are matters which are more fully entered
into by Swift himself in the tracts herewith reprinted, and in the notes
prefixed to them by the editor.
It was originally intended that Swift's writings on Religion and the
Church should occupy a single volume of this edition of his works.
They are, however, so numerous that it has been found more
convenient to divide them into two volumes--the first including all the
tracts, except those relating to the Sacramental Test; the second
containing the Test pamphlets and the twelve sermons, with the
Remarks on Dr. Gibbs's paraphrase of the Psalms, in an appendix. It is
hoped that this division, while it entails upon the student the necessity
for a double reference, will yet preserve the continuity of form enabling
him to view Swift's religious standpoint and work with as much
advantage as he would have obtained by the original plan.
The editor again takes the opportunity to thank Colonel F. Grant for the
service he has rendered him in placing at his disposal his fine collection
of Swift's tracts. The portrait which forms the frontispiece to this
volume is one of those painted by Francis Bindon, and was formerly in
the possession of Judge Berwick. For permission to photograph and
reproduce it here, thanks are due to Sir Frederick R. Falkiner, Recorder
of Dublin.
TEMPLE