A Letter to a member of Parliament, shewing the necessity of regulating the press chiefly from the necessity of publick establishments in religion, from the rights and immunities of a national church, and the trust reposed in the Christian magistrate to protect and defend them : with a particular answer to the objections that of late have been advanced against it.
      
       
         
           1699
        
      
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         A37430
         Wing D837
         ESTC R4998
         12137939
         ocm 12137939
         54806
         
           
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             A Letter to a member of Parliament, shewing the necessity of regulating the press chiefly from the necessity of publick establishments in religion, from the rights and immunities of a national church, and the trust reposed in the Christian magistrate to protect and defend them : with a particular answer to the objections that of late have been advanced against it.
             Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731.
          
           [4], 67 p.
           
             Printed for George West, and Henry Clements,
             Oxford :
             1699.
          
           
             Ascribed to Daniel Defoe. Cf. Wing.
             First ed.
             Errata: p. 67.
             Reproduction of original in Yale University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Freedom of the press -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           LETTER
           TO
           A
           Member
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           Shewing
           the
           Necessity
           of
           
             Regulating
             the
             PRESS
          
           :
           CHIEFLY
           
             
               From
               the
               Necessity
               of
               Publick
               Establishments
               in
               RELIGION
               .
            
             
               From
               the
               Rights
               and
               Immunities
               of
               a
               National
               CHURCH
               .
            
             
               And
               the
               Trust
               reposed
               in
               the
               Christian
               Magistrate
               to
               Protect
               and
               Defend
               them
               .
            
          
           WITH
           
             A
             Particular
          
           ANSWER
           
             to
             the
          
           OBJECTIONS
           
             that
             of
             late
             have
             been
             Advanced
             against
             it
             .
          
        
         
           OXFORD
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             George
             West
          
           ,
           and
           
             Henry
             Clements
          
           .
        
         
           M.
           DC
           .
           XCIX
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           The
           CONTENTS
           .
        
         
           
             An
             Enquiry
             into
             the
             Duty
             of
             the
             Magistrate
             in
             matters
             of
             Religion
             :
             
               Sect.
               1.
            
             
          
           
             Considered
             ,
             first
             ,
             under
             a
             state
             of
             
               Nature
               ,
               1b
            
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             under
             a
             state
             of
             
               Revelation
               :
               Sect.
               2.
            
             
          
           
             An
             Objection
             answered
             :
             
               Sect.
               3.
            
             
          
           
             An
             Enquiry
             when
             there
             are
             two
             or
             more
             Sects
             of
             Religion
             in
             any
             Government
             ,
             why
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             under
             an
             obligation
             of
             protecting
             ,
             or
             rather
             advancing
             the
             one
             more
             than
             the
             other
             :
             
               Sect.
               4
            
             ,
             and
             5.
             
          
           
             The
             Rights
             and
             Authority
             of
             a
             
               National
               Church
            
             considered
             and
             stated
             :
             Sect.
             5.
             
          
           
             The
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             demonstrated
             ,
             not
             only
             as
             it
             is
             a
             necessary
             provision
             to
             advance
             the
             Interests
             of
             Religion
             ,
             but
             to
             preserve
             and
             maintain
             the
             Ends
             and
             Designs
             of
             it
             ,
             as
             professed
             in
             a
             National
             Church
             :
             
               Sect.
               6.
            
             
          
           
             The
             Necessity
             of
             Publick
             Establishments
             in
             Religion
             ,
             and
             the
             pernicious
             Influences
             which
             the
             Liberty
             of
             the
             Press
             has
             upon
             them
             ,
             as
             introductory
             of
             
               Scepticism
               ,
               Heresie
            
             and
             
               Infidelity
               :
               Sect.
               7
               ,
               8
               ,
            
             and
             9.
             
          
           
             The
             Argument
             represented
             in
             several
             Instances
             from
             some
             late
             Prints
             :
             
               Sect.
               8
               ,
               9.
            
             
          
           
             Objections
             answered
             .
          
           
             
             As
             first
             ,
             That
             the
             Attempts
             and
             Mischiefs
             of
             the
             Press
             ,
             may
             as
             effectually
             be
             obviated
             by
             particular
             Laws
             ,
             and
             that
             a
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             from
             the
             Experience
             of
             former
             times
             has
             not
             prevented'em
             :
             
               Sect.
               10.
            
             
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             That
             a
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             is
             a
             giving
             up
             of
             the
             Consciences
             and
             Judgments
             of
             Mankind
             to
             a
             Party
             ,
             and
             a
             Condemning
             them
             to
             an
             Implicit
             Faith
             ,
             and
             is
             a
             direct
             Method
             to
             involve
             the
             World
             in
             Ignorance
             and
             Error
             :
             
               Sect.
               11.
            
             
          
           
             The
             Church
             of
             England
             denies
             no
             Gospel
             means
             of
             Information
             :
             
               Sect.
               12.
            
             
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             That
             every
             one
             ,
             not
             only
             of
             Natural
             Right
             ,
             but
             in
             point
             of
             Charity
             ,
             may
             ,
             and
             ought
             to
             publish
             whatever
             appears
             to
             be
             Truth
             ;
             and
             consequently
             the
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             ,
             which
             abridges
             this
             Right
             ,
             must
             be
             unlawful
             ,
             and
             unjust
             :
             
               Sect.
               13.
            
             
          
           
             The
             Natural
             Rights
             of
             Private
             Persons
             in
             the
             Case
             before
             us
             ,
             stated
             :
             
               Sect.
               14.
            
             
          
           
             The
             `
             Duty
             of
             Informing
             others
             stated
             :
             Ib.
             
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             That
             the
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             ,
             is
             an
             Invasion
             of
             the
             Liberty
             ,
             and
             Property
             of
             an
             
               Englishman
               :
               Sect.
               15.
            
             
          
           
             The
             Conclusion
             ,
             in
             an
             Address
             to
             the
             
               HONOURABLE
               MEMBER
               :
               Sect.
               16.
            
