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from Heaven to men； will doubtless cry out that I have committed the sin
against the Holy Ghost because I have asserted that the Word of God is
faulty； mutilated； tampered with； and inconsistent； that we possess it only
in fragments； and that the original of the covenant which God made with
the Jews has been lost。 （2） However； I have no doubt that a little reflection
will cause them to desist from their uproar： for not only reason but the
expressed opinions of prophets and apostles openly proclaim that God's
eternal Word and covenant； no less than true religion； is Divinely inscribed
in human hearts； that is； in the human mind； and that this is the true
original of God's covenant； stamped with His own seal； namely； the idea of
Himself； as it were； with the image of His Godhood。
（3） Religion was imparted to the early Hebrews as a law written down；
because they were at that time in the condition of children； but afterwards
Moses （Deut。 xxx：6） and Jeremiah （xxxi：33） predicted a time coming
when the Lord should write His law in their hearts。 （4） Thus only the Jews；
and amongst them chiefly the Sadducees； struggled for the law written on
tablets； least of all need those who bear it inscribed on their hearts join in
the contest。 （5） Those； therefore； who reflect； will find nothing in what I
have written repugnant either to the Word of God or to true religion and
faith； or calculated to weaken either one or the other： contrariwise； they
will see that I have strengthened religion； as I showed at the end of
Chapter X。； indeed； had it not been so； I should certainly have decided to
hold my peace； nay； I would even have asserted as a way out of all
difficulties that the Bible contains the most profound hidden mysteries；
however； as this doctrine has given rise to gross superstition and other
pernicious results spoken of at the beginning of Chapter V。； I have thought
such a course unnecessary； especially as religion stands in no need of
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superstitious adornments； but is； on the contrary； deprived by such
trappings of some of her splendour。
（6） Still； it will be said； though the law of God is written in the heart；
the Bible is none the less the Word of God； and it is no more lawful to say
of Scripture than of God's Word that it is mutilated and corrupted。 （7） I
fear that such objectors are too anxious to be pious； and that they are in
danger of turning religion into superstition； and worshipping paper and ink
in place of God's Word。
（8） I am certified of thus much： I have said nothing unworthy of
Scripture or God's Word； and I have made no assertions which I could not
prove by most plain argument to be true。 （9） I can； therefore； rest assured
that I have advanced nothing which is impious or even savours of impiety。
（10） from what I have said； assume a licence to sin； and without any
reason； at I confess that some profane men； to whom religion is a burden；
may； the simple dictates of their lusts conclude that Scripture is
everywhere faulty and falsified； and that therefore its authority is null； but
such men are beyond the reach of help； for nothing； as the pro verb has it；
can be said so rightly that it cannot be twisted into wrong。 （11） Those who
wish to give rein to their lusts are at no loss for an excuse； nor were those
men of old who possessed the original Scriptures； the ark of the covenant；
nay； the prophets and apostles in person among them； any better than the
people of to…day。 （12） Human nature； Jew as well as Gentile； has always
been the same； and in every age virtue has been exceedingly rare。
（13） Nevertheless； to remove every scruple； I will here show in what
sense the Bible or any inanimate thing should be called sacred and Divine；
also wherein the law of God consists； and how it cannot be contained in a
certain number of books； and； lastly； I will show that Scripture； in so far as
it teaches what is necessary for obedience and salvation； cannot have been
corrupted。 （14） From these considerations everyone will be able to judge
that I have neither said anything against the Word of God nor given any
foothold to impiety。
（15） A thing is called sacred and Divine when it is designed for
promoting piety； and continues sacred so long as it is religiously used： if
the users cease to be pious； the thing ceases to be sacred： if it be turned to
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base uses； that which was formerly sacred becomes unclean and profane。
（16） For instance； a certain spot was named by the patriarch Jacob the
house of God； because he worshipped God there revealed to him： by the
prophets the same spot was called the house of iniquity （see Amos v：5； and
Hosea x：5）； because the Israelites were wont； at the instigation of
Jeroboam； to sacrifice there to idols。 （17） Another example puts the matter
in the plainest light。 （18） Words gain their meaning solely from their usage；
and if they are arranged according to their accepted signification so as to
move those who read them to devotion； they will become sacred； and the
book so written will be sacred also。 （19） But if their usage afterwards dies
out so that the words have no meaning； or the book becomes utterly
neglected； whether from unworthy motives； or because it is no longer
needed； then the words and the book will lose both their use and their
sanctity： lastly； if these same words be otherwise arranged； or if their
customary meaning becomes perverted into its opposite； then both the
words and the book containing them become； instead of sacred； impure
and profane。
（20） From this it follows that nothing is in itself absolutely sacred； or
profane； and unclean； apart from the mind； but only relatively thereto。 （21）
Thus much is clear from many passages in the Bible。 （22） Jeremiah （to
select one case out of many） says （chap。 vii：4）； that the Jews of his time
were wrong in calling Solomon's Temple； the Temple of God； for； as he
goes on to say in the same chapter； God's name would only be given to the
Temple so long as it was frequented by men who worshipped Him； and
defended justice； but that； i