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reformation。 I should proceed to a view of the life； character； &
doctrines of Jesus； who sensible of incorrectness of their ideas of
the Deity； and of morality； endeavored to bring them to the
principles of a pure deism； and juster notions of the attributes of
God； to reform their moral doctrines to the standard of reason；
justice & philanthropy； and to inculcate the belief of a future
state。 This view would purposely omit the question of his divinity；
& even his inspiration。 To do him justice； it would be necessary to
remark the disadvantages his doctrines have to encounter； not having
been committed to writing by himself； but by the most unlettered of
men； by memory； long after they had heard them from him； when much
was forgotten； much misunderstood； & presented in very paradoxical
shapes。 Yet such are the fragments remaining as to show a master
workman； and that his system of morality was the most benevolent &
sublime probably that has been ever taught； and consequently more
perfect than those of any of the antient philosophers。 His character
& doctrines have received still greater injury from those who pretend
to be his special disciples； and who have disfigured and
sophisticated his actions & precepts； from views of personal
interest； so as to induce the unthinking part of mankind to throw off
the whole system in disgust； and to pass sentence as an impostor on
the most innocent； the most benevolent； the most eloquent and sublime
character that ever has been exhibited to man。 This is the outline；
but I have not the time； & still less the information which the
subject needs。 It will therefore rest with me in contemplation only。
You are the person who of all others would do it best； and most
promptly。 You have all the materials at hand； and you put together
with ease。 I wish you could be induced to extend your late work to
the whole subject。 I have not heard particularly what is the state
of your health； but as it has been equal to the journey to
Philadelphia； perhaps it might encourage the curiosity you must feel
to see for once this place； which nature has formed on a beautiful
scale； and circumstances destine for a great one。 As yet we are but
a cluster of villages； we cannot offer you the learned society of
Philadelphia； but you will have that of a few characters whom you
esteem； & a bed & hearty welcome with one who will rejoice in every
opportunity of testifying to you his high veneration & affectionate
attachment。
THE MORALS OF JESUS
_To Dr。 Benjamin Rush； with a Syllabus_
_Washington； Apr。 21； 1803_
DEAR SIR； In some of the delightful conversations with you；
in the evenings of 1798…99； and which served as an anodyne to the
afflictions of the crisis through which our country was then
laboring； the Christian religion was sometimes our topic； and I then
promised you； that one day or other； I would give you my views of it。
They are the result of a life of inquiry & reflection； and very
different from that anti…Christian system imputed to me by those who
know nothing ofmy opinions。 To the corruptions of Christianity I am
indeed opposed； but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself。 I
am a Christian； in the only sense he wished any one to be； sincerely
attached to his doctrines； in preference to all others； ascribing to
himself every _human_ excellence； & believing he never claimed any
other。 At the short intervals since these conversations； when I
could justifiably abstract my mind from public affairs； the subject
has been under my contemplation。 But the more I considered it； the
more it expanded beyond the measure of either my time or information。
In the moment of my late departure from Monticello； I received from
Doctr Priestley； his little treatise of 〃Socrates & Jesus compared。〃
This being a section of the general view I had taken of the field； it
became a subject of reflection while on the road； and unoccupied
otherwise。 The result was； to arrange in my mind a syllabus； or
outline of such an estimate of the comparative merits of
Christianity； as I wished to see executed by some one of more leisure
and information for the task； than myself。 This I now send you； as
the only discharge of my promise I can probably ever execute。 And in
confiding it to you； I know it will not be exposed to the malignant
perversions of those who make every word from me a text for new
misrepresentations & calumnies。 I am moreover averse to the
communication of my religious tenets to the public； because it would
countenance the presumption of those who have endeavored to draw them
before that tribunal； and to seduce public opinion to erect itself
into that inquisition over the rights of conscience； which the laws
have so justly proscribed。 It behoves every man who values liberty
of conscience for himself； to resist invasions of it in the case of
others； or their case may； by change of circumstances； become his
own。 It behoves him； too； in his own case； to give no example of
concession； betraying the common right of independent opinion； by
answering questions of faith； which the laws have left between God &
himself。 Accept my affectionate salutations。
SYLLABUS OF AN ESTIMATE OF THE MERIT OF THE DOCTRINES OF JESUS；
COMPARED WITH THOSE OF OTHERS
_April； 1803_
In a comparative view of the Ethics of the enlightened nations
of antiquity； of the Jews and of Jesus； no notice should be taken of
the corruptions of reason among the ancients； to wit； the idolatry &
superstition of the vulgar； nor of the corruptions of Christianity by
the learned among its professors。
Let a just view be taken of the moral principles inculcated by
the most esteemed of the sects of ancient philosophy； or of their
individuals； particularly Pythagoras； Socrates； Epicurus； Cicero；
Epictetus； Seneca； Antoninus。
I。 PHILOSOPHERS。 1。 Their precepts related chiefly to
ourselves； and the government of those passions which； unrestrained；
would disturb our tranquillity of mind。 In this branch of philosophy
they were really great。
2。 In developing our duties to others； they were short and
defective。 They embraced； indeed； the circles of kindred & friends；
and inculcated patriotism； or the love of our country in the
aggregate； as a primary obligation： toward our neighbors & countrymen
they taught justice； but scarcely viewed them as within the circle of
benevolence。 Still less have they inculcated peace； charity & love
to our fellow men； or embraced with benevolence the whole family of
mankind。
II。 JEWS。 1。 Their system was Deism； that is； the belief of one
only God。 But their ideas of him & of his attributes were degrading
& injurious。
2。 Their Ethics were not only imperfect； but often
irreconcilable with the sound dictates of reason & morality； as they
respect intercourse with those around us； & repulsive & anti…social；
as respecting other nations。 They needed reformation； therefore； in
an eminent degree。
III。 JESUS。 In this state of things among the Jews； Jesus
appeared。 His parentage was obscure； his condition poor； his
education null； his natural endowments great； his life correct and
innocent： he was meek； benevolent； patient； firm； disinterested； & of
the sublimest eloquence。
The disadvantages under which his doctrines appear are
remarkable。
1。 Like Socrates & Epictetus； he wrote nothing himself。
2。 But he had not； like them； a Xenophon or an Arrian to write
for him。 On the contrary； all the learned of his country； entrenched
in its power and riches； were opposed to him； lest his labors should
undermine their advantages； and the committing to writing his life &
doctrines fell on the most unlettered & ignorant men； who wrote； too；
from memory； & not till long after the transactions had passed。
3。 According to the ordinary fate of those who attempt to
enlighten and reform mankind； he fell an early victim to the jealousy
& combination of the altar and the throne； at about 33。 years of age；
his reason having not yet attained the _maximum_ of its energy； nor
the course of his preaching； which was but of 3。 years at most；
presented occasions for developing a complete system of morals。
4。 Hence the doctrines which he really delivered were defective
as a whole； and fragments only of what he did deliver have come to us
mutilated； misstated； & often unintelligible。
5。 They have been still more disfigured by the corruptions of
schismatising followers； who have found an interest in sophisticating
& perverting the simple doctrines he taught by engrafting on them the
mysticisms of a Grecian sophist； frittering them into subtleties； &
obscuring them with jargon； until they have caused good men to reject