             
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           LETTER
           TO
           A
           Member
           of
           Parliament
           ;
           SHEWING
           The
           Necessity
           of
           Regulating
           the
           PRESS
           :
           With
           a
           Particular
           ANSWER
           to
           the
           OBJECTIONS
           that
           of
           late
           have
           been
           advanced
           against
           it
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           YOU
           have
           been
           pleas'd
           to
           sollicite
           my
           Opinion
           in
           a
           Matter
           of
           Importance
           ,
           by
           way
           of
           Request
           ,
           when
           You
           might
           have
           justly
           
             lay'd
             Your
          
           Commands
           ;
           and
           I
           now
           present
           it
           with
           all
           imaginable
           Deference
           and
           Humility
           .
           You
           have
           led
           me
           into
           a
           large
           Field
           of
           Argument
           ,
           and
           propos'd
           several
           
             weighty
             Enquiries
          
           ;
           but
           since
           they
           are
           advanced
           with
           regard
           to
           a
           
           
             General
             Design
          
           ,
           viz.
           The
           
             Liberty
             of
             the
          
           PRESS
           ;
           I
           shall
           not
           bind
           my self
           up
           to
           that
           Order
           they
           are
           propos'd
           in
           ,
           but
           shall
           speak
           to
           them
           ,
           as
           they
           will
           best
           comport
           with
           the
           Scheme
           I
           have
           projected
           ,
           to
           evince
           the
           Expediency
           of
           
             Restraining
             the
             Press
          
           .
        
         
           In
           order
           to
           this
           Design
           ,
           I
           shall
           reduce
           them
           to
           three
           or
           four
           General
           Enquiries
           .
        
         
           As
           first
           ,
           
             How
             far
             the
             Duty
             of
             the
             Civil
             Governing
             Powers
             extends
             in
             Matters
             of
             Religion
             ?
          
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           
             When
             there
             are
             two
             or
             more
             Sects
             of
             Religion
             in
             any
             Government
             ,
             why
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             under
             an
             Obligation
             of
             protecting
             ,
             or
             rather
             advancing
             the
             one
             ,
             more
             than
             the
             other
             :
          
           And
           on
           this
           Head
           I
           shall
           consider
           the
           Rights
           and
           Authority
           of
           a
           National
           Church
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           
             Whether
             the
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             is
             not
             a
             necessary
             provision
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             advance
             the
             Interests
             of
             the
             true
             Religion
             ,
             but
             to
             preserve
             and
             maintain
             the
             Ends
             and
             Designs
             of
             it
             ,
             as
             profess'd
             in
             a
             National
             Church
             ?
          
        
         
           
           
             SECT
             .
             I.
             I
             begin
             with
             an
             
               Enquiry
               into
               the
               Duty
               of
               the
               Civil
               Governing
               Powers
               in
               Matters
               of
               Religion
               .
            
          
           
             And
             ,
             First
             ,
             It
             will
             be
             received
             as
             an
             indisputable
             Article
             ,
             or
             Proposition
             ,
             That
             every
             
               Governing
               Power
            
             (
             of
             Duty
             as
             well
             as
             Right
             )
             is
             so
             far
             to
             inspect
             the
             Affair
             of
             Religion
             ,
             that
             nothing
             be
             advanced
             ,
             that
             manifestly
             incommodes
             the
             Rights
             or
             Interests
             of
             the
             
               Civil
               Polity
            
             :
             But
             whether
             any
             Government
             is
             under
             a
             further
             Concern
             or
             Obligation
             ,
             seems
             to
             be
             the
             Case
             under
             debate
             .
             Now
             it
             will
             best
             be
             adjusted
             by
             considering
             the
             Nature
             and
             Design
             of
             Civil
             Government
             ;
             first
             under
             a
             state
             of
             Nature
             ,
             and
             secondly
             under
             a
             state
             of
             Revelation
             .
          
           
             That
             Government
             in
             general
             is
             an
             
               Ordinance
               of
            
             GOD
             ,
             
               by
               Divine
               Institution
            
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Allowance
             ,
             and
             consequently
             that
             there
             are
             certain
             Ends
             and
             Designs
             peculiar
             to
             it
             ,
             established
             in
             the
             same
             Authority
             ,
             are
             Truths
             that
             will
             be
             easily
             subscribed
             to
             .
             But
             then
             if
             Government
             rests
             on
             a
             
               Divine
               Original
            
             ,
             and
             there
             are
             certain
             DivineEnds
             and
             Purposes
             appropriate
             to
             it
             ;
             it
             cannot
             well
             be
             imagin'd
             that
             the
             Civil
             
             Welfare
             and
             Conduct
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             is
             the
             sole
             and
             entire
             Province
             of
             the
             
               Civil
               Magistrate
            
             .
             If
             Religion
             is
             the
             most
             important
             Concern
             of
             Mankind
             ;
             and
             if
             there
             's
             
               Fealty
               ,
               Worship
            
             ,
             and
             Obedience
             ,
             due
             from
             a
             Creature
             towards
             a
             Sovereign
             Creator
             ,
             even
             under
             the
             most
             simple
             state
             of
             Nature
             ;
             why
             should
             not
             that
             Great
             GOD
             ,
             which
             constitutes
             the
             Civil
             Magistrates
             Superintendants
             over
             the
             Secular
             affairs
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             be
             as
             zealous
             to
             make
             them
             Guardians
             of
             those
             things
             that
             are
             placed
             more
             near
             him
             ,
             and
             them
             too
             ,
             his
             Honour
             and
             Glory
             ?
             And
             therefore
             I
             'm
             perswaded
             it's
             neither
             Boldness
             nor
             Arrogance
             to
             pronounce
             ,
             That
             the
             Civil
             
               Governing
               Power
            
             ,
             or
             Magistrate
             ,
             was
             originally
             constituted
             for
             the
             Conduct
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             in
             all
             the
             Instances
             of
             
               Human
               Happiness
            
             ;
             and
             consequently
             in
             a
             Religious
             as
             well
             as
             Civil
             Capacity
             .
             Indeed
             the
             inseparable
             Dependance
             and
             Affinity
             ,
             between
             
               Civil
               Happiness
            
             and
             Religion
             ,
             (
             were
             other
             Arguments
             wanting
             )
             is
             alone
             sufficient
             to
             evince
             it
             :
             But
             were
             the
             Experience
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             and
             the
             universal
             Practice
             of
             all
             Civiliz'd
             Governments
             ,
             summoned
             in
             to
             decide
             the
             
             Controversy
             ,
             they
             must
             place
             it
             above
             Dispute
             ,
             or
             Cavil
             .
             If
             we
             respect
             the
             earliests
             Accounts
             of
             Governments
             ,
             and
             particularly
             those
             delivered
             in
             Sacred
             Story
             ,
             we
             find
             the
             Characters
             of
             Prince
             and
             Priest
             ,
             residing
             in
             the
             same
             Person
             .
          
