第 22 节
作者:交通工具类:沧海一叶舟      更新:2021-12-07 09:33      字数:9319
  everyone   should   be   bound   to   serve;   and   yet   not   be   in   subjection   to   his
  equals; or else; if power be in the hands of a few; or one man; that one man
  should      be   something      above    average   humanity;   or       should   strive   to    get
  himself accepted as such。 (46) Secondly; laws should in every government
  be so arranged that people should be kept in bounds by the hope of some
  greatly   desired   good;   rather   than   by   fear;   for   then   everyone   will   do   his
  duty willingly。
  (47) Lastly; as obedience consists in acting at the bidding of external
  authority; it would have no place in a state where the government is vested
  in the whole people; and where laws are made by common consent。 (48)
  In   such   a   society   the   people   would   remain   free;   whether   the   laws   were
  added   to   or   diminished;   inasmuch   as   it   would   not   be   done   on   external
  authority; but their own free consent。 (49) The reverse happens when the
  sovereign   power   is   vested   in   one   man;   for   all   act   at   his   bidding;   and;
  therefore;   unless   they   had   been   trained   from   the   first   to   depend   on   the
  words of their ruler; the latter would find it difficult; in case of need; to
  abrogate liberties once conceded; and impose new laws。
  (50)     From     these    universal     considerations;      let   us   pass    on   to  the
  kingdom  of   the   Jews。   (51) The   Jews   when   they  first   came   out of   Egypt
  were not bound by any national laws; and were therefore free to ratify any
  laws   they   liked;   or   to   make   new   ones;   and   were   at   liberty   to   set   up   a
  government   and   occupy   a   territory   wherever   they   chose。   (52)   However;
  they;   were   entirely   unfit   to   frame   a   wise   code   of   laws   and   to   keep   the
  sovereign power vested in the community; they were all uncultivated and
  sunk in a wretched slavery; therefore the sovereignty was bound to remain
  vested   in   the   hands   of   one   man   who   would   rule the   rest   and keep   them
  under constraint; make laws and interpret them。 (53) This sovereignty was
  easily   retained   by   Moses;   because   he   surpassed   the   rest   in   virtue   and
  persuaded the people of the fact; proving it by many testimonies (see Exod。
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  chap。 xiv。; last verse; and chap。 xix:9)。 (54) He then; by the Divine virtue
  he   possessed;   made   laws   and   ordained   them   for   the   people;   taking   the
  greatest   care   that   they  should   be   obeyed   willingly  and   not   through   fear;
  being specially induced to adopt this course by the obstinate nature of the
  Jews; who would not have submitted to be ruled solely by constraint; and
  also   by   the   imminence   of   war;   for   it   is   always   better   to   inspire   soldiers
  with a thirst for glory than to terrify them with threats; each man will then
  strive   to   distinguish   himself   by   valour   and   courage;   instead   of   merely
  trying to escape punishment。 (55) Moses; therefore; by his virtue and the
  Divine command; introduced a religion; so that the people might do their
  duty from devotion rather than fear。 (56) Further; he bound them over by
  benefits; and prophesied many advantages in the future; nor were his laws
  very severe; as anyone may see for himself; especially if he remarks the
  number of circumstances necessary in order to procure the conviction of
  an accused person。
  (57)   Lastly;   in   order   that   the   people   which   could   not   govern   itself
  should be entirely dependent on its ruler; he left nothing to the free choice
  of individuals (who had hitherto been slaves); the people could do nothing
  but remember   the law;  and   follow  the   ordinances laid down   at the   good
  pleasure of their ruler; they were not allowed to plough; to sow; to reap;
  nor even to eat; to clothe themselves; to shave; to rejoice; or in fact to do
  anything whatever as they liked; but were bound to follow the directions
  given in the law; and not only this; but they were obliged to have marks on
  their door…posts; on their hands; and between their eyes to admonish them
  to perpetual obedience。         (58) This; then; was the object of the ceremonial
  law; that men should do nothing of their own free will; but should always
  act    under   external    authority;    and   should    continually     confess    by   their
  actions     and   thoughts    that  they   were    not   their  own    masters;    but   were
  entirely under the control of others。
  (59)    From     all   these   considerations       it  is  clearer    than   day    that
  ceremonies have nothing to do with a state of blessedness; and that those
  mentioned in the Old Testament; i。e。 the whole Mosaic Law; had reference
  merely to the government of the Jews; and merely temporal advantages。
  (60)   As   for   the   Christian   rites;   such   as   baptism;   the   Lord's   Supper;
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  festivals; public prayers; and any other observances which are; and always
  have been; common to all Christendom; if they were instituted by Christ or
  His Apostles   (which   is   open   to   doubt);   they   were   instituted   as   external
  signs   of   the   universal    church;   and   not   as   having   anything   to   do     with
  blessedness;      or   possessing     any   sanctity   in   themselves。     (61)   Therefore;
  though   such   ceremonies   were   not   ordained   for   the   sake   of   upholding   a
  government;   they   were   ordained   for   the   preservation   of   a   society;   and
  accordingly he who lives alone is not bound by them: nay; those who live
  in a country where the Christian religion is forbidden; are bound to abstain
  from such rites; and can none the less live in a state of blessedness。 (62)
  We   have   an   example   of   this   in   Japan;   where   the   Christian   religion   is
  forbidden; and the Dutch who live there are enjoined by their East India
  Company not to practise any outward rites of religion。 (63) I need not cite
  other   examples;   though   it   would   be   easy   to   prove   my   point   from   the
  fundamental        principles     of  the   New     Testament;      and   to   adduce     many
  confirmatory instances; but I pass on the more willingly; as I am anxious
  to proceed to my next proposition。 (64) I will now; therefore; pass on to
  what I proposed to treat of in the second part of this chapter; namely; what
  persons are bound to believe in the narratives contained in Scripture; and
  how   far   they   are   so   bound。   (65)   Examining   this   question   by   the   aid   of
  natural reason; I will proceed as follows。
  (66) If anyone wishes to persuade his fellows for or against anything
  which      is  not   self…evident;    he   must    deduce     his   contention     from    their
  admissions;   and   convince   them  either by  experience   or   by  ratiocination;
  either    by   appealing     to   facts  of   natural    experience;     or  to   self…evident
  intellectual axioms。 (67) Now unless the experience be of such a kind as to
  be clearly and distinctly understood; though it may convince a man; it will
  not have the same effect on his mind and disperse the clouds of his doubt
  so    completely      as  when     the   doctrine    taught    is  deduced     entirely    from
  intellectual axioms … that is; by the mere power of the understanding and
  logical order; and this is especially the case in spiritual matters which have
  nothing to do with the senses。
  (68)   But   the   deduction   of   conclusions   from   general   truths   。   priori;
  usually   requires   a   long   chain   of   arguments;   and;   moreover;   very   great
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  caution;   acuteness;   and   self…restraint   …   qualities   which   are   not   often   met
  with; therefore people prefer to be taught by experience rather than deduce
  their conclusion from a few axioms; and set them out in logical order。 (69)
  Whence it   follows;  that if   anyone   wishes   to teach   a  doctrine to   a  whole
  nation (not to speak of the whole human race); and to be understood by all
  men      in  every    particular;     he   will   seek    to  support     his   teaching     with
  experience; and will endeavour to suit his reasonings and the definitions of
  his doctrines as far as possible to the understanding of the common people;
  who   form   the   majority   of   mankind;