A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More

Therefore, to take away Reason—under whatever fanatical original: "Fanatick" pretense—is to strip the priest of his robes and rob him of his Breastplate the Rationale: as mentioned on the previous page, this is the "Breastplate of Judgment" (Exodus 28:15) symbolizing the use of Reason (Ratio).. Worst of all, it robs Christianity of the special privilege it has over all other religions in the world: namely, that it dares to appeal to Reason. Anyone who understands the true interest of our religion will not fail to stick closely to this; to do the opposite betrays religion to the unjust suspicion of falsehood and makes it equal to every empty imposture. For if you take away Reason, all religions are equally true—just as when light is removed, all things are the same color. Indeed, worst of all, the religion that is the truest will seem the falsest in this artificial darkness, if it strictly and positively declares itself to be the only true one. This claim will not be accepted, nor can it be verified, in that region of midnight where everything looks the same.

4. These serious and weighty considerations urged me to search to the very bottom of things with all possible care and vigor, so that my heart might not fail me in the day of trial. Much of the result of that investigation is included in this volume. While I have gained great satisfaction myself regarding those major points I have tried to clarify, I am also eager that nothing in these pages causes the slightest dissatisfaction to others. I think it will be impossible for anything to do so, if they will only notice my design. My goal is not to "theologize" within philosophy, but to build an external fence original: "Exoterick Fence" or outer fortification around theology. By defending those outer works against the assaults of the confident Atheist—and his massive attacks original: "Gigantick batteries," an allusion to the giants of mythology who attempted to storm heaven raised against the belief in God’s existence and a reward in the world to come—I might show him what a man of vanity and recklessness he is. He imagines in his unskilled thoughts that it is an easy thing to overrun the Holy City and Sanctuary, yet he is easily beaten back from the walls. This is the true and genuine meaning of my frequent interweaving of Platonism The philosophy of Plato and his followers, emphasizing the existence of abstract forms and the soul. and Cartesianism The philosophy of René Descartes, which sought to use rational doubt and mathematics to reach certain knowledge. into these writings: I use these hypotheses as invincible bulwarks against the most cunning and harmful efforts of Atheism. I am certain that if the ideas I have chosen from those two philosophies are taken as true (and let our adversaries prove them false if they can), there is no objection Atheism can make against the doctrines mentioned above that I cannot answer fully and irrefutably.

Therefore, it is not hopeless to think that as we put many to flight, the rest might voluntarily surrender as prisoners. They may be led captive by the power of Reason into a true belief in the core principles of faith. Once their hopes of escaping punishment after death original: "After-Impunity" are cut off by a clear conviction of the Soul’s Immortality, they may be prompted to become real Christians in the simpler aspects of the faith. They may be willing to remain in the Outer Court—though, because of their current weak vision, they may not yet be fit to enter the more sacred incense smoke of the Temple. Since I am so faithfully and, I believe, usefully occupied in managing these "outer works," as I call them, I will not attribute any criticism to even over-hasty zeal, but