rth and
growth in the blood of thousands and thousands of martyrs. And a strong
proof of the solidity of the primitive faith, is its restoration,
as soon as a nation arises which vindicates to itself the freedom of
religious opinion, and its external divorce from the civil authority.
The pure and simple unity of the Creator of the universe, is now all
but ascendant in the eastern States; it is dawning in the west, and
advancing towards the south; and I confidently expect that the present
generation will see Unitarianism become the general religion of the
United States. The eastern presses are giving us many excellent pieces
on the subject, and Priestley's learned writings on it are, or should
be, in every hand. In fact, the Athanasian paradox that one is three,
and three but one, is so incomprehensible to the human mind, that no
candid man can say he has any idea of it, and how can he believe what
presents no idea? He who thinks he does, only deceives himself. He
proves, also, that man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining
guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without
rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullability,
which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand of reason, and the
mind becomes a wreck.

I write with freedom, because, while I claim a right to believe in
one God, if so my reason tells me, I yield as freely to others that of
believing in three. Both religions, I find, make honest men, and that
is the only point society has any right to look to. Although this mutual
freedom should produce mutual indulgence, yet I wish not to be brought
in question before the public on this or any other subject, and I
pray you to consider me as writing under that trust. I take no part
in controversies, religious or political. At the age of eighty,
tranquillity is the greatest good of life, and the strongest of our
desires that of dying in the good-will of all mankind. And with the
assurances of all my good-will to Unitarian and Trinitarian, to Whig and
Tory, accept for yourself that of my entire respect.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER, CLXIX.--TO JOHN ADAMS, February 25, 1823

TO JOHN ADAMS,

Monticello, February 25, 1823.

Dear Sir,

I received, in due time, your two favors of December the 2nd and
February the 10th, and have to acknowledge for the ladies of my native
State their obligations to you for the encomiums which you are so kind
as to bestow on the