Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-12-19

Goel has made man free, and there
Is no influence that ought, or indeed can
govern bin, as 10 his religion, but the
''ower OF instruction, persuasion, aud the
clear conviction OF duty. Every man
shonld be perfectly voluntary IN whatever
pertains to religion for Inspiration hath
SAID, " LEI every man be fully persuade,
IN his own mind" I shudder al the
thoughi oi any human powers using any
force, or IN any way urging, or aluring
any person To the hasiy performance OF
an act which in one case NAV meiit the
rewards of Heaven, and in another, the
Just punishment Of impi-iy before God :;
and thIuk II quite sure that no civil 90
vrrnment can compel any one 10 he a
Christian. You may deprive him of office,
prosecute and burn him at the stake, bui
thls viii never Convert him 10 Christ
1t government will support religion, il
must do 1t by the strong influence of per-
sonal example, and by enaciing equal
and Just laws for The protection of every
denomination. in all their rights, civil
and religious ; and no, by requiring of all
persons elected for high offices IN the
State, profession Of the Christian faith,
which profession, in soRic cases al least,
their lives may stare IN The face. Besides
'''St ~ ny UO iSHut inca
iaciiy OF this kind should interfere be-
tween the choice Of The people, ard the
accomplishment of their sill, by The ser
wants they have selected. II il be desir-
Cd That Christlaniiy should flourish and
tie diftused through the community, let
In ministers ofCsrisi do their work faith
fully, lei those OF every denomination %.
pen Tier mouths, and convince The pco-
pie oil lis dlvinhy, and everlasting impor-
lance 10 Their interests, here and hereafter,
ana LET Their consciencies and sense OF
duty 10 God only, lead them To The affairs
OF religion, Ia decIa:e their conviction Of
lis truth. and the less legislation about
these things The better. Sir, are we 10
suppose that the Test is so vital!v inpor-
TAM 10 religion aswe have heard? Sir,
test is mol even essential even 10 an es.
iablished religion, EngIand had an es,
'abiished religion long before tlie cxis
tence OF her test and corporation acis.-
Her religious establishment consists I'm
her Illhes, aand Prehcndaries, her Can
snries, her Arch dcac0nrics, hrr Deame
rles, and her BishopIirs, aud will consiS,
OF these long after her tests may have
been repealed. She requires legal pro.
vision for Der ministers, bui moi for her
laiiy. In lreiand the test is repealed,
ana yrI ireland has All established Tell
gion. In Scotland there is no test, and
yet SHETLAND has al established religion
In Holland. Russia, Prussia, & Germany,
they have no test if they are unneces
sary 10 an established religion, surely
gentlemen will think i, much less neces
! sary Ia ours which is free. Let the state
| do lis duty ,guarI Tie temporal Interests oil
! lis ciilzens and leave religinn to Ike care
of Almighty God, the divine author and
patron, and il will spread iis saving inilu
ence over the globe, aud fill the globe
with lis glory"
These are The sentiments Of true rri
gion, they are the sentiments Of reason
| they correspond with all our civil iusii,u
lions. We hope therefore, HAT MARYLAND
Will initiate the honorable and liberal
and just example eff Massachusetts,.
N. 7. Nat. Adp.