The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-05-06
LONDON, and to be IOIa "
A N N A / o II y 5 = -

that you have nor told me whether | have a
right TO enjoy this liberty, or whether you have,
or our fathers in the year i6oz had, right TO
deprive me and impofe upon me form of re-
ligion contrary to my confidence, profsilion snd
.praetice. This matter ought NOT, nor cannot
I've in fulpcnce, wherefore | hope and expect,
Srs, you will give me direG aniwer. viii
uie the freedom TO make few obleIvations, and
as aim at nothing but truth, pray you will
give me an impartial hearing. If civil COM
munity have right to determine matters Of
faith and dictate the worihip of God, then all
reformation and The protefant cauie is bur re-
beIlion, and all hopes and pofIibility of refor-
nation iscut off except the world in general
will be 70 good as TO reform. If civil ccm-
murity have not this right, what cover can you
have for this impoftion, no doubt you can FAY
we look upon the religion and wotfhip we Pc
fels to be right, and he nhft bes fool, or woffs,
that cannot fay 70 of whar he profeies But
would you not think it hard If you might rot
Judge for yourfelyes. | with you the fall en-
ioyment, and all the benefit of yer religion
and worfhip Except what is made up Of force
and violence) without moleltston or any other
form forced upon you. and why cannot you al.
low me the fame liberty and privilege Is it in
regard TO my welfare that you would fain losd
me with your form of religion If 10 | pray
you to recommend it at lcait, by fhewirg thar
its advocates receive 70 much benefit by it, as to
make them willing to bear its charge, if Baal
bea God let him plead for himfelf. Is it not
ridiculous, and too audacious to be borne, in a
ny publicSmGket, TO be forced to buy the
wsFes and tkkhNrchant fet his own price, elpe.
chlB if the com modify be 70 great a drug that
YOU would by no means be burdened with il,
executive the price 1t it not grevous bur-
den rather than benefit, to be drove into re-
ligious fociety, where mult be deprived of ak
manner Of focal freedom and liberty, and be
pinioned and tied down to degree ntolerable
to be borne by fenfble nan in any civil COM
munity ! Could you with any tolerable patti
ence attend town. meetings for the regulation Of
outward affairs, and improvement of worldly
intereR, where you mutt be deprived of peak
ing in behalf of the town, to promote IT'S inte-
ref and give your reafons againf what IL to its
detriment, where man mutt be fent and faIi-
oned to (peak and dictate in all matters depend
ing, becauie he better understands laws and cuff
toms than the town inhabitants. Would
you think it honorable or Satisfactory to be q
member of general aHembly, where you mu&
perpemalIy attend and hear what your matter
has to fay, and no liberty to fpeak in favour of
the public interea, or againa the reverie, with
out being looked upon as difurber becsuie
It is thought mott orderly and regular, that one
bred and brought up for the bufineis, ihou!d die
tate fpeak and govern.-And can with any
confidence or fstisfaetion join in religious AZ
fembly, where Cannot have liberty openly, to
bear teRimony to the truth and sgaina falhood,
and orderly to fpeak and improve, as | may
have ability and a dfpoftion for the benefit of
the fociety, and where cannot have the fatis-
faction of hearing any other member, properly
dilpoGed, 70 fpeak and 70 improve, according to
the direction of the APoRle, in the 1T Of Cor.
the whole of the I4th Chap. Are you not re-
duced to thefe pitiful circumstances, BY the
law which upholds this impoGtion land which
is all the covering you can haVs'tO difinguiih
thele bills from forgery, although this law is
made CT groGs opPreaion and palpable contra
dietion) for by this law the Inhabitants of any
town in the province mnR by no means meet