The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-04-03
From he Hesieru Pirqinian.
MR. JEFFERSON

Much has been said about r. Jefferson m re-
lation TO his religious opinions or rather his i'm
pressIons in relation to Christianity. The
following letter, which has been politely phi in
to our hands for publication, will place this mat
ter in correct point of view and demonstrates
that while Mr.. Jefferson was opposed 10 the
" corruption Of Christianity, he was not opposed
10 the precepts of Jesus himself The letter
with which VIC have been favored, was address,
ed TO the late DR. Rush. of Philadelphia and is
dated lRdsbiuplO1l 2lsi fprH 1903
DEAR SIN In some OF my delightful con
versationS with you in the evenings of HOS
90, and which served ns an anodvnc TO the af-
hictions of the crisis thro' which our country
was then abouriue, the Christian religion was
our topic; and then promised you, that, one
day or other, would give Won my views Of ii.
They are the result of life of enquiry aud re.
Election, and very different from that anti.chris-
tan system imputed to me by those who know
nothing of my opinion. t. the corruptions of
christianity, ! am indeed opposed but not to
the genuine precepts of Jesus himself am a
christian in the only sense in which he wished
amy one to be, sincerely attached to his doc
trines, in preference to all others ascrihing
10 him every hnman excellence, and believing
he never claimed any other. All the short in
tervals since those conversations when could
justfabv abstract my mind from public ailrirs,
this subject has been under my contemplation
but the more considered it, the more il expand
ed itself beyond the measure of either my time
or information. In the moment of my late de-
parture from Monticello I received, from Dr.
Priestlv his little treatise of Socrates aud Jesus
compared. This being section ofthe general
view | had taken of the field, il became the sub
Jet ofrehection while on the road and unoccu-
pied otherwise; the result was, TO arrange in
my mind syllabus or outline Of such an esti-
mate of the merits of christianity as wished
to SEE executed by some one OF more leisure
and information for the task Than myself This
| now send to you as the only discharge 81
my promise | can probably ever execute, and in
confdng il to you, | know il will not be expos.
ed to the malignant perversions of those, who
make every word from me, text for new ms.
representations and caiumnies. | am moreover
taverse tothe communication of my relie ious
enets TO the public. because ii would counte-
nance the presumption of those who have en-,
deavored TO draw them Ciorc that bunal and
10 seduce public opinion to erect itself into thai
inquistion over the rights Of conscience, which
the laws have so justly prescribed II behovcs
every man. who values liberty of conscience foi
himself to resist invasious Of il in the case OF
others or THEN case by change of circumstan.
cos, becomes his own lit behoves him too. IN
his own case. 10 give example of concession
bctrayng the common right of independent O
piniou, by answering questions of faith, which
the laws have left between God and himself
Accept my ailectionatc samtatiouS
TIL. JEFFERSON