237 



out into overt acts against peace and good order ; and 

 finally, that truth is great and will prevail if left to her- 

 self, that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to 

 error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless 

 by human interposition disarmed of her natural wea- 

 pons, free argument and debate, errors ceasing to be 

 dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict 

 them. 



Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, That 

 no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any 

 religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever, nor 

 shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in 

 his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account 

 of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men 

 shall l)e free to profess, and by argument to maintain, 

 their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same 

 shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or aflfect their civil 

 capacities. 



And though we well know that this Assembly, elect- 

 ed by the people for the ordinary purposes of legislation 

 only, have no power to restrain the acts of succeeding 

 Assemblies, constituted with the power equal to our 

 own, and that therefore to declare this act irrevocable, 

 would be of no effect in law, yet we are free to declare, 

 and do declare, that the rights hereby asserted are of 

 the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall 

 be hereafter passed to repeal the present or to narrow 

 its operation, such act will be an infringement of natu- 

 ral right. 