           
             Before
             GOD
             had
             instituted
             a
             
               positive
               Oeconomy
            
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             a
             peculiar
             Order
             of
             Priesthood
             ,
             it
             was
             part
             of
             the
             Patriarchal
             province
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             instruct
             their
             People
             to
             
               call
               upon
               the
               Name
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
            
             but
             to
             wait
             on
             the
             very
             Altar
             ;
             and
             perform
             the
             Priestly
             Function
             of
             Sacrifices
             .
             As
             
               it
               's
               highly
               probable
               from
               the
               History
               of
               the
               Creation
               ,
            
             the
             first
             Governments
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             had
             their
             Rise
             and
             Foundation
             in
             Fathers
             of
             Families
             ;
             so
             we
             are
             undoubtedly
             instructed
             that
             they
             obtained
             the
             Character
             of
             
               Patres
               patrioe
            
             ,
             by
             executing
             all
             the
             Offices
             of
             a
             Parent
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             
               King.
               Abraham
            
             had
             no
             doubt
             his
             Duty
             represented
             as
             a
             Prince
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Master
             of
             a
             Family
             ,
             under
             the
             Compliment
             of
             a
             Divine
             Confidence
             :
             for
             
               I
               know
               him
               that
               he
               will
               command
               his
               Children
               ,
               and
               his
               houshold
               after
               him
               ,
               and
               they
               shall
               keep
               the
               way
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
               to
               do
               justice
               and
               judgment
               ,
            
             
             Gen.
             18.
             19.
             
             And
             truly
             since
             both
             Prince
             and
             Parent
             ,
             have
             the
             Impress
             of
             
               Divine
               Authority
            
             upon
             'em
             ;
             and
             there
             is
             such
             a
             strict
             Affinity
             and
             Correspondence
             between
             'em
             ,
             from
             the
             original
             frame
             of
             things
             ;
             if
             the
             Character
             of
             a
             Parent
             extends
             to
             a
             Religious
             as
             well
             as
             Civil
             Capacity
             ,
             it
             cannot
             well
             be
             disputed
             ,
             but
             that
             of
             a
             Prince
             carries
             the
             same
             extent
             and
             latitude
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             may
             safely
             be
             concluded
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             a
             point
             of
             Duty
             in
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             antecedent
             to
             any
             
               positive
               Oeconomy
            
             of
             Religion
             ,
             to
             promote
             the
             Interests
             ,
             if
             not
             execute
             the
             Spiritual
             Functions
             of
             Religion
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             advance
             the
             Welfare
             of
             the
             State
             :
             And
             very
             probably
             it
             was
             a
             Divine
             Institution
             ,
             as
             ancient
             and
             primitive
             as
             Government
             it self
             .
          
           
             And
             certainly
             the
             Model
             of
             all
             Heathen
             Governments
             confirms
             the
             Notion
             .
             It
             's
             well
             known
             the
             
               Egyptian
               Monarchs
            
             (
             Famous
             in
             the
             earliest
             Records
             )
             bare
             the
             Character
             of
             Priest
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             King.
             The
             Chinese
             to
             this
             Day
             ,
             look
             upon
             the
             Priesthood
             to
             bear
             so
             near
             a
             Relation
             to
             that
             of
             the
             Empire
             ,
             that
             the
             most
             Solemn
             Mysteries
             of
             Religion
             ,
             are
             still
             a
             Prerogative
             
             peculiar
             to
             the
             Sovereign
             .
             Religion
             in
             the
             Eastern
             and
             Western
             parts
             of
             Europe
             ,
             was
             always
             so
             much
             the
             Business
             of
             Government
             ,
             that
             if
             the
             publick
             Acts
             and
             Offices
             of
             Religion
             were
             not
             immediately
             perform'd
             by
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             they
             were
             constantly
             directed
             ,
             and
             enforc'd
             by
             him
             .
             If
             the
             publick
             Defence
             of
             a
             Countrey
             ,
             where
             its
             Territories
             were
             enlarged
             and
             extended
             ,
             diverted
             him
             from
             attending
             the
             Altar
             ,
             it
             was
             his
             special
             Care
             to
             constitute
             a
             Priesthood
             ,
             and
             regulate
             the
             Affairs
             of
             Religion
             ,
             by
             publick
             Laws
             and
             Sanctions
             :
             these
             are
             such
             known
             and
             allow'd
             Truths
             ,
             and
             so
             well
             attested
             ,
             in
             the
             Learning
             of
             the
             Greeks
             and
             Latins
             ,
             that
             I
             shall
             not
             now
             appeal
             to
             Authors
             ;
             and
             they
             are
             all
             convincing
             Evidences
             ,
             that
             one
             End
             of
             Government
             ,
             in
             the
             original
             Frame
             and
             Model
             of
             it
             ,
             was
             to
             inspect
             the
             Conduct
             of
             Mankind
             in
             the
             Affairs
             of
             Religion
             .
             Thus
             far
             not
             only
             the
             Duty
             ,
             but
             Prerogative
             of
             the
             Magistrate
             discovers
             it self
             in
             a
             State
             of
             Nature
             ,
             antecedent
             to
             Revelation
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             SECT
             .
             II.
             It
             remains
             that
             we
             consider
             it
             under
             a
             positive
             Oeconomy
             of
             Religion
             .
          
           
             And
             ,
             first
             ,
             under
             that
             of
             the
             Jews
             .
             Now
             tho'
             GOD
             thought
             fit
             upon
             the
             first
             positive
             Establishment
             of
             Religion
             ,
             to
             institute
             an
             Order
             of
             Men
             ,
             and
             separate
             them
             from
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             to
             attend
             at
             his
             Altar
             ,
             to
             
               offer
               for
               themselves
               ,
               and
               the
               sins
               of
               others
            
             ;
             yet
             it
             's
             manifest
             he
             did
             not
             exempt
             the
             Civil
             Magistrate
             from
             inspecting
             the
             Affairs
             of
             Religion
             .
             No
             ,
             it
             was
             his
             special
             Duty
             ,
             to
             protect
             and
             defend
             the
             
               True
               Religion
            
             ;
             to
             punish
             and
             suppress
             
               Idolatry
               ,
               Seducers
            
             ,
             and
             
               Falle
               Prophets
            
             ,
             and
             to
             make
             such
             wholesom
             provisions
             ,
             as
             served
             the
             cause
             of
             Religion
             ,
             in
             the
             enforcement
             of
             its
             
