The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-10-23

tprom the Previdsses Hsrsld.) q.
I1s Mefkedisf Church -its Gosers1<sts
its Diseip6as. and ia influence.
No. J.
when religion 10 circumscsibsd with
in sss proper limits; and. its opsrssion
confined Ca iis legiiiInste object. what
svsr many BE- our opinion Of lie tssth or
prstensions, we hays M just easss Of
eomplait. II 10, them strictly . ease of
conscience. in which no one hes the right
TO interfere /; and we have every reason
60 rejoice that the principles Of ouF con-
stitution and gov ernmsnt are such, a.
90 protect all orders agaiast apy ea-
croaehment on the right Of enjoying per-
feet freedom 10 tins respect Still. there
are certain bounds, which even religion
itself prescribes. within which shs should
concentrate her energies, within which
her operations should he confined, and
which she has no more right 20 overstep,
than others have 70 iavads her allotted
province. .s - 4
For instance, tho votafies OF religion
have no more right to prsvs tho civil gus-
eminent into her caese, and demand the
strength and energies Of the secular arm
10 sustaiR il. than those who 6s;xa; be
opposed 60 that cause. have TO demand
the same aid TO overthrow Il. The rea-
son 10 perfectly obvious :-Religion 10 a
matter that rests entirely witt,shs con-,
scienee. To credit, or discredit il. must
J be the effect Of moral 'sussion. No man
can be made believer, or nm unbeliever
BY nero force Of law; and each should
be left to think No he pleases; for at the
moment the civil authority intsrferss, il
must violate the rights Of conscience IN
one party. while, nj the same time, those
rights belong ~ much to 10th. n 20
either Of them. II. 10 a disregard Of
this principle, that has given birth to oil
the religious prosecutions in she wosd,
and been the indirect cause of immo-
lating millions Of our fellow beings an
the altar Of fanaticism. Rsiigionists
not saiis6ed with the privilege Of enjoy
ing, unmoiested, their own mode Uffnitl,,
and psseticing on the forms Of their own
rituals. have. with an Unsuitable longing
cruel conclusion, Of calling in the civil
power TO their aid, to force orhers into
their views. Having acquired the inaa.
ence, having freedom Of csnscisuce for
themselves, they have bassly invaded |
the rights Of others; and punished their |
disobsdienee with dungeons, 6re and |
fsggot. And. in doing This, these pre-
tended mes Of God-the prsfesssd fol-
lowers Of Jesus Christ, ,issse shamefuiIy |
violated the command that stands second
In the divine system. !, "s.sys wo1id ,ha,
.'"srs should do unto yos, do ye even %
unto them." 49, v. i
Nor 10 it only when .rel;xioa cour.s
tho aid of the civil law. that she oyer-
steps hei bounds. She is equally charge.
able with the 'violesioa Of her own pre-
scribed rules. when. she 'lexguss hersslf
with wealth ,avails herself Of iis influence,
puts on a naughty and impe sious asrscs,
and arrays herseifia screwed g~rbs sf ]
worldly greatness. to .oserawe the multi
tudss and drive them into her fold. She
then puts of the meeknes Of the lamb,
assumes the menacing aspect and attis-
ude Of the lordly lion, and palms herself
90 her converts, for what she 10 not, and
practices deception. to make prosslytes; ;
and who. after all, are mere hypocri,ical
presenders, T.
Much more ID. christianity outra ged,
and its pretensions 'falsi6ed, when hose
who advocate her doctrines. make use Of
every means in their power to Obtain a
preponderating influence in the affairs
Ut state, TO convert its powers into in.
struments Of their own aggra ndisemen,,
ask for privileges they would withheld
from others, and make the laws subser.
Went to their peculiar views. Nor 10 il
ut oil more congenial with the rights Of
society st large, fos them tn exert their |,
influence 10 control i,s concerns by their
own rules, To Blow to the see psre ell
their power. by means df ,hrests or J
promises, those they cannot win by ar
gument, 10 sustain tho church, and in |,
crease her authority - And il 10 equally I,
unjust, equally opposed to the principle
of right, eqoslly m encroachmenS on
she liberty Of conscience, to impose on
the ignorant, the 0n~sry, end the unsus-
pscting, ddyn'as, jaws, rules aud reguis-
tons, the force and bearing Of wiach,
they do not comprehend. TO which they
probably would; NOT submh, IL they did |
comprehend shen, aud thrh strict OBJ
servsnce OF which, without beinr s,so-
duetive of sny known, stssluss good, 10
intended only to sEssnd the iniue nes,
and increase the power Of the few over
the many. -
In al thss ;rssrw>l.n:..s ~.::l