Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

From Doctor Price's Observations.

Of LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE, and Civil Establishments of RELIGION.

(Continued from No. 1478.)

3dly. The difficulty of introducing alterations into church establishments after they have been once formed, is another objection to them. Hence it happens, that they remain always the same amidst all changes of public manners and opinions: and that a kingdom may go on for ages in idolatrous worship, after a general conviction has taken place, that there is but one object of religious worship, namely, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a sad scene of religious hypocrisy must such a discordance between public conviction and the public forms produce? At this day in some European countries, the absurdity and slavishness of their hierarchies are seen and acknowledged: but being incorporated with the state, it is scarcely possible to get rid of them.

What can be more striking than the State of England in this respect? The system of faith and worship established in it was formed above two hundred years ago, when Europe was just emerging from darkness and barbarity. The times have ever since been growing more enlightened: but without any effect on the establishment. Not a ray of the increasing light has penetrated it. Not one imperfection, however gross, has been removed. The same articles of faith are subscribed. The same ritual of devotion is practised. --There is reason to fear that the absolution of the sick which forms a part of this ritual, is often resorted to as a passport to heaven after a wicked life; and yet it is continued.--Perhaps nothing more shocking to reason and humanity ever made a part of a religious system than the damning clauses in the Athanasian creed; and yet the obligation of the clergy to declare assent to this creed, and to read it as a part of the public devotion, remains.

The necessary consequence of such a state of things is, that,

Fourthly. Christianity itself is disgraced. and that all religion comes to be considered as a state trick. and a barbarous mummery. It is well known that in some Popish countries there are few Christians among the higher ranks of men, the religion of the State being in those countries mistaken for the religion of the Gospel, This indeed shews a criminal inattention in those who fall into such a mistake: for they ought to consider that Christianity has been grievously corrupted.' and that their ideas of it should be taken from the New-Testament only. It is, however, so natural to reckon Christianity to be that which it is held out to be in all the establishments of it, that it cannot but happen that such an error will take place & produce some of the worst consequences.

There is probably a greater number of rational Christians (that is, of Christians upon enquiry) in England, than in all Popish countries. The reason is, that the religious establishment here is Popery reformed ; and that a considerable body dissent from it, and are often inculcating the necessity of distinguishing between the Christianity established by law and that which is taught in the Bible.

Certain it is, that till this distinction is made, Christianity can never recover its just credit and usefulness.

Such then are the effects of civil establishments of religion. May heaven soon put an end to them. The world will never be generally wise or virtuous or happy, till these enemies to its peace and improvement are demolished. Thanks be to God they are giving way before increasing light. Let them never shew themselves in America. Let no such monster be known there as HUMAN AUTHORITY IN MATTERS OF RELIGION. Let every honest and peaceable man, whatever is his faith, be protected there : and find an effectual defence against the attacks of bigotry and intolerance. In the United-States may RELIGION flourish. They cannot be very great and happy if it does not. But let it be a better religion than most of those which have been hitherto professed in the world. Let it be a religion which enforces moral obligations ; not a religion which relaxes and evades them.-A tolerant and Catholic religion : not a rage for proselytism. A religion of peace and charity : not a religion that persecutes, curses and damns.~~In a word, let it be the genuine Gospel of peace lifting above the world, warming the heart with the love of God and his creatures, and sustaining the fortitude of good men by the assured hope of a future deliverance from death, and 'an infinite reward in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour.

From the preceding observations it may be concluded, that it is impossible I should not admire the following article in the declaration of rights which forms the foundation of the Massachusetts constitution. " In this State every denomination of Christians demeaning themselves peaceably and as good subjects of the commonwealth, shall be EQUALLY under the protection of the law ; and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law."

This is liberal beyond all example.-

I should, however, have admired it more had it been MORE liberal, and the words ALL MEN OF ALL RELIGIONS been substituted for the words every denomination of Christians.

It appears farther from the preceding observations, that I cannot but dislike the religious tests which make a part of several of the American constitutions.*-In the Massachusetts constitution it is ordered, that all who take seats in the House of Representatives or Senate shall declare their firm persuasion of the truth of the Christian religion." The same is required by the Maryland constitution, as a condition of being admitted into any places of profit or trust. In Pennsylvania every member of the House of Representatives is required to declare, that he acknowledges the Scriptures of the Old and " New Testament to be given by divine inspiration." In the State of Delaware, that " he believes in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed forevermore."

All this is more than is required even in England, where,'though every person however debauched or atheistical is required to receive the sacrament as a qualification for inferior places, no other religious test is imposed on members of parliament than a declaration against Popery.'It is an observation no less just than common, that such tests exclude only honest men. The dishonest never scruple them.

Montesquieu probably was not a Christian. Newton and Locke were not Trinitarians ; and therefore not Christians according to the commonly received ideas of Christianity. Would the United States, for this reason, deny such men, were they living, all places of trust and power among them?

(To be continued.)

* This is an inconvenience attending civil as well as ecclesiastical establishments, which has been with great wisdom guarded against in the new American constitutions, by appointing that there shall be a revision of them at the end of certain terms. This will leave them always open to improvement, without any danger of those convulsions which have usually attended the correction of abuses when they have acquired a sacredness by time.

* The North-Carolina constitution also orders that there shall be no establishment of any one religious church or denomination in that place in preference to any other.