               Publick
               Acts
            
             and
             Offices
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             Advancement
             of
             its
             Ends
             and
             Designs
             .
             The
             Sacred
             Writings
             have
             delivered
             so
             many
             Instances
             ,
             and
             Rules
             of
             this
             Nature
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             wholly
             needless
             to
             enlarge
             in
             an
             express
             Citation
             .
             It
             's
             well
             known
             he
             often
             directed
             the
             Building
             of
             places
             of
             
               Religious
               Worship
            
             ,
             enjoyn'd
             Fasts
             ;
             and
             in
             a
             word
             ,
             interpos'd
             in
             most
             of
             the
             Circumstantials
             of
             Religion
             .
             Now
             it
             's
             
             certain
             these
             were
             not
             bare
             
               Arbitrary
               Offices
            
             ,
             and
             the
             product
             of
             a
             
               Voluntary
               Zeal
            
             ;
             but
             they
             were
             either
             the
             immediate
             Instruction
             of
             Heaven
             ,
             or
             the
             effects
             of
             some
             
               General
               Precepts
            
             ;
             and
             consequently
             were
             intended
             as
             standing
             Instances
             of
             Duty
             .
             If
             we
             examine
             the
             oeconomy
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             we
             must
             conclude
             ,
             That
             as
             we
             have
             not
             the
             least
             hint
             that
             any
             ways
             abridges
             the
             Rights
             and
             Authority
             of
             the
             Civil
             Magistrate
             ,
             further
             than
             they
             were
             exercised
             under
             the
             Law
             ,
             so
             we
             do
             not
             find
             the
             least
             Exemption
             from
             any
             Moral
             point
             of
             Duty
             in
             the
             Affairs
             of
             Religion
             ,
             to
             which
             they
             were
             antecedently
             bound
             .
             Now
             it
             cannot
             be
             deny'd
             ,
             but
             that
             the
             Nature
             and
             State
             of
             the
             
               Christian
               Church
            
             is
             frequently
             describ'd
             in
             the
             Writings
             of
             the
             Prophets
             :
             And
             among
             those
             various
             Descriptions
             ,
             the
             Character
             of
             
               Christian
               Kings
            
             and
             Princes
             ,
             recorded
             by
             the
             Prophet
             Isaiah
             ,
             is
             as
             glorious
             as
             it
             is
             remarkable
             :
             
               And
               Kings
               shall
               be
               thy
               nursing
               Fathers
               ,
               and
               their
               Queens
               thy
               nursing
               Mothers
               —
               for
               they
               shall
               not
               be
               ashamed
               that
               wait
               for
               me
               ,
               Isa.
            
             44.
             v.
             23.
             
             This
             Passage
             is
             unanimously
             interpreted
             
             of
             the
             
               Christian
               Magistrate
            
             ;
             and
             certainly
             we
             are
             not
             to
             receive
             it
             as
             a
             Prediction
             of
             a
             
               Contingent
               Blessing
            
             ,
             or
             
               Matter
               of
               Fact
            
             ,
             but
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Prophetick
             Style
             (
             which
             often
             exhibits
             Duties
             ,
             under
             simple
             Predictions
             )
             as
             carrying
             the
             Force
             of
             a
             Precept
             in
             it
             .
             Thus
             we
             see
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             not
             only
             
               Pater
               Patrioe
            
             ,
             but
             
               Pater
               Ecclesioe
            
             .
             This
             is
             his
             Character
             ,
             and
             his
             Duty
             :
             and
             certainly
             ,
             if
             he
             answers
             the
             Designs
             of
             it
             ,
             he
             must
             not
             only
             cherisb
             ,
             but
             protect
             ,
             and
             defend
             the
             Church
             of
             Christ
             ;
             and
             in
             a
             word
             ,
             liberally
             minister
             to
             it
             ,
             whatever
             is
             necessary
             for
             its
             Support
             and
             Preservation
             .
             Upon
             the
             whole
             then
             ,
             we
             may
             justly
             conclude
             ,
             That
             tho'
             GOD
             ,
             under
             the
             Jewish
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Gospel
             oeconomy
             ,
             was
             pleased
             to
             select
             a
             peculiar
             Order
             of
             Men
             ,
             to
             wait
             on
             his
             Altar
             ,
             and
             more
             immediately
             prosecute
             all
             the
             Designs
             of
             Religion
             ;
             yet
             the
             Civil
             Magistrate
             still
             rightfully
             ministers
             to
             the
             same
             Designs
             in
             all
             Cases
             ,
             where
             GOD
             has
             not
             interposed
             by
             some
             
               Positive
               Rule
            
             ,
             or
             Precept
             ;
             so
             that
             he
             's
             still
             the
             
               Supreme
               Guardian
            
             and
             Protector
             ,
             in
             the
             oeconomy
             of
             Religion
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             
               Civil
               Polity
            
             .
             He
             's
             
               Custos
               utriusque
            
             
             Tabuloe
             ;
             that
             is
             ,
             he
             's
             not
             only
             entrusted
             to
             enforce
             the
             Observance
             of
             all
             
               Social
               Vertues
            
             ,
             upon
             which
             the
             Peace
             and
             Interest
             of
             Government
             moves
             ,
             as
             upon
             its
             Axis
             ;
             but
             a
             True
             and
             
               Orthodox
               Faith
            
             ,
             and
             a
             
               pure
               Worship
            
             ,
             and
             the
             Honour
             and
             Glory
             of
             that
             Great
             GOD
             ,
             that
             has
             made
             him
             his
             Vicegerent
             and
             Representative
             ;
             and
             by
             whose
             Protection
             and
             Blessing
             he
             's
             enabled
             to
             answer
             the
             Designs
             of
             his
             Character
             .
          
           
             From
             hence
             the
             Dis-ingenuity
             ,
             or
             rather
             Impiety
             of
             some
             late
             designing
             Positions
             ,
             abundantly
             discover
             themselves
             ;
             viz.
             
