Explore "The Established Church. its Real as Distinguished from its Apparent Strength. (1862.)" by James Thomson on Textopian.
In discussions with "Infidels," Churchmen are very ready with the taunt, "You are but a handful of' fanatics. Nearly the whole intellect of the nation is for us and against you. " In general the taunt is merely parried by a "What matter, if _we_ are right? " whereas it should also be retorted by a counter-thrust of denial. For, in truth, but a very small part of the intellect of the nation -- _i.e._, intellect in the only sense in which it is of importance -- _active_ intellect, is devoted to the Establishment or even to the Establishment and the so-called Dissenters combined. If they only are the true soldiers of the Church militant whom she spiritually feeds and equips for the warfare of life, and who are loyal to her with their whole heart and mind, how many legions must be deducted from the armies gathered round her banners before we can fairly estimate her actual power in the field! Should Jesus come to eliminate his true followers from the multitudes of professing Christians, as Gideon selected his, three hundred from the two and thirty thousand Israelites, let us consider whom he would reject.
_First_, all the cowards and hypocrites who simply cling to what appears the dominant party, and who would therefore call themselves Atheists were Atheism in the ascendant; a vile brood, the incumbrance and disgrace of every cause they adopt; "hateful to God and to the enemies of God"; of whom even to write is not pleasant.