The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Volume IV | Page 6

Religion had been the three subjects of the quarrel, and
have not all those been amply secured to them? Had they not at that
time a mental reservation for power and employments? And must these
two articles be added henceforward in our national quarrels? It is grown
a mighty conceit among some men to melt down the phrase of a
Church Established by law into that of the _Religion of the Magistrate_;
of which appellation it is easier to find the reason than the sense: If by
the magistrate they mean the prince, the expression includes a
falsehood; for when King James was prince[10], the Established
Church was the same it is now. If by the same word they mean the
Legislature, we desire no more. Be that as it will, we of this kingdom
believe the Church of Ireland to be the National Church, and the only
one established by law, and are willing by the same law to give a
toleration to dissenters: But if once we repeal our Sacramental Test,
and grant a toleration, or suspend the execution of the penal laws, I do
not see how we can be said to have any Established Church remaining;
or rather why there will not be as many established churches, as there
are sects of dissenters. No, say they, yours will still be the National
Church, because your bishops and clergy are maintained by the public;
but, that, I suppose, will be of no long duration, and it would be very
unjust it should, because, to speak in Tindal's phrase,[11] it is not
reasonable that revenues should be annexed to one opinion more than
another, when all are equally lawful, and 'tis the same author's maxim,
that no freeborn subject ought to pay for maintaining speculations he
does not believe. _But why should any man, upon account of opinions
he cannot help, be deprived of the opportunity of serving his Queen and
country?_ Their zeal is commendable, and when employments go a
begging for want of hands, they shall be sure to have the refusal, only
upon condition they will not pretend to them upon maxims which
equally include atheists, Turks, Jews, infidels, and heretics, or which is
still more dangerous, even Papists themselves; the former you allow,
the other you deny, because these last own a foreign power, and
therefore must be shut out. But there is no great weight in this; for their
religion can suit with free states, with limited or absolute monarchies,
as well as a better, and the Pope's power in France is but a shadow; so
that upon this foot there need be no great danger to the constitution by

admitting Papists to employments. I will help you to enough of them
who shall be ready to allow the Pope as little power here as you please;
and the bare opinion of his being vicar of Christ is but a speculative
point, for which no man it seems ought to be deprived of the capacity
of serving his country.
[Footnote 10: The words from "the expression" to "was prince" are
omitted by Faulkner in his edition. [T.S.]]
[Footnote 11: See vol. iii, p. 9, note. [T.S.]]
But, if you please, I will tell you the great objection we have against
repealing this same Sacramental Test. It is, that we are verily persuaded
the consequence will be an entire alteration of religion among us in a
no great compass of years. And, pray observe, how we reason here in
Ireland upon this matter.
We observe the Scots in our northern parts, to be a brave, industrious
people, extremely devoted to their religion, and full of an undisturbed
affection towards each other. Numbers of that noble nation, invited by
the fertilities of the soil, are glad to exchange their barren hills of
Loquabar, by a voyage of three hours, for our fruitful vales of Down
and Antrim, so productive of that grain, which, at little trouble and less
expense finds diet and lodging for themselves and their cattle.[12]
These people by their extreme parsimony, wonderful dexterity in
dealing, and firm adherence to one another, soon grow into wealth from
the smallest beginnings, never are rooted out where they once fix, and
increase daily by new supplies; besides when they are the superior
number in any tract of ground, they are not over patient of mixture; but
such, whom they cannot assimilate, soon find it their interest to remove.
I have done all in my power on some land of my own to preserve two
or three English fellows in their neighbourhood, but found it impossible,
though one of them thought he had sufficiently made his court by
turning Presbyterian. Add to all this, that they bring along with them
from Scotland a most formidable notion of