               That
               the
               care
               of
            
             Religion
             
               is
               no
               real
               Branch
               of
               the
            
             Magistrate's
             
               Office
               ;
               that
               he
               's
               no
               further
               concerned
               for
               it
               ,
               than
               as
               it
               immediately
               conduces
               to
               the
               Civil
               Weal
               and
               Interest
               of
               every
               particular
               Constitution
               or
               Government
               ;
               and
               in
               a
               word
               ,
               That
               for
               the
               advance
               of
               a
               National
               Trade
               or
               Wealth
               ,
               he
               may
               treat
               all
               Sects
               of
            
             Religion
             
               with
               equal
               privileges
               and
               respect
            
             .
             But
             certainly
             the
             care
             of
             Religion
             can
             now
             no
             longer
             be
             disputed
             ,
             to
             be
             an
             
               Indispensible
               Duty
            
             in
             the
             Magistrate
             ;
             since
             it
             appears
             not
             only
             that
             every
             Positive
             Oeconomy
             of
             Religion
             ,
             has
             
             expresly
             taught
             it
             ;
             but
             the
             very
             
               Nature
               ,
               Designs
            
             ,
             and
             Reasons
             of
             the
             Character
             ,
             dictate
             it
             .
          
           
             But
             then
             ,
             if
             this
             be
             admitted
             ,
             we
             must
             grant
             that
             there
             is
             a
             True
             and
             a
             
               False
               Religion
            
             ,
             and
             an
             Orthodox
             and
             
               Heterodox
               Faith
            
             ;
             that
             the
             true
             Religion
             is
             established
             on
             certain
             Laws
             ,
             and
             Immunities
             ,
             which
             in
             the
             ordinary
             course
             of
             Providence
             ,
             are
             necessary
             to
             the
             Preservation
             of
             it
             ;
             and
             consequently
             we
             must
             conclude
             ,
             That
             it
             's
             an
             Indispensible
             Duty
             in
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             to
             have
             recourse
             to
             the
             most
             proper
             Methods
             for
             enquiring
             into
             the
             Reasons
             and
             Grounds
             of
             Religion
             ;
             and
             for
             distinguishing
             the
             
               True
               Religion
            
             from
             the
             False
             ,
             and
             an
             Orthodox
             from
             an
             
               Heterodox
               Faith
            
             ;
             whether
             by
             applying
             to
             the
             proper
             Ministers
             of
             
               Religion
               ,
               separately
            
             ,
             or
             in
             Council
             .
             And
             upon
             a
             fair
             and
             impartial
             Enquiry
             ,
             that
             which
             appears
             to
             be
             True
             and
             Orthodox
             ,
             is
             to
             be
             
               cherisbed
               ,
               defended
            
             ,
             and
             promoted
             ,
             against
             all
             Attempts
             and
             Invasions
             of
             the
             Heterodox
             and
             Unbeliever
             ;
             even
             tho'
             some
             present
             Temporal
             Interest
             seem
             to
             clash
             and
             interfere
             with
             it
             .
             These
             were
             the
             
               Unalterable
               Laws
            
             and
             Principles
             
             of
             the
             first
             and
             
               most
               pious
               Christian
               Emperors
            
             ,
             upon
             which
             they
             enlarged
             the
             Territories
             of
             the
             Christian
             Church
             .
          
        
         
           
             SECT
             .
             III.
             But
             to
             this
             't
             is
             popularly
             reply'd
             ,
             That
             if
             Kings
             and
             Princes
             once
             thought
             themselves
             obliged
             to
             espouse
             the
             Care
             of
             Religion
             ,
             as
             a
             positive
             Duty
             (
             considering
             the
             Errors
             and
             Superstitions
             of
             Mankind
             )
             it
             would
             prove
             the
             most
             effectual
             Method
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             obstruct
             the
             growth
             of
             the
             True
             Religion
             ,
             but
             endanger
             the
             Extirpation
             of
             it
             .
             But
             in
             answer
             to
             this
             ,
             it
             's
             to
             be
             considered
             ,
             That
             the
             Propagation
             of
             Religion
             does
             not
             direct
             to
             Acts
             of
             force
             and
             violence
             ,
             much
             less
             the
             Protection
             of
             it
             ;
             except
             where
             the
             Rights
             and
             Immunities
             of
             the
             Established
             Religion
             are
             apparently
             invaded
             .
             Besides
             it
             's
             concluded
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             not
             to
             proceed
             blindly
             ,
             but
             apply
             himself
             to
             the
             True
             Means
             of
             Information
             ;
             and
             if
             he
             miscarries
             ,
             tho'
             he
             may
             one
             day
             answer
             for
             any
             
               Sinister
               Motives
            
             ,
             that
             carried
             him
             into
             a
             wrong
             Determination
             ;
             yet
             GOD
             will
             find
             Methods
             to
             support
             his
             own
             Designs
             ,
             and
             consequently
             advance
             the
             Interests
             of
             
             the
             True
             Religion
             ,
             by
             Secret
             and
             Invisible
             Springs
             ,
             tho'
             his
             Ordinary
             and
             Standing
             Provisions
             afford
             the
             most
             unlikely
             Prospect
             .
             Sometimes
             Persecution
             it self
             is
             the
             most
             prolifick
             Soil
             for
             the
             True
             Religion
             to
             shoot
             forth
             and
             flourish
             in
             :
             Christianity
             had
             not
             only
             its
             first
             Foundation
             in
             it
             ,
             but
             we
             are
             assured
             received
             Great
             Increases
             from
             it
             .
             So
             Tertullian
             in
             his
             Apologetic
             boasts
             ,
             
               Nec
               quicquam
               tamen
            
             ,
             says
             he
             ,
             
               proficit
               exquisitior
               quoeque
               crudelitas
               vestra
            
             ,
             ILLECEBRA
             EST
             MAGIS
             SECTAE
             .
             
               Plures
               efficimur
               quoties
               metimur
               a
               vobis
               .
            
             SEMEN
             EST
             SANGUIS
             CHRISTIANORUM
             .
             
               Tertull.
               Apolog.
               pag.
            
             45.
             
