Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Chapter XIV: Examples shewing that Men continue in their Errors against the Interests of Flesh and Blood, and their own Inclinations. - A Philosophical Commentary on These Words of the Gospel, Luke 14.23, 'Compel Them to Come In, That My House May Be Full'

Return to Title Page for A Philosophical Commentary on These Words of the Gospel, Luke 14.23, ‘Compel Them to Come In, That My House May Be Full’

Search this Title:

Chapter XIV: Examples shewing that Men continue in their Errors against the Interests of Flesh and Blood, and their own Inclinations. - Pierre Bayle, A Philosophical Commentary on These Words of the Gospel, Luke 14.23, ‘Compel Them to Come In, That My House May Be Full’ [1686]

Edition used:

A Philosophical Commentary on These Words of the Gospel, Luke 14.23, ‘Compel Them to Come In, That My House May Be Full’, edited, with an Introduction by John Kilcullen and Chandran Kukathas (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2005).

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


Chapter XIV

Examples shewing that Men continue in their Errors against the Interests of Flesh and Blood, and their own Inclinations.

Did error always spring from a Corruption of Heart, Men wou’d come off of it when this Corruption found its account in the Change. Now this, we see, does not always happen. And there be those who are under an invincible Persuasion of a Falshood, even where they wish for the Interest of Truth in general, that they cou’d disbelieve such and such Points.

For who knows not that Luther wish’d passionately, that he cou’d disbelieve the Real Presence, judging that as long as he believ’d this Article, he depriv’d himself of the greatest Advantages for battering the Papacy to the ground? His Wishes, founded on the greatest Interest that he cou’d propose himself, were all vain; he never cou’d, tho he endeavor’d with all his heart, find out the figurative Sense, which is so obvious to all of us in the words, This is my Body. He had therefore as hearty an Intention to discover the Truth with regard to this Point, as with regard to several others, in which he happily lit on it; and he pray’d with as much fervor, that God<625> wou’d direct him as well in this as in the rest. And yet he miss’d it here: consequently it is not always for want of Application, of Zeal, of Sincerity, of Good-will, that Men continue in Errors, but from too strong Impressions made on us by Custom and Education.

Such another Instance may be drawn from what I remember to have heard several of the Reform’d say in France, when press’d to change their Religion, and reproach’d as if their Unwillingness to re-unite proceeded wholly from Stubbornness, Obstinacy, a sinful Shame, or an unreasonable Aversion to the Church of Rome. They answer’d judiciously, that ’twere for their eternal and temporal Interest that the Church of Rome were really the true Church, and that they cou’d believe it such; that they wish’d it with all their heart, and that all kind of Reasons inclin’d ’em to wish so, since hereby they might conscientiously quit a Religion under disgrace, which depriv’d ’em of the Comforts of Life, and go over to another, in which they might enjoy the Good Things of this World and of that which is to come: Common Sense might teach ’em this. It’s plain then, the Reform’d of France had bin very glad that God had done ’em the Grace and Favor of discovering to ’em, that the Church of Rome was the true Church; they had hereby bin preserv’d from all those Storms which have since overwhelm’d ’em. Yet the greatest part of ’em remain persuaded of what they had bin taught to believe from their Childhood: a plain Argument, that Men can’t alway believe what they wou’d, and that neither our natural Proneness to Evil, nor the Advan-<626>tages of this World, are able to efface the Impressions of Religion.

By the Law which banish’d the Socinians out of Poland, ’twas provided, that if any of ’em wou’d turn Catholicks they might freely continue; yet they almost all chose to undergo the Inconveniences of a Pilgrimage, rather than quit their Religion. Was it not their Interest, on all manner of accounts, to believe that the Church of Rome was the true Church? Is it not sometimes the Interest of Roman Catholicks, to believe that Protestantism is the true Religion? How comes it then that so few change? We must perceive in this, not a Malignity of Will which hinders the asking with due Humility God’s Assistance towards coming at the Truth, but a firm Confidence of its being already found; for when People are under this full Persuasion, the Order of Nature requires that they believe every thing false that’s opposite to it, and consider whatever wou’d draw ’em from this Persuasion, as the Suggestion of an evil Spirit, or their own corrupt Nature. Now can any Man in Conscience tell me, that this is the effect of a Corruption of Heart, an Obliquity of Will, a Perverseness of Spirit, and not rather an infallible sign of our loving the Truth?

But what shall we say to the Jews, who for so many Ages past have bin the very Scum and Off-scouring of the World, without an abiding City or Country in any part of the Earth, without Places or Preferments, frequently banish’d and persecuted from City to City, the ordinary Game of the Inquisition, and oblig’d even in the Countrys where they are tolerated to enlarge<627> their Phylacterys, to be humble, and put up with a thousand Indignitys? Does Ambition, Voluptuousness, a vindictive Principle, find its account in such a way as this? Are they ignorant, that as to this World ’twere infinitely better for ’em to be Christians or Mahometans, according to the diversity of Place, than Jews? Yet nothing is more rare than the Conversion of a Jew. From whence can this proceed, but from a strong Persuasion that they shou’d offend God, and be eternally damn’d, if they chang’d the Religion of their Fathers? But whence does this strong Persuasion generally speaking proceed, but from Education? for the same Jew, who is so obstinate now in his Errors, wou’d have bin a Christian to Fire and Faggot, if taken from his Father at two years old, and educated among conscientious zealous Christians. Now will any one say, that the Malice of his Heart was the cause of his being bred up not by a Christian, but by his Jewish Father? And yet I shall soon shew, that had he become a Jew of himself by Education, yet this cou’d not prove that his Heart was evil.<628>