[The History of England from the Accession of James II. by Thomas Babington Macaulay]@TWC D-Link bookThe History of England from the Accession of James II. CHAPTER XVII 61/271
In theology the interval is small indeed between Aristotle and a child, between Archimedes and a naked savage.
It is not strange, therefore, that wise men, weary of investigation, tormented by uncertainty, longing to believe something, and yet seeing objections to every thing, should submit themselves absolutely to teachers who, with firm and undoubting faith, lay claim to a supernatural commission.
Thus we frequently see inquisitive and restless spirits take refuge from their own scepticism in the bosom of a church which pretends to infallibility, and, after questioning the existence of a Deity, bring themselves to worship a wafer.
And thus it was that Fox made some converts to whom he was immeasurably inferior in every thing except the energy of his convictions.
By these converts his rude doctrines were polished into a form somewhat less shocking to good sense and good taste.
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