          
           
             But
             in
             a
             word
             ,
             if
             the
             Care
             of
             Religion
             is
             a
             standing
             Duty
             ,
             in
             the
             Magistrate
             ;
             (
             as
             has
             been
             abundantly
             evinced
             )
             and
             if
             there
             be
             such
             a
             thing
             as
             a
             True
             Religion
             ,
             and
             sufficient
             Means
             (
             if
             duly
             attended
             to
             )
             to
             distinguish
             it
             from
             the
             False
             ;
             the
             Undoubted
             Rule
             is
             ,
             That
             the
             Duty
             is
             to
             be
             pursued
             ,
             and
             the
             Consequences
             left
             to
             the
             Providential
             Care
             of
             the
             Blessed
             Author
             of
             it
             ;
             who
             has
             the
             Hearts
             of
             Kings
             ,
             and
             the
             Sovereign
             Disposal
             of
             Grace
             ,
             and
             
             will
             in
             the
             Course
             of
             Affairs
             undoubtedly
             ascertain
             the
             Usefulness
             of
             his
             own
             Means
             ,
             and
             the
             Ends
             of
             Religion
             for
             which
             they
             were
             designed
             .
             And
             as
             for
             that
             Magistrate
             ,
             who
             upon
             a
             Principle
             of
             Zeal
             for
             the
             Honour
             of
             his
             Maker
             ,
             shall
             thus
             carry
             on
             the
             Designs
             of
             the
             True
             Religion
             ,
             he
             'll
             no
             doubt
             one
             Day
             be
             made
             partaker
             of
             a
             Reward
             ,
             that
             will
             every
             way
             answer
             
               that
               labour
               of
               love
               ,
               which
               he
               has
               shewed
               towards
               his
               Name
            
             ;
             he
             'll
             one
             Day
             infallibly
             find
             a
             Remembrance
             ,
             sutable
             to
             the
             Supplications
             of
             that
             Excellent
             Governour
             
               Nehemiah
               ,
               Remember
               me
               ,
               O
               my
            
             GOD
             ,
             
               concerning
               this
               ,
               and
               wipe
               not
               out
               my
               good
               deeds
               that
               I
               have
               done
               for
               the
               House
               of
               my
            
             GOD
             ,
             
               and
               for
               the
               offices
               thereof
               ,
               Neh.
            
             13.
             
             V.
             14.
             
          
        
         
           
             
               SECT
               .
               IV.
               I
               proceed
               to
               the
               second
               Enquiry
               ,
            
             viz.
             When
             there
             are
             two
             ,
             or
             more
             Sects
             of
             Religion
             under
             any
             Government
             ,
             why
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             under
             an
             Obligation
             of
             protecting
             ,
             or
             rather
             advancing
             the
             one
             ,
             more
             than
             the
             other
             ?
          
           
             And
             First
             ,
             I
             shall
             consider
             this
             Argument
             ,
             with
             regard
             to
             the
             Oeconomy
             of
             the
             
               Christian
               Church
            
             .
             And
             in
             order
             to
             this
             
             it
             will
             be
             requisite
             to
             enquire
             into
             the
             Rights
             ,
             and
             Authority
             of
             a
             
               National
               Church
            
             .
          
           
             And
             ,
             First
             ,
             it
             s
             indisputably
             evident
             the
             
               Christian
               Church
            
             is
             one
             Society
             ,
             or
             Body
             of
             Men
             united
             to
             CHRIST
             ,
             and
             
               each
               other
            
             in
             certain
             External
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Internal
             and
             Spiritual
             Bonds
             of
             Union
             .
             It
             's
             truly
             a
             
               Seamless
               Garment
            
             ;
             nay
             ,
             it
             bears
             the
             Exact
             Portraicture
             of
             a
             Natural
             Body
             ,
             whereof
             CHRIST
             
               is
               the
               Head
               ,
               from
               whom
               the
               whole
               Body
               fitly
               joyn
               d'
               together
               ,
               and
               compacted
               by
               that
               which
               every
               joynt
               supplieth
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               effectual
               working
               in
               the
               measure
               of
               every
               part
               ,
               maketh
               increase
               of
               the
               Body
               ,
               Eph.
            
             4.
             16.
             
             In
             a
             word
             ,
             it
             carries
             the
             Symmetry
             and
             Proportion
             of
             a
             
               Building
               ,
               fitly
               framed
               together
               ,
               growing
               into
               an
               holy
               Temple
               in
               the
            
             LORD
             ,
             Eph
             2.21
             .
             The
             first
             Division
             of
             this
             Spiritual
             Body
             ,
             arises
             from
             the
             
               Necessity
               of
               Divine
               Worship
            
             ;
             viz.
             into
             particular
             Congregations
             .
             Other
             Distributions
             arise
             from
             the
             Necessity
             of
             Government
             ,
             which
             is
             warranted
             and
             established
             ,
             by
             the
             express
             Canon
             of
             Scripture
             .
             Thus
             ,
             
               Obey
               them
               that
               have
               the
               rule
               over
               vou
               ,
               and
               submit
               your selves
               ,
               for
               they
               watch
            
             
             
               for
               your
               Souls
               ,
               Heb.
            
             13.17
             .
             And
             St.
             Pauls
             Instructions
             to
             Titus
             are
             ,
             
               For
               this
               cause
               I
               left
               thee
               in
            
             Crete
             ,
             
               that
               thou
               shouldest
               set
               in
               order
               the
               things
               that
               are
               wanting
               ,
            
             Ch.
             1.
             ver
             .
             5.
             
             And
             ,
             
               These
               things
               speak
               and
               exhort
               ,
               and
               rebuke
               with
               all
               Authority
               ,
            
             Ch.
             20.
             
             We
             may
             add
             to
             this
             ,
             the
             Power
             of
             Binding
             and
             Loosing
             ,
             and
             Excommunication
             it self
             ,
             being
             expresly
             committed
             to
             the
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Powers
            
             ;
             and
             evidently
             demonstrating
             the
             Necessity
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             
               Divine
               Authority
            
             of
             Ecclefiastical
             Government
             .
          
           
             But
             to
             return
             :
             Whatever
             Distributions
             were
             made
             ,
             either
             from
             a
             Necessity
             of
             Worship
             ,
             or
             Government
             ,
             every
             Branch
             or
             Part
             ,
             is
             indispensibly
             bound
             to
             maintain
             this
             Mystical
             Union
             ;
             by
             a
             Communion
             in
             the
             Essentials
             of
             
               Faith
               ,
               Government
            
             ,
             and
             Discipline
             :
             for
             otherwise
             it
             's
             impossible
             the
             
               Christian
               Church
            
             should
             answer
             the
             Character
             of
             a
             
               Natural
               Body
               fitly
               joyned
               together
               ,
               and
               compacted
               by
               that
               which
               every
               joynt
               supplieth
               ,
               even
               to
               the
               making
               increase
               of
               the
               Body
               .
            
