683 
The Mev. R. Fa’py s Sermons. 
Some of the most reflecting and con¬ 
scientious among the regular dissenters 
al'ow the necessi ty of an ecclesiastical es¬ 
tablishment in the state, addiougii they, 
cannot conform to all the Joctrines^and 
ritual of the Church of England. Per¬ 
fection in an establishment cannot be 
attained by man ; if it could, it would 
probably fail to receive universal assent, 
tinlessit were possible 
To make one reason have the same effect 
Upon all apprehensions.” 
But the imperfection of human systems 
ought not to be-the occasions of schism. 
No man,^’ to use the words of the wri¬ 
ter before quoted, “ can be bound in 
duty to desert a national religion on 
sccount of defects congenial to its na¬ 
ture, nor to search for perfection, which 
IS no where to be found. Some religious 
establishment is absolutely necessary to 
the existence of every state; but it is 
not necessary that this should be per¬ 
fect and free from all errors and corrup¬ 
tion, nor even that it should be so es» 
teemed by those who conturm to it; it is 
sudicieiuly perfect for this purpose, if it 
contains nothing repugnant to the prin¬ 
ciples of sound morality, and the doc¬ 
trines of Christ. ' The mass of the peo¬ 
ple in every country, being incapable of 
making any accurate inquiry into reli¬ 
gious "subjects, must have a religion 
ready made, or none at all ; and in this, 
those of superior abilities may conscien¬ 
tiously join, without impeding their for¬ 
mer reseaiciies into the dispensations of 
p'l'ovidcnce, and the duties of man.— 
Some religious establishment must be 
annexed to every civil government; the 
members of wiiich are so far from being 
bound in duty to desert it, because it falls 
short of their ideas of purity and perfec- 
tioB, tliat they are obliged by ali the ties 
of benevolence and society to conform 
to and support it, unless it requires any 
concession positively criminal. 
“ Siiouid it be still insisted on, that 
every man is obliged to profess and exer¬ 
cise that religion, which appears to him 
TrU'ist consonant to reason, and most px» 
cepiable to God, with which no govern¬ 
ment can have a nglit to ineddle, or 
power to controul; I shall only answer, 
that all this is undoubtedly a mistake, 
wiiich arises from applying propositions 
to men,'as members of national commu¬ 
nities. which-are applicable to them only 
as individuals. Mankind ought ahvays 
to be considered in a two-iold capacity; 
as individuals, and as members of so¬ 
ciety : tliat is, as men, aqd as citizens ; in 
winch difl'eiciU situations^ so diflierent 
I 
are their relations and duties, that the.»"9 
is scarce a,proposition, winch we can 
affirm of them with truth in one, which 
is nut false, if applied to them in the 
other. It is by tins misapplication that 
the zealous advocates for unbounded li¬ 
berty, civil and religious, deceive their 
followers, and sometimes themselves, 
and draw conclusions equally destructive 
of all government and religion. Thus, 
for instance, they assert that all men are 
by nature free, equal, and independent: 
this, wiien applied to men as a general 
species, is true; they then apply this 
assertion to men, who are members of 
civil communities, to whom subordination 
is necessary, and obedience to their su¬ 
periors ail indispensable duty,and there¬ 
fore in regard to whom it is absolutely 
false : and vet from hence they endea¬ 
vour to prove, that government is an in- 
friiigernent of the natural rights of man¬ 
kind. In like manner they affirm, that 
every man is obliged to make choice of 
that religion, and to adhere to that mod^ 
of worship, which appear to his judg¬ 
ment to be the purest and most acceptable 
to his Creator; this proposition,likewise, 
with regard to men, considered as indivi¬ 
duals, is true; but this they apply to 
members of national communities, and 
established churches; with regard to 
w hom it is not true; for, as such, they ar^ 
bound in duty to protess that religion, 
and practise that mode of worship, which 
the laws of that community enjoin, pro¬ 
vided tliey find nothing in them positive¬ 
ly evil; yet-from hence they would per¬ 
suade us, tliat every individual has a right 
to desert or even to oppose, the esta¬ 
blished religion of his country, whenevei 
he finds, or fancies he can find a better. 
Thus are their unwary admirers deceiv- . 
ed : the truth of these propositions they 
cannot deny, and have not perhaps saga¬ 
city sufficient to discover their misappli¬ 
cation.'^ 
Those who have perused the notes fo 
the sermon for the Bible S.miety will not 
conclude from the expression of simila? 
sentiments, that any opposition is intend¬ 
ed to the regular anti conscientious dis¬ 
senters. I have belield too much learn¬ 
ing, candour, zeal lor the diffusion of 
chrislianitYj and desire of conciliation, iii 
many of them, not to cherish every sug¬ 
gestion, that would bring us togetlier 
into one fold, as we protess to follow one 
sheplierd. I earnestly entreat them to, 
consider the liberality and tenderness, 
wiiich the Cliurch of England , exercises 
towards those of her children, 'vlioso 
seatimeiits stg marked by slight shades 
