HISTORY OF VERjMONT. 381 



tions are to be performed, and offices of the 

 highest trust and consequence are committed 

 to men, the last appeal vv'ill be to religion, in the 

 form of solemn affirmation or oath. 



The most pure and benevolent system of re- 

 ligion, which has ever prevailed among men, is 

 that of Christianity. This religion founded in 

 truth, and adapted to the nature and state of 

 man, has proposed for its end and aim, that 

 which is of the highest importance to men and 

 to society, universal benevolence, the love of 

 God and man, or universal virtue. But neither 

 this, nor any other system of moral truth, can 

 impart infallibility to men. Whatever infalli- 

 bility there may be in moral, in mathematical, 

 or in revealed truths, men may greatly mistake 

 when they come to explain, and apply th&m : 

 And instead of being above all possibility of er- 

 ror, they will find that infallibility belongs only 

 to the government of God ; and that it certain- 

 ly is not entailed upon any parties or denomina- 

 tions of men. Nothing therefore could be more 

 dangerous, than to allow to any of these denomi- 

 nations the power to make laws to bind the rest, 

 in matters of religion. The ruling party would 

 vote themselves to be the only pure denomina- 

 tion, they would make the rest contribute to 

 their support, and establish their own sentimeixts 

 and practice, as the perfection of knowledge, 

 wisdom, and religion ; and in this way adopt 

 measures, which tend to entail all their imper- 

 fections and errors, upon future ages. The do- 

 minion of one party over another in matters of 

 religion^ has always had thiscfi'ect : It has ope- 

 rated to confirm error, oppress the minority, 



