The Rhode Island Republican

For the Rhode Island Republican.

MR. Read—A number of subscribers to your paper, and inhabitants of Newport, wish Mercator, and other strangers of his opinion, if there be any such in town, to be informed, that the Religious Liberty introduced by Roger Williams, and ever maintained in the State, consists in laying no tax for the support of religion, in any form; & in allowing each one to express his religious belief, and to worship in conformity to it without any abridgement of his civil privileges. But it never extended so far, as to require, that different denominations should associate in their religious meetings, or that their Pastors should interchange their ministerial labors. This would be inconsistent, for different denominations are distinguished, not merely by variety, but, in some respects, by contradiction. Common sense, therefore, teaches; that each should have a place where it may meet for worship and to be edified in its own doctrines; and that it should be left to their own judgment to determine how far they can associate with others and yet preserve their respect to those doctrines of the gospel which they consider essential, and yet show their fellowship with those by whom in connexion with them, other doctrines are maintained. To control them in this right would be to infringe on liberty of conscience; and be subversive of the gospel itself.

Another mistake of Mercator is, that ministers impose their doctrines on their hearers. They are sent to preach the gospel. If what they preach be not believed, they have nothing more that they can do. They are authorised to use no compulsion. Churches concur with their Pastors, so that the doctrines preached are the doctrines which they believe; and were the views of either to change, their connexion with each other would be dissolved.

It appears that Mercator has a creed. He believes something, or he represents that he is obliged to travel six miles to hear his own sentiments preached. But if he prefers taking all that trouble, to attending with either of the denominations in town, he gives a stronger proof of bigotry than any of which he complains. But on our principles he is perfectly justifiable; and we should consider it persecution to throw any impediment in the way of his accomplishing his desire.

A Rhode-Islander.