46^ APPENDIX. 



merican principlci to deflroy defpotirm, and edablifh the repoblican htm. 

 of government ; bat unfortunately, fuch was the ftate of fociety in Europe^ 

 that her nieadid not undciftand the principles, and could not fucceed ia 

 their Urugglcs to eliabiifli a f\ ftetn of free government. • 



It certainly then cannot be in matters of government that the men of 

 Europe have degenerated in America. The whole effect- has been the 

 other way i They havedifcovered the true principles of a free government, 

 and firmly eflablifhed them in their own country. The riril nation ia 

 £urope endeavoured to do the fame, but failed in the attempt, 



2. Another article in rcfpeft to which the degradation of man often ap- 

 pears with a melancholy afpetl, is in matters of religion. At the lime 



vhen the firft emigrations were made to America, the religion that wat 

 eflabjifhed in aimt-ft every part of Europe, was truly and properly the re-< 

 ligron of monarchy. In conformity to the diliinftions and,difFerent orderi 

 of men in the flale, the clergy were alio arranged under different- names^ 

 dignities and orders : froiTJ the dirt, by various fteps and orders, the iiie- 

 larchy jofe to the skies. Beginning in the privilege of begging, the or^ 

 der of clergy rofc one cvsr another, till the whole terminated in a fpiri- 

 tual monarch called an atchbifhop, patriaich, or pontiff. In the higheft 

 fpiritual office, by whatever name it was called, were united the privi- 

 leges of great wealth, the powers of fuperftition, temporal honors, civil dig- 

 nities, and a fnuation next to the throne / efieftuaily fccuring the con- 

 fcience of the foverejgn. the obedience of the clergy, and the faith of the 

 people. Ceremonies, creeds, and confefiions, founded in folly, ignorance 

 and knavery, iormcd the larg^fl part of what was called the divine lervicct 

 The principles and praflice of morality were forgot, and tlic fear of God 

 and love of our neighbour were but little laughr or regarded. To believe 

 in the charcb, was. the grand requifite : and the vices of fuch men, howev- 

 er enormous, gav<; but little offence ; conformity made atonement lor all 

 vice? ; and he w-ho was an obedient (on .of the church, and liberal i<-, 

 money to bis fpjtiiual mother, was fare of being bleffed by deaeonsj ptkfis 

 and biibopf. ■ . '''.'■.''■■.. " ■' ' '" 



This fyil"*i of corruption, called at that time religion, had beeome fo 

 apparent and abufivc, that the degrteof corrupiicn had terved to engage the- 

 attention ot many ferious perions ; and the tonfequrncc of thinking at all 

 upon the lubjeft, wa.« a discovery that there were many errors and almfee 

 in the national religion. ■ T^w (ooncr had the emigrants aiiivfd in Ne-v. 

 England, thdii they laid afide the whole fyflem of ecclcfiaftica! power; and 

 although they were far frorn comprehending the principles of religioj-' 

 liberty, and had loo much of the intolerant and perfccuting fpirit which 

 they biought from tl.tir mother country, ihey embraced the leading prin 

 ciple of relijticu.s freedom which produced all the rcff, ' that the people 

 themfflvesfhould choofe their ov.-n clergy who fhould be .without civil pow- 

 ers or honors.' Amidft thoufands of errors and tnilfakc?, ihis fundamen- 

 tal truth gained flrergth, gradually explained itfelf, and <ontinued to ope- 

 rate till it produced that peifcfl fyftem of equality and freedom which 

 now takes place in America : A (\ftem iii exa^l coi^iormitv to the genius 

 and fpirit of the pure and benevolent religion of Jehu '^bri.1 ; greatly fa 

 vorable to fociety ; and honorable, in the highefl degref, lo the couutiy 

 ti-.at discovered and produced it. 



Is it then in matters of religion that the men of America have degeji- 

 irated from their anceliors ? Aic the eflablifbed and di«iiificd clergy <v, 

 THonarchics, the only meek and humble fucceiTors of the fl-^iermen ot Gsli 

 I'.t ? Is it in the divine I'ght of tilhesand tenths, thst apotlolic Chririia/i' 



