standing, and establish a kingdom of darkness, is just so far more barbarous than even that monftrous cruelty, as the mind excels the body; or as understanding and reafon are fuperior to sense. Cardinal Richlieu fays, in his Political Teftament, "That fubjects with know"ledge, fenfe, and reason, are as mon"ftrous as a beaft with hundreds of eyes “would be; and that fuch a beast will "never bear its burden peaceably. "Whence he infers, it is impoffible to promote defpotick power, while learn❝ing is encouraged and extended. The "people must be hood-winked, or ra"ther blinded, if one would have them "tame and patient drudges. In fhort, you must treat them every way like pack-horfes or mules, not excepting "the bells about their necks, which by "their perpetual jingling may be of use "to drown their cares." Now this is plain dealing, and confiftent politicks. But to talk of Liberty and Free Government, Publick Good and Rational Happinefs, as requiring limitations on the Prefs, and Licenfers of books, is as abfurd as to speak of liberty in a dungeon with chains on every limb. Hobbes too was confiftent with himself, and advises those who aini at abfolute dominion, to deftroy all the antient Greek and Latin authors; because, if thofe are read, Principles of Liberty, and juft Sentiments of the Dignity and Rights of Mankind must be imbib'd. But can there be more more glaring bare-faced nonsense than to fay, "That the very fupport of a free "conftitution requires the Extinction of "the Prefs" that is, the Extinction of the ONLY Means of knowing what we are as Men and Chriftians; what our natures are capable of; what is our just happiness, and how we ought to be treated by our governors; that is, by thofe whom we have entrusted with the management of our interefts and con.cerns! I hope it will never be this nation's misfortune, to fall into the hands of an adminiftration that do not from their fouls abhor any thing that has but the remoteft tendency towards the erection of a new and arbitrary jurifdiction over the prefs: P 3 prefs: or can otherwise look upon any attempt that way, than as the greatest impiety, the cruelleft, the wickedeft, the moft irreligious thing that can be imagined. Would it not be facrilegioufly robbing God of the only worship he delights in, "the worship of the heart and understanding?" Can there be Religion or Virtue without Reason, Thought, and Choice? Or can Reason, Thinking, Knowledge, and Choice, fubfift without the only conceivable means of making men wife and and understanding, rational, and virtuous? What is the kingdom of CHRIST? doth not our Saviour delight in calling it Light, and a Kingdom of Light? And what did he come to deftroy but the kingdom of darkness? darkness? And can there be a kingdom of light, without the liberty, the unconstrained liberty, of diffufing light and knowledge? What is the Reformation, or what does it mean, but the Liberty, the abfolute and perfect Liberty of correcting and refuting errors, and of undeceiving mankind? What is it that we call PROTESTANTISM, but a refolution ftedfaftly and undauntedly to oppofe all encroachments upon rational Liberty, the Liberty of the judgment and underftanding; and to maintain it as our most valuable treasure, our greatest and nobleft privilege, in comparifon of which, all other rights are mean and trifling, and hardly deserve the name of bleffings and advantages? A free Proteftant Country, P 4 |