American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-01-07

,;o,s And uspfpaliois Of the church continued tol
ssarrss. in darkening and enslaving The humanl
"a mt, IL began 10 be enlg hened and beratedI
"A - ralormers in the 18th and 10th centuries
10 ;nventon of printing which happened about
"A. same time, promoted greatly the same OBJECT
Mn revival Of letters taking place aiso assisted IN
"a .i,,, the thick gloom which had so long cloud
3, H. in,llecual atmosphere. Errors which have
nj, "n deem root in the human mind, and have been
IA lony continuance are not however, 10 be ersdlcat-
~, Ill n once Reason il unfetered VIII accomplish,
work; but it is a work OF time. 30 niue was
Il io;ous liberty understood 10 Great Britain, after
. neople had been delivered from the super
&;,ion and tyranny Of the Roman church, that it was
,creeded by an ecclesiastical establishment, almost
IA il,rlerant and oppressive All persons whether
81 ,an Catholics or Protestant dissenters, who
aid not subscribe to the thirty nine articles OF the
N hnrrh Of England and conform to her mode Of
%,shin incurred serious disabilities under the test
N ws and were exposed to relentless, ruinons pro-
#ecn,ios By these the first settlers Of these states
q ere driven here. But although compelled by the
$igbls Of conscience having been withheld from
le.n and by their sufferings under the intolerance
#nd Injustice Of the British Hierarchy olease their
m a,iye land aud seek an asylum in tie American
II, ,ldernrss, they had not learned wisdom. The
snuakers and other religious societies were perse-
., nrd by the Purrans in New ny land who vert
nwiIling that they should ENJOY the same privlle-
No. with themselves IN the article OF religions be-
.iirr and worship. Nor whre correct views enter
Name on this subject, until these states were seve
~ ed from Great Britain by the revolutionary contest.
&I ven the first constitutions WEIGH formed in
he evefa states, exhibi, evidences of the error, IN
#ahis respect which had been general and exist
#ed so long, having not been entirely done away
%rhe most Of them required belief in the christian
-.
The protection of the law TO christian denomina-
&,;on. only. The constitution OF Delaware was less
%lberal on this point than any other (that OF New
SJersey exeepted) requiring albcef cot only in the
CHRISTIAN religion. but in the doctrine Of the trinity
also, doctrine disbclieved by great numbers 81
christians in every age Of The church, from the days
Of Aius 10 the present time In 1872 It was di-
YES ed Of its llliberaity herein by the Convention
which reyiseh and amended it. So have all the
constitutions Of the old states, dis6gured with the
same defect which have undergone renovation. In
the teeial constitution, and more especially IN
every one Of recent organization in the new states
the rights OF conscience are acknowledged IN the
full, ST manner No one is to be molested on &C
count OF his religious principles unless they should
manifest themselves in disturbing the peace of So
ciey the enlightened men who furmed these in
sttuneuts, concefsing that the members OF com
nunity are responsible to government for their
lions only, and not Tor their opinions.
Religion 10 be real, must be free. BY DRAWN
UP rules Of faith AID obliging men to subscribe
70 them, you may make hypocrites, but saints you
cannot. True religion never has been, nor can be
thus promoted Left to Itself, it prospers most
when priests and politicians unite in It's support
it is certain to decay. There is SO great variety
in the constitutions talents education, habits, and
circumstances Of men, that Ito two persons, who
ever yet lived, thought exactly alike. And IN nC
subject which has engaged their attention, has a
greater diversity of sentiment existed than on thai
OF religion. Those who have believed IN the exls
tence of Supreme Being, belief of all others the
most general, have been far from agreeing 10 Their
opinions concerning his nature and attributes, his
agency, and moral influence in governing the uni
verse. And II truths % obvious 10 tlieclng mind
and SO important, have failed in obtaining universe
credence could il be rraso a5ly expected that there
should be no sceptics in egard to the Authenticity
OF he christian reveal ION, when those who probes
to believe the doctrines it teaches have never ye
com 10 an agreement, what those doctrines are
And /; Christian professors have not been able t
art've al uniformity III ihei: religious sentiments
so a. % unite in common creed, how absurd a
well as unjust has it been in those governments
which have espoused the religion u psrtc ula
denomination, ard established it by law, laying un
Sier restrictions, and exposing to heavy penalties
s"hlSlhheS even Death, such oil their subjects OF Ct
fzes, as could cot Weld their assent to its Gogmas
aud Join IN 1t, worship? TO the honor OF the fede
raj and state governments, they are free from thi
imputation--a religious sects and denomination
texcept IN the states oi Mary land and New-Jersey
being put on an equal footing; no one brine above
greater privileges than the rest. And there is Ger
taInly no cause to regret the consequences OF tbi
hoeral feature in their institutions. Piety and mc
rallty have not been less prosperous here than !
countries where religious establishments exist.
IS thought, on the contrary that they have Tourist
ed more For all being protected alike by the civ
sahorltIes IN their respective rights and modes
worship and no persons mourning any disahilitie
UT expressions, on account OF their religious {
Glhan AAinInlac L--i