OF THE LAST CENTURY. 59 



to {hackle the freedom of thought in free citizens by 

 prefcribed prejudices, or to confine it conftantly to 

 any one kind of them whatever. 



As far as relates to the public diflurbances, which 

 fometimes arife on account of innovations in doctrine : 

 they undoubtedly proceed only from hence, that ob- 

 jects of mere fpeculation and reflection are adopted 

 amongft the objects of legiflation, and opinions placed 

 in the fame clafs with crimes ; — opinions, the fticklers 

 for which are never facrificed to the general good, but 

 always alone to the hatred and perfecuting fpirits of 

 their pious opponents. 



If the fovereign authority would content itfelf with 

 taking cognizance of actions, and leave tenets undif- 

 turbed ; then would thefe fpecious occalions of fedition 

 fall away of themfelves, and no learned controverfy 

 would degenerate into mutiny and interline war. 



I have often been furprifed, that men who are re- 

 peating to us on every occaiion, that they believe and 

 profefs chriftianity ; that is, a religion of love, of 

 heartfelt joy, of inward ferenity and peace, of mode- 

 ration and fmcerity towards all men, — - 1 fay, that, 

 thefe very men mould be always quarelling, in their 

 quarrels difplay the moft rancorous and malicious dis- 

 positions, and reciprocally treat each other with a ha- 

 tred which we are rather tempted to take for the token 

 of their own religion, than for a property of chriftia- 

 nity. Matters have long proceeded to fuch lengths 

 among us, that we can diftinguifh a chriftian from a 

 jew, a turk, or a heathen, by no other characteristic, 

 than by the particular drefs in which he publicly ap- 

 pears, the temple he frequents, the opinion he openly 



holds, 



