Alciphron or the Minute Philosopher Author:George Berkeley Subtitle: In Seven Dialogues. : Containing an Apology for the Christian Religion, Against Those Who Are Called Free-Thinkers General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1803 Original Publisher: From Sidney's hress. [sic] Subjects: Free thought Apologetics Medical / Ophthalmology Religion / Christian Theology / Ap... more »ologetics Science / Optics Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: Euphranor. -- It were a great pity fuch worthy ingenious men fhould meet with any difcouragement. For my part I fhould think a man, who fpent his time in fuch a painful impartial fearch after truth, a better friend to mankind than the greateft ftatefman. or hero; the advantage of whofe labors is confined to a little part of the world, and a fhort fpace of time ; whereas a ray of truth may enlighten the whole world, and extend to future ages. Alc. -- It will be fome time, I fear, before the common herd think as you do. But the better fort, the men of parts and polite education, pay a due regard to the patrons of light and truth. III. Euph. -- The clergy, no doubt, are on all occafions ready to forward and applaud your worthy endeavors. Upon hearing this, Lyftcles could hardly refrain from laughing. And Alciphron, with an air of pity, told Eu- fhranor, thatheperceivedhewasunacquainted with the real character of thofe men : For, faid he, you muft know, that of all men living they are our greateft enemies. If it were poflible, they would extinguifh the very light of nature, turn the world into a dungeon, and keep mankind for ever in chains and darknefs. Euph. -- I never imagined any thing like this of -our proteftant clergy, particularly thofe of the eftablifted church ; whom, if I may be allowed to judge by wh...« less