Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1826-12-09

N "s "o'm' u Is contradiction tn lac
}. for Il is Known that this religion bo,
4 existed and 1ourished, DOT on withou
o the support Of human lave, but in spit
n Of every opposition from them an
notonly during the period Of mirncu
! lous and, but long after j, had been lei
TO its own evidence, and the .ordinar,
Z care Of Providence. Nay, it's a con
I tradiclien in terms, for religion no, il
vented by human policy. must have pr,
existed and been supported, before i
was established by human policy. Il
is. moreover to weaken 10 those who
ipro'ess 1ls re'igiop, pious confidence
IN It's innate excellence, aud the pa
, tronage ofits author, and to foster in
those who still reject it, a suspicion
TINT its friends are too conscious of its
Efallacies, TO trus, it to It's own merits.
Because. experience Witnessed h, that
ecclesiastical establishments. instead OF
maintaining the purity and efficacy Of
religion, have had contrary opera
ton. During almost fifteen centuries,
has the legal establishment of chris, IAN
!ity been on trial. What have been its
fruits? More or less in all places,
pride and indoience in the clergy ig.
norance and servility in the luity, in
both, superstition, b,gotry and pefse.
fcation. ioqsire Of the teachers OF
christianity for the ages in which it ap-
peared in its greatest lustre: those Of
every sect poiut to the ages prior to
us incorporation with c,vil policy
Propose a restoration Of this pl imtiye
state, in Which It's teachers depended on
the voluntary rewards Of their 'flocks );
many Of them predict its downfall. On
which side ought their testimony to
have greatest we ght when for, or when
against their interest !!
Because, the establishment in ques-
ton is not necessary TOR the support
OF civil government. IL ii be urged as
necessary for the support Of civil gov
ernment, only as it is a means Of sup
psriiag religion aud as it is got nece,-
sary for the latter purpose, it cannot be
necessary for The former. If religion
be not within the cognizance of civil
government? What influence, in fact,
have ecclesia,tical establishments had
on civil society 4? In some instances
they have been seen to erect a spiritu-
al tyranny On the ru'ns of. the civil ao-
thority; in many instances they have
been seen uphoidipg the thrones Of po-
lltical tyranny in no instance have they
been seen the guardians OF the liberties
of The people. Rulers VINO wished to
subyert the publick liberty, may have
found an established clergy convenient
aax.lialies. Ajnst government, insti.
tuted to secure and perpetuate.it, needs
hem nok Such government will be
best supported by protecting every cit
izen in The enjoyment Of his religion
with the same equal hand. which pro-
tects his person, and his property by
neither invading the equal rights Of any
sect, nor sofferng any sec. to invade
those of another.
Because, the proposed establishment
Is departure from that senernus poli-
cy, which, Offering an asylum to the
prosecuted and oppressed Of every ma.
ion and religion, promised lustre to
,ur country and an accession to the
numver of.its citizens. What melan. 6
choly mark is the bill Of sudden degen- {
eracy ? Instead of holding forth an !
asy Ium to the prosecuted, it is itself a /
'igual of persecution. 1t degrades from q
he equal rank Of citizens all whose o.
pinions in religion do not bend TO those {
of the legislative authority. Distant as {
il may be in its present form, from the {
it differs from il only in de- +,
,ree. The one is the first step, the {
other the last in the career Of intoler-
nnce. The magnsnimuus sufferer un S
Ter this cruel scourge in foreign re-
sions, must view the bill as beacon on {
our coast warning him to seek some
other haven. where liberty and philan- q
thropy, in their due extent, may Of
fer a more certain reT,se from his Q
troubles, Il
Because, it will have a like ten '
dency to Danish our citizens. The
presented by other situ-
a,ions are every day thinning their
To superadd fresh mo- !
live to emigration, by revoking the
liberty which they now enjoy, would
be the same species of folly, which \
has disbonourcd aud dcpopulatcd !
aourisling kingdoms. 4
Because, it will destroy that mod O
grafton and harmony which the for- q
bearance of our laws TO iutermcddlc .
With religion. has prmuced amongs! $
its several ,seets: Torrents Of blood =