Almost every case must now be determined by some precedent, be that precedent good or bad, or whether it properly applies or not; and the practice is become so general as to suggest a suspicion, that it proceeds from a deeper policy than at first sight appears.
Paine observes that English legal decisions are excessively reliant on precedents, suggesting a deliberate policy behind this practice.
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As to what are called national religions, we may, with as much propriety, talk of national Gods.
Why may we not suppose, that the great Father of all is pleased with variety of devotion; and that the greatest offence we can act, is that by which we seek to torment and render each other miserable?
But as religion is very improperly made a political machine, and the reality of it is thereby destroyed, I will conclude this work with stating in what light religion appears to me.
I do not believe that any two men, on what are called doctrinal points, think alike who think at all.