382 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



prevent the spirit of free inquiry and investiga- 

 tion ; and subjected men to the most unrelent- 

 ing- of all persecutions, the persecution of priests 

 and zealots, pleading- principle to justify their 

 vilest actions. At the same time, every good 

 man feels himself bound not to reverence or ad- 

 mit any such authority in matters of religion. 

 The obligations of religion are antecedent to, 

 and more strong than any obligations derived 

 from the laws of society. The first and the 

 most important obligation any iiian can feel, is 

 to obey his Maker, and the dictates of his own 

 heart. The peace of our minds depends more 

 essentially upon this, than any other circum- 

 stance in the course of human life. What then 

 has society to do in matters of religion, but 

 simply to follov/ the laws of nature : To adopt 

 these, and no other ; and to leave to every man 

 a full and perfect liberty, to follow the dictates 

 of his own conscience, in all his transactions 

 with his Maker ? 



Th e people of Vermont have adopted this 

 principle, in its fullest extent. Some of them 

 are episco])alians, others are congregationalists, 

 others are of the presbyterian, and others are of 

 the baptist persuasion ; and some are quakers. 

 All of them find their need of tlie assistance of 

 each other, in the common concerns and busi- 

 ness of hfe ; and all of them are persuaded, that 

 the government has nothing to do with their 

 particular and distinguishing tenets. It is not 

 barely toleration^ but equalitif^ which the people 

 aim at. Tolcn.tion implies either a power or a 

 right in one party, to bear with the other ; and 

 seems to suppose, that the governing party are 



