AND SUBORDINATION. 75 



truths ! Religious liberty ! at what an immense sacrifice 

 of life has this precious element of human happiness 

 been purchased ! ^appily, the monopoly of religious 

 power has been broken down^and the ntmost diversity of 

 religious belief now prevailsTJ The claims of different op- 

 posing religious sects are carefully examined, and men are 

 bec oming dail y mor e tolerant a ndjegs^fanatic. 



K'ot less instructive is History in reference to that mono- 

 poly of political power which formerly prevailed. What 

 numberless calamities has it showered down on the human 

 race ! There was a time when the people were inherited 

 like sheep, when they had no significance as individuals.J 

 The interests of the mOst industrious and useful portion of 

 mankind were staked in perpetual games of war, in order 

 to build up the family of the king of the country, and bring 

 new territories under his yoke. But after-awhile the wealth 

 produced by the toiling masses, began to be so important 

 to the comfort and enterprises undertaken by these fight- 

 ing monarchs, that they were forced gradually to concede 

 them a certain degree of political liberty which they had 

 not previously enjoyed. The grand idea of human rights 

 now forced its way into despotisms, and then came the 

 fierce struggle for political freedom, and on many a battle- 

 field patriotic blood was poured forth like water, — the best 

 and bravest of the human race expired. At last it was con- 

 ceded that the people had rights and liberties which must 

 be respected: t hat government e xists for jthejbenj^^of the .^ 

 people , and not the peop le for the benefit of the governT 

 inent. That nations are the masters of their ownjdestinies. J 

 And now on this continent we have the glorious spectacle 

 of a people governed by one of their own choice, and yet 

 progressing in science and civilization. 



Political and religious liberty has been obtained ; but 

 human nature has not changed, and there still exist among 

 us the same tendencies to the despotism of bygone ages. 

 It is well known that there is a class of men in our midstj 

 who want to do our religious thinking for us as in former 

 times ; and it is also well known that there are those who 

 would abridge popular liberty, who are ever seeking to re- 



