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plies something disgraceful to humanity. It may be well asked, how is it that such a practice should have ever obtained amongst Christians? Strange as it may seem, the glory of God has been pleaded as an apology for PERSECUTION, and it has even beer said to promote the happiness of mankind—add t this, the penal laws of the Jews have been urged in its behalf, and some tortured passages of the New Testament. The glory of God, however, can never be promoted by violence-nor can we, by destroying his creatures, increase the happiness of mankind. The penal laws of the Jews were peculia to their theocracy, the Israelites being under the immediate protection of heaven. As to the passages of THE NEW TESTAMENT-the principal one alleged in behalf of PERSECUTION, is, Luke xiv. 23. Compel them to come in. But this can mean no more than that the disciples were to employ friendly importunity, like that which was used to engage Christ to spend the evening at Emmaus, when, as the evangelist expresses it-they constrained him. How absurd is it to suppose, that a householder should send out servants with sword in hand, to force guests to an entertainment! Dr. Doddridge observes, that it is the glory of the sacred book, that it affords no better plea in so infamous a cause— and that a strong argument against persecution, arises from the silence of THE NEW TESTAMENT.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY seems to be pretty well understood amongst us. This was not the case with the first Reformers, who, emerging from

the darkness of popery, retained the unhappy principle that "error and heresy were to be extirpated by violence and that the conduct of some pious princes amongst the Jews, in destroying idolaters, is to be a model for Christian magistrates." Bishop Hall, in his Treatise on Christian Moderation, the tendency of which is to reprobate violence of every description, and especially in religious matters-has the inconsistency to exclaim, "MASTER CALVIN did well approve himself to God's church, in bringing Servetus to the stake at Geneva!" Even the Puritans had not relinquished the principle-for RICHARD BAXTER was for a toleration, limited to what he called "errors not quite intolerable," and would have such punished with fines and imprisonment! But DR. OWEN saw the pernicious tendency of such a principle-in his admirable Treatise on TOLERATION, he remarks, "they had need to examine their light, for their tenet leads down to the chambers of blood!" The only sound doctrine on this subject is, "that none are to be subjected to any kind or degrees of civil penalties merely on account of THEIR RELIGIOUS OFINIONS, or from any practices arising from them, if those practices be not detrimental to the peace of society, which THE MAGISTRATE, by his office, stands engaged to preserve.' e." But the folly and wickedness of persecution ought to deter men from the practice of it. It must be disclaimed by the true Protestant-and abhorred by every consistent professor of Christianity! PERSECUTION is in every respect untenable. It

is built on the absurd supposition, that one man has a right to judge for another in matters of religion. It contradicts the grand principle of doing to others as we would think it reasonable they should do to us. It is by no means calculated to answer the end pretended to be aimed at by it; but tends to introduce confusion, as well as to overthrow truth in the world. It is inconsistent with natural religion, and runs counter to the whole tenor of THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION.

I have only to exhort you to maintain upon your minds a grateful sense of the value of RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. It has been the gift of heaven to our highly favoured country for upwards of a century..

George the Second nobly declared there should be no persecution for conscience sake in his reign-and during the reign of George the Third, there has been a greater extension of religious liberty, than in any former period of British history. This measure is in unison with the declaration of His Majesty, on his accession, "that THE TOLERATION ACT should be preserved inviolate" and with the réply made by the House of Lords, that "the preservation of THE TOLERATION ACT inviolate, was the surest support of the PROTESTANT INTEREST in these kingdoms." These acts of the Brunswick monarchs, have invested their crown with a milder radiance, and a more permanent glory. Wisdom and justice are the only permanent basis of thrones. When sovereigns have for their object the welfare

of ALL their subjects, then hath GOVERNMENT attained the divine end for which it was institutednot the aggrandisement of individuals, nor the exaltation of parties, but the promotion of the best interests of the great family of MANKIND.

The disciple of 'JESUS CHRIST is a friend to good government. His principles and practices are auspicious to the well-being of the community. He is apprised that a cheerful obedience to the laws is the cement of society. To fear God, and honour the King, is no less the dictate of common sense, than it is the injunction of our common Christianity. But by becoming A CHRISTIAN he ceases not to be a citizen. His freedom, civil and religious, he claims as his birth-right! And THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE, who best understands his duty, will continue the subject in the possession of it, guarding it from injury, and conveying the precious deposit to Future Generations.

I pray God, that the portion of CIVIL and RELIGIOUS FREEDOM we enjoy, may descend with augmentation to latest posterity! The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places—yea, we have a goodly heritage. Brethren, ye have been called unto LIBERTY, only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by LOVE serve one another.

It is natural for every man to think well of his OWN RELIGION, and to draw over his brethren to the profession of it. But we must not forget what we owe to the majesty of TRUTH, by violently forcing it upon others. Let us address ourselves to the

understanding. The rays of truth will find their way into the recesses of the human mind, as the natural eye opens itself easily and freely to admit the light of day! Thus we judge even of ourselves what is right, and EVERY MAN will be fully persuaded in his own mind.

CHRISTIAN BRETHREN—it is the operation of truth on the temper and conduct, bringing forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness, that will best recommend our religion to the world. The soundest principles, and the most unrestrained freedom, are of no avail without PRACTICAL RELIGION. These blessings must be improved, to render them inestimably valuable. Unappropriated to their legitimate purposes, they render the individual more deeply amenable at the tribunal of heaven! And I saw THE DEAD small and great stand before God, and the books were opened, and THE DEAD were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according TO THeir Works.

There is Peace to thee, O BRITAIN! and no religious hurt as the Lord liveth. May our spirit be that of JESUS CHRIST, the Prince of Peace, a spirit of kindness and benignity! May our temper be imbued with love towards our fellow creatures, however differing from us in their religious faith and worship! May we guard against a propensity to uncharitableness, which leads to bigotry, and terminates in PERSECUTION! May THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE, which is at all times, and on all occasions, pure, peaceable, easy to be entreated, full of

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