VIII. If this might be allow'd, there would be then indeed a fort of natural Religion (which is the Foundation of all true reveal'd Religion) which might be taught univerfally to all the People, which might be practised and established thro' the Nation, and perhaps be fupported by the State: But ftill I fear the universal Attendance on this Worship could not be commanded under any Penalty, because all Chriftian People will not or cannot fatisfy their Confciences with the Salvo propofed; and perhaps other Sects may diflike it too upon the fame Foundation,

IX. And befides, many Perfons may find their Confciences diffatisfy'd with the Men whom the State fhall choose to offer up their focial Worship to God; they may be diffatiffy'd with other Expreffions or other Omiffions in the publick Worship or in the appointed Forms thereof, befides thofe which I have mention'd; they may be alfo diffatiffy'd to have Communion in Worship with a Congregation of Deifts, or with mere Unitarian Worshippers, if they profefs the Holy Scripture and the Trinity. Many Sects may declare their Confciences are really diffatisfy'd with this Worship, because all Men are bound to offer their best unto God, and they would

would complain that fuch meer natural Worfhip is far below the beft that they could offer; now the State has no power to compel the Confciences of Men to join in that Worfhip of God which they diflike or difapprove as unworthy of him or unacceptable to him, provided that they do every thing else that is neceffary to become faithful Members of the State. A IM.

bouŚLE C T. VII.
Of Particular Religions fuppofed to be
Drevealed.

1. Supp

Uppofing that fome publick Worship must be authoritatively requir'd or maintain'd in a State, for the Welfare of the State itself, let us enquire further then how it is poffible to be done without infringing natural Liberty,ni ne

Befides the general Principles of natural Religion, which seem reasonable and proper to be made known to all the People, as has been before declared, there may be several particular Sects in the Nation, both among the Governors and Governed, who have other

pe

other fpecial Articles of Faith and other culiar Rules of Practice or Worship, Ceremony or Sacrifice, over and above these na tural and moral Doctrines or Duties. And these Peculiarities of Religion are believ'd to come to them by a Revelation from the God. they worship, or from Men who were taught of God, which is much the fame.

II. Now if publick Worship must be maintain'd, every Man would chufe to do it in his own way: And every Man, both Governor and Governed, ought to have full Liberty to worship his God in that special

way

and manner which his own Confcience believes to be of Divine Appointment, or which he thinks to be moft neceffary in order to fecure the fpecial Favor of his God and his own future Happiness. This is a perfonal Obligation which natural Confcience, or the Light of Reafon, which is the Candle of the Lord within us, lays on every indivídual Perfon among Mankind; fuppofing always that this peculiar Religion does not break in upon the just Rights or the Peace of our Neighbors. And indeed if it does unjustly invade their Peace or their Natural or Civil Rights, this feems to be fufficient Evidence that it does not come from God,

who

who is the original Author and fupreme Guardian of the natural Rights of his Créa tures: nor will any wife and righteous Government indulge fuch mischievous pretences of Confcience or Divine Revelation, tho' in any other Cafe I see not that any Governors have a Right to forbid it.

III. The Great God who gave us all Reafon and Confcience, never appointed the Confcience, nor the Reason, nor the Will of one Man abfolutely to appoint the Religious Duties of another; except always in cafe of Infancy, where Confcience or Reason is not grown up to its proper Exercise, and Parents are intrufted with the Education and the Religion of their Children till they can learn for themselves the Knowledge of God and their Duty to him.

The Phantom or Chimæra of an univerfal Conscience given by God himself to all fupreme ruling Powers for the authoritative Guidance and Sway of the Ruled in every Nation, is so poor and forry a Pretence, and is big with fuch Abfurdities, that 'tis now banish'd out of the Books and Opinions of every Nation where Liberty is known; nor fhould it ever be recall'd or reviv'd left God be made the Author and Commander of all Idolatry and Superftition.

IV.

IV. Where Persons therefore profess the Obligations of Conscience to any reveal'd Religion, and claim the Right of Worship which arises thence, it must always be granted; but ftill with this Provifo, as was faid before, that none of these Pretences to Divine Revelation, none of these peculiar Forms or Practices to which Men are bound by their Confciences, be inconfiftent with the Peace of the State, the Welfare of their Neighbors, and the Support of the Civil Government: for it is not to be supposed that the Great God would ever reveal and appoint any thing to be believed or practifed as a matter of Religion, by Creatures who muft dwell under fome Civil Government, which should be inconfiftent with Civil Government itfelf or the common and focial Welfare of Mankind.

For this very Reason it is that no Religion hath a Right to be tolerated which profeffes and maintains the Perfecution of other Religions, or which binds down Perfons under Penalties to act in the things of God contrary to their Confciences; because this is injurious to Mankind in general, and invades the just and natural Liberties of Men, and thereby breaks in upon the Peace of the State.

H

And