judging abfolutely for himself in all religious matters: because zeal being a much more common thing than knowledge, it must often happen, even upon the moft charitable conftruction, that fincerity and error will be fo intimately blended together, that justly to difcriminate between them will furpafs the common powers of the human mind. *

A learned and elaborate inveftigation of this general fubje&t, the reader will find in "the Hiftory of Infant Baptifm," by the Rev. W. Wall. For the manner in which this fubject, as applicable to our prefent purpose has been handled in the foregoing Chapter, the reader will find abundant authority in "the Cafe of Infant Baptifm" above referred to; written by that most learned divine and ornament of the Church of England, the Rev. G. HICKES, D.D·

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DISCOURSE VII.

On LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE.

'O the pleas already advanced in justification of

feparation from the church, may be added thofe general ones which refpect the hacknied fubjects of liberty of confcience, toleration, and the right of private judgment in religious matters; upon each of which it may be neceffary to fay a few words: because vulgar errors of fome magnitude have been attached to these popular phrases, which have led many well-meaning people to dangerous conclufions. And the history of this country in particular proves, that it is a matter of importance to prevent people from running away with words; because there is a certain unaccountable magick in the found of fome words, which operates beyond what can be reasonably accounted for: the ill effect of which, upon minds unqualified to difcriminate, it is always difficult, fometimes impoffible, to counteract.

In fact, the generality of mankind are governed by words and names; often without, and fometimes even against their knowledge. Whilft the ignorant multitude are led backward and forward, this way and that way, like a drove of cattle, by the cry to which their drivers have familiarifed them. This has been the cafe from the beginning of the world to the present day; and must be the cafe, fo long as men continue to be what they are, more difpofed to act than to think.

But words, it is to be observed, are but the garments of things; and fometimes loofe garments, which are put off and on, according to the taste or humour of their employer. At the fame time it should be remembered, that how often foever the dress may change, the body still remains the fame: in other words, there is a character of truth essential to the nature of certain fubjects, which, though by an artful disguise it may be made to ferve the cause of impofture, will not remain unknown to those who have judgment and refolution to ftrip off the dress designed

to conceal it.

Nothing would be more eafy, than to prove the dreadful confequences derivable to fociety from fuch fatal deception, by an induction of those numberless circumstances in which a plaufible word, wrested from

its proper fenfe, has proved the means of accomplishing whatever object the artful employer of it had in view, however deftructive to the peace and welfare of mankind. But to avoid digreffion, it will be neceffary to confine myself to what may be confidered as falling within the compafs of our prefent fubject. The only popular phrases, therefore, upon which I fhall now hazard a remark, will be thofe of liberty of confcience, toleration, and the right of private judgment in religious matters; fubjects, upon which all feparatifts from the church are forward in enlarging; because they, for the most part, confider them as ftanding upon ground which is not to be fhaken.

In fubjects, where truth and error border fo clofe upon each other, that it requires nice difcrimination to trace out with precifion the exact line of feparation between them; and in which intereft and prejudice have at all times had much to do, in mifleading the understanding, and corrupting the judgment; we must not be surprised to find, not only a great variety of fentiments and opinions, but also a great perplexity in the manner in which they are delivered. When, through the infirmity of human nature, men are apt to be more intent on gaining the victory over an opponent, than on investigating the cause of truth;