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equally true, and yet be determined by very
good reafons to establish that); but the con-
clufion of the laws is precifely this: this is
the religion fhall be favoured with a civil eftab-
lifhment in this community. This conclufion
is a civil law of that. community, ftands upon
the fame foot, and is equally protected from
the public oppofition of private fubjects,
with any
other law of the fame importance."
And when this particular religious cult or
worship fhall have once received the civil
fanction of the state, it is certainly equally
binding and coercive upon the community
to fupport it in an external civil way, as any
other civil fanction whatever. So," when
the fupreme authority has debated and deter-
mined a conclufion of law, a private fubject
may not, confiftently with the peace of the
fociety, and the common duty of fubjection,
be permitted to continue on the debate, or
revive it as often as he please in a public
way, (i. e.) print and publish books and ar-
guments against the juftice or expediency of
the law. The intention, or at least the con
fequence of fuch actions must be difparaging
the wisdom or justice of the legislature, tak-
ng from them the esteem and confidence of

Rogers's Vindication, p. 224.

Laws refpecttablishment of ing as other

ing the civil ef

religion as bind

laws.

The paffing of an obligation in and not to op

a law induces

all to fubmit to,

pofe it.

The civil effects of religion upon

their fubjects, difquieting the minds of those, who are fatisfied with the law, and raising up parties in oppofition to it. The laws eftablifhing religion ftand, as laws, on the fame foot with all others; and if fuch acts of oppofition to other laws would juftly be esteemed mutiny and fedition, they will have the fame characters, when done in oppofition to the laws eftablishing religion."

It is the general opinion of the most арa community. proved writers upon political and civil liberty, that all the lawful acts of the com

munity must neceffarily tend to the peace, welfare, and preservation of the community ; and it is alfo their general opinion, that religion tends mainly to thofe ends. * "To fay that religion is not a reftraining motive, because it does not always reftrain, is equally abfurd as to say, that the civil laws are not a reftraining motive. It is a falfe way of reafoning against religion, to collect in a large work a long detail of the evils it has produced, if we do not give at the fame time an enumeration of the advantages, which have flowed from it. Were I to relate all the evils, that have arisen in the world from civil laws, from monarchy and from republican government,

• Montefquieu's Spirit of Laws, b. xiv. x. c. ii.

I might

I might tell of frightful things. Was it of no advantage for subjects to have religion, it would still be of some, if princes had it, and if they whitened with foam the only rein, which can retain thofe, who fear not human laws. A prince, who loves and fears religion, is a lion, who ftoops to the hand, that strokes, or to the voice that appeafes him. He who fears and hates religion, is like the favage beaft, that growls and bites the chain, which prevents his flying on the paffenger. He, who has no religion at all, is that terrible animal, who perceives his liberty only, when he tears in pieces, and when he devours. *"The general confent of mankind in any one conclufion, though it be not, in ftrictness, a proof of truth or justice, yet it is a fair fumption of it. In all civilized nations, of whom we have any account paft or present, we find fome established religion. Hence I take leave to conclude, that the wifeft men have a civil in all ages (for fuch the founders and gover-of nors of focieties may equitably be presumed) have judged it their right and duty to establifh fome religion, and that the peace and interefts of fociety required, that some should

pre

Rogers's Vindication of the Civil Establishment of Religion, p. 21, and 22.

$

be

The duty of a

community to

establishment

religion.

be established. All the difputes and contentions, which have happened on this fubject, have related to the choice of the religion; but in this conclufion, that fome should be established, the wifdom of all ages and countries has concurred; and this concurrence I infist on, as a full reply to all thofe authorities of private writers, which are or can be cited, as favouring a contrary judgment. So faid the elegant and learned author of Principles of Penal Law*. "Religion hath been wifely established by law, as ufeful and neceffary to fociety; and is fo wrought into the very frame of our government, as to become a main part of the conftitution. The magiftrate, therefore, though the well being of the state be his peculiar object, is by no means exempted from a due concern for the religion of his country. But it is no confequence from these premises, that men fhould be debarred liberty of confcience, and the free use of reafon and enquiry; much less can any argument be drawn from them in favour of perfecution. Freedom of thought is the prerogative of human kind; a quality inherent in the very nature of a thinking being; a pri

* By Mr. Eden, now Lord Auckland, p. 91.

vilege,

vilege, which cannot be denied to him, or taken from him."

It would far exceed the intended bounds of this publication, were I to undertake the confideration of all the reafons for and against the propriety and advantages of the civil adoption of a religious establishment. Very folid and fubtle arguments are produced by the oppofite partizans; and it would require a very long treatife indeed, to digeft the substance, analyze the reafoning, and elucidate the conclufions of the historical, political, philofophical, and theological writers upon this fubject. The application of the fimple principles, that I have already endeavoured to establish, will perhaps, conduct the mind more clearly and immediately to the true point, than the most elaborate, minute, and impartial investigation of all the reafons and arguments, that have been written upon the fubject. It muft Many reafons be allowed, that in the present fituation of human affairs, many very cogent arguments may be alledged against the adoption of fuch an eftablishment in a new government, which do not in the leaft weaken the neceffity of maintaining and preserving it, when once established in an old one. As the latter cafe alone affects our conftitution, I fhall drop every confideration of the former.

for not making a civil establishment in a new

government juftify the abo lition of it in au

which do not

old one.

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