LANCASTER COUNTr. 61 



the sacred inviolable natural right of every manj to ex- 

 amine and judge for himself. 



Therefore, we thmk it evident that our notions of 

 future rewards and punishments were either revealed 

 from Heaven immediately to some of our forefathers, 

 and from them descended to us, or that it was implanted 

 in each of us at our creation by the Creator of all things, 

 Whatever the method might have been, whereby God 

 has been pleased to make known to us his will an ■ give 

 us a knowledge of our duty, it is in our sense a divine 

 revelation. Now we desire to propose to him some 

 questions. Does he believe that our forefathers, men, 

 eminent for their piety, constant and Avarm in their 

 pursuit of virtue ; hoping thereby to merit eternal happi- 

 ness, were all damned. Does he think, that we, who 

 are zealous imitators in good works, and influenced by 

 the same motives, as we are, earnestly endeavoring with 

 the greatest circumspection to tread the path of integrity, 

 are in a state of damnation? If that be his sentiments, 

 it is surely as impious as it is bold and daring. In the 

 next place we beg that he would explain himself more, 

 particularly concerning the revelation, if he admits of no 

 other, than Avhat is contained in his written book; the 

 contrary is evident from what has been shown before. — 

 But if he says, God has revealed himself to us, but not 

 sufficiently for our salvation, then we ask, to what pur- 

 pose should he have revealed himself to us in any wise. 

 It is clear, that a revelation insufficient to save, cannot 

 put us in a better condition than we be without revela- 

 tion at all. We cannot conceive that God should point 

 out to us the end \ve ought to arrive at, without 

 opening to us the way to arrive at that end. But sup- 

 posmg our understanding to be so far illuminated as to 



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