102 



LIBERTY GF REASONING 



only fo much light as is f efficient for knowing what we 

 believe, have been totally fruitlefs to this very day. 



In this undeniable arid univerfally known ftate of the 

 cafe, there remains then, as far at leaft as I am able to 

 conceive, only this alternative, in regard to all fuch 

 truths as are obfeure, ambiguous, myflerious, in con- 

 tradiction to common-fenfe and univerfal experience, 

 or to other paffages in the Bible itfelf ; in one word, 

 whatever is not generally comprehenlible and intelli- 

 gible : either to fubmit them to an infallible judge in 

 matters of faith, who alone is qualified and authorized 

 to determine on the meaning of doubtful words and 

 proportions : or, that we acknowledge all thofe for our 

 brethren who agree with us in this, that they adhere to 

 the religion of Chrifl, and confefs no infallible judge 

 ' over them in matters of faith, but Infiffc on a right to 

 believe according to their own conviction, or, which is 

 the fame thing, on the right of making that reprefenta- 

 tion of all that is obfeure and incomprehenfible in reli- 

 gion which appears to them mofr. jufc, however diffe- 

 rent it may be from our's ; I fay to acknowledge them 

 for our brethren, notw i thftand i n g this difference : and 

 by this temper, fo perfectly confonant with the fpirit 

 of Chrifl:, at once to put an end for ever to all detefrable 

 animofities, accufations of herefy, and horrid perfec- 

 tions, together with all the other mifchiefs that arife from 

 them in civil and chriftian fociety. W ould we em- 

 brace the former party ? then I fee no new alternative. 

 Nothing remains to us, in that cafe, but llraitway to 

 throw ourf elves at the feet of the thrice bleiied father 

 in his triple crowned holinefs, to be reconciled with 

 our good old mother, la Sainte Eglife, and to believe 



what 