          
           
             As
             for
             the
             Government
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             we
             are
             assured
             ,
             partly
             from
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             partly
             from
             the
             
               earliest
               Antiquity
            
             ,
             That
             
             the
             Order
             of
             Bishops
             and
             Metropolitans
             ,
             rests
             on
             
               Apostolical
               Institution
            
             .
             Both
             Timothy
             and
             Titus
             ,
             in
             the
             judgement
             of
             the
             most
             Learned
             Presbyterians
             ,
             were
             Superior
             to
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             within
             their
             Districts
             ,
             at
             least
             in
             Jurisdiction
             ,
             if
             not
             Order
             .
             And
             tho'
             Antiquity
             has
             not
             expresly
             fix'd
             the
             Origine
             or
             Rise
             of
             Metropolitans
             ,
             yet
             it
             may
             justly
             be
             presum'd
             to
             be
             Apostolical
             .
          
           
             For
             First
             ,
             St.
             Paul
             directs
             an
             Epistle
             to
             the
             Metropolitical
             Church
             ,
             to
             be
             communicated
             to
             the
             whole
             Province
             ;
             for
             such
             was
             Corinth
             in
             the
             Province
             of
             
               Achaia
               .
               To
               the
               Church
               of
            
             GOD
             ,
             
               which
               is
               at
            
             Corinth
             ,
             
               with
               all
               the
               Saints
               that
               are
               in
               all
            
             Achaia
             .
             And
             ,
             pursuant
             to
             this
             ,
             we
             find
             the
             Governments
             of
             Metropolitans
             ,
             in
             the
             first
             Council
             of
             Nice
             ,
             ranked
             among
             the
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             
               Ancient
               Customs
               ,
               Can.
            
             6.
             and
             in
             that
             of
             Antioch
             ,
             styled
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             The
             
               most
               ancient
               Canon
               in
               force
               ,
               from
               the
               times
               of
               our
               Forefathers
               .
            
             But
             that
             which
             conduces
             to
             the
             present
             Argument
             ,
             is
             ,
             
               That
               all
               the
               Establishments
               of
               Church
               Government
               ,
            
             and
             
               the
               Districts
               of
               particular
               Churches
               ,
               were
               originally
               modeled
            
             
             
               according
               to
               that
               of
               the
               State.
            
             The
             Bishop
             presided
             over
             a
             City
             ,
             and
             the
             adjacent
             Villages
             and
             Territories
             ;
             where
             a
             Temporal
             Magistrate
             was
             likewise
             placed
             .
             As
             the
             Metropolis
             of
             every
             Province
             had
             its
             Proconsul
             in
             the
             State
             ,
             so
             it
             had
             its
             Archbishop
             ,
             or
             Metropolitan
             in
             the
             Church
             .
             And
             when
             the
             Government
             of
             Patriarchs
             prevailed
             ,
             it
             was
             formed
             after
             the
             same
             Model
             ,
             either
             in
             Imitation
             of
             the
             Vicars
             ,
             or
             Lieutenants
             that
             presided
             over
             a
             Diocese
             ,
             composed
             of
             several
             Provinces
             ;
             or
             at
             least
             in
             Imitation
             of
             the
             
               Pretorian
               Prefects
            
             ,
             that
             had
             several
             Dioceses
             under
             their
             Jurisdiction
             .
          
           
             Upon
             the
             whole
             then
             ,
             as
             we
             are
             assured
             ,
             That
             the
             forming
             a
             Government
             in
             the
             Church
             ,
             after
             the
             Model
             of
             that
             of
             the
             State
             ,
             was
             by
             
               Apostolical
               Institution
            
             ;
             so
             we
             may
             justly
             conclude
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             by
             the
             special
             Directions
             of
             the
             
               Holy
               Spirit
            
             .
             And
             ,
             no
             doubt
             ,
             the
             great
             Design
             was
             to
             advance
             the
             Interests
             of
             Religion
             ,
             by
             placing
             every
             particular
             Church
             under
             the
             Protection
             of
             the
             State
             ,
             whenever
             it
             should
             become
             Christian.
             And
             certainly
             ,
             as
             it
             was
             the
             only
             true
             Expedient
             to
             enable
             the
             Civil
             
             Magistrate
             ,
             to
             execute
             that
             Trust
             ,
             that
             is
             lodged
             in
             the
             Character
             of
             a
             Father
             ,
             or
             
               Nursing
               Mother
            
             ,
             to
             the
             Church
             of
             Christ
             ;
             so
             it
             's
             a
             considerable
             Argument
             that
             the
             Care
             and
             Protection
             of
             the
             True
             Religion
             is
             a
             standing
             Duty
             ,
             incumbent
             on
             the
             
               Civil
               Magistrate
            
             .
             For
             to
             make
             the
             Districts
             of
             particular
             Churches
             ,
             terminate
             with
             those
             of
             Civil
             Governments
             ,
             was
             absolutely
             necessary
             ,
             to
             make
             the
             
               Civil
               Magistrate
            
             the
             Supreme
             Guardian
             of
             the
             True
             Religion
             :
             and
             ,
             since
             't
             is
             an
             Ordinance
             ,
             that
             may
             very
             justly
             be
             resolved
             into
             
               Apostolick
               Institution
            
             ,
             it
             's
             a
             manifest
             Indication
             ,
             that
             the
             Civil
             Magistrate
             should
             be
             obliged
             punctually
             to
             answer
             the
             Character
             ,
             whenever
             he
             became
             Christian.
             
          
        
         
           
             SECT
             .
             V.
             From
             hence
             we
             may
             gain
             a
             true
             Notion
             of
             the
             Rights
             and
             Authority
             of
             a
             
               National
               Church
            
             .
             And
             truly
             ,
             if
             we
             duly
             weight
             the
             Premises
             ,
             we
             must
             conclude
             ,
             That
             it
             rests
             upon
             nothing
             less
             than
             Divine
             and
             Apostolick
             Institution
             .
             For
             if
             the
             Apostles
             themselves
             constituted
             particular
             Churches
             ,
             with
             regard
             to
             the
             Districts
             of
             particular
             Provinces
             ,
             and
             the
             Government
             
             of
             the
             State
             ;
             and
             if
             it
             be
             a
             standing
             Duty
             in
             the
             Christian
             Magistrate
             ,
             to
             protect
             and
             advance
             the
             
               True
               Religion
            
             ,
             within
             his
             Dominions
             ;
             we
             must
             conclude
             ,
             That
             a
             Church
             is
             to
             be
             established
             upon
             that
             Model
             of
             Government
             ,
             which
             was
             instituted
             by
             our
             Saviour
             ,
             or
             his
             Apostles
             ,
             in
             every
             respective
             Nation
             ,
             over
             which
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             to
             preside
             ,
             as
             a
             Father
             ,
             or
             Guardian
             ,
             and
             Protector
             ;
             and
             such
             a
             Church
             is
             what
             in
             other
             terms
             is
             called
             a
             
               National
               Church
            
             ;
             and
             a
             Church
             thus
             established
             ,
             undoubtedly
             rests
             on
             the
             Authority
             of
             Divine
             or
             Apostolick
             Institution
             .
          
           
             I
             would
             not
             be
             mistaken
             ,
             as
             if
             I
             intended
             to
             deny
             the
             being
             of
             a
             National
             or
             
               Provincial
               Church
            
             ,
             till
             it
             has
             obtain'd
             a
             
               Civil
               Establishment
            
             ;
             for
             it
             's
             manifest
             ,
             the
             Churches
             of
             Greece
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             
               Proconsular
               Asia
            
             ,
             had
             a
             being
             ,
             and
             a
             distinct
             Denomination
             ,
             before
             Christianity
             was
             received
             in
             the
             Courts
             of
             Princes
             .
             Indeed
             when
             a
             particular
             Church
             enjoys
             a
             
               Civil
               Establishment
            
             ,
             it
             receives
             ,
             as
             it
             were
             ,
             a
             new
             Authority
             ;
             in
             as
             much
             as
             it
             becomes
             a
             
               Civil
               Right
            
             or
             Property
             :
             So
             that
             unless
             its
             Constitution
             is
             Materially
             vitious
             and
             finful
             ,
             it
             's
             a
             high
             piece
             of
             injustice
             
             to
             destroy
             or
             infringe
             any
             of
             its
             
               Established
               Rights
            
             ,
             or
             Immunities
             .
             But
             yet
             since
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             only
             the
             Guardian
             ,
             not
             the
             Founder
             of
             a
             National
             Church
             ,
             (
             its
             Original
             Authority
             resting
             on
             certain
             positive
             Laws
             ,
             and
             Sanctions
             ,
             enjoyned
             by
             a
             Power
             superiour
             to
             that
             of
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             even
             that
             of
             GOD
             Himself
             )
             where-ever
             a
             Church
             in
             any
             Province
             or
             Nation
             ,
             professes
             the
             True
             Religion
             by
             an
             Orthodox
             Faith
             ,
             and
             a
             pure
             Worship
             ,
             under
             
               Lawful
               Church
               Governours
            
             and
             Pastors
             ,
             that
             is
             the
             
               True
               National
               Church
            
             ,
             in
             opposition
             to
             all
             dissenting
             Sects
             and
             Parties
             ;
             tho
             it
             wants
             the
             Authority
             of
             a
             
               Civil
               Establishment
            
             .
          
           
             
               But
               to
               return
               :
               From
               hence
               we
               may
               easily
               determine
               the
               merits
               of
               the
               Question
               in
               debate
               ,
               I
               mean
            
             When
             there
             are
             two
             ,
             or
             more
             Sects
             of
             Religion
             in
             any
             Government
             ,
             why
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             under
             an
             Obligation
             of
             protecting
             ,
             or
             rather
             advancing
             the
             one
             ,
             more
             than
             the
             other
             ?
          
           
             For
             ,
             First
             ,
             it
             is
             abundantly
             demonstrated
             that
             the
             Christian
             Magistrate
             ,
             
               ex
               officio
            
             ,
             is
             constituted
             a
             
               Guardian
               ,
               Father
            
             ,
             and
             Protector
             of
             the
             True
             Religion
             ;
             and
             
             therefore
             if
             in
             any
             Nation
             ,
             or
             Government
             ,
             the
             true
             Religion
             is
             professed
             in
             an
             Orthodox
             ,
             and
             a
             
               pure
               Worship
            
             ,
             under
             
               lawful
               Church
               Governours
            
             and
             Pastors
             ;
             there
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             indispensibly
             boundto
             act
             as
             a
             Guardian
             and
             Protector
             ,
             in
             opposition
             to
             all
             Models
             ,
             and
             Platforms
             that
             are
             advanced
             against
             it
             .
             For
             by
             this
             alone
             he
             pursues
             the
             Great
             Design
             of
             the
             
               Apostolick
               Platform
            
             ,
             in
             the
             Institution
             of
             
               National
               Churches
            
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             answers
             that
             of
             his
             Character
             ;
             I
             mean
             as
             he
             's
             Prophetically
             styled
             ,
             a
             Father
             to
             the
             Church
             of
             CHRIST
             .
          
           
             It
             's
             certain
             one
             Great
             Design
             of
             Christianity
             ,
             is
             Unity
             ;
             or
             to
             range
             all
             the
             Parts
             and
             Members
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             CHRIST
             into
             an
             
               Holy
               Building
            
             :
             and
             therefore
             ,
             if
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             constituted
             a
             Guardian
             of
             the
             True
             Religion
             ,
             all
             his
             Offices
             of
             Succour
             and
             Protection
             must
             be
             directed
             to
             this
             End
             ;
             I
             mean
             the
             maintainance
             of
             the
             Bonds
             of
             
               Catholick
               Unity
            
             ,
             throughout
             his
             whole
             Dominions
             .
             Without
             this
             ,
             the
             Great
             Ends
             ,
             and
             Proposals
             of
             so
             pure
             and
             holy
             a
             Religion
             ,
             cannot
             be
             accomplished
             ;
             and
             therefore
             whatever
             Indulgences
             ,
             or
             Exemptions
             the
             Christian
             Magistrate
             may
             
             rightfully
             grant
             to
             
               Erroneous
               Judgments
            
             ,
             or
             Consciences
             ,
             acted
             with
             simplicity
             and
             a
             pious
             Disposition
             ;
             he
             cannot
             upon
             the
             
               Laws
               and
               Oeconomy
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               or
               any
               Authority
               derived
               to
               him
               from
               thence
               ,
               rightfnlly
            
             give
             a
             
               Positive
               Establishment
            
             ,
             within
             the
             Districts
             of
             the
             same
             Government
             ,
             to
             two
             
               Opposite
               Communions
            
             ,
             or
             Altars
             of
             Worship
             ;
             especially
             when
             one
             of
             them
             is
             founded
             in
             a
             revolt
             ,
             from
             a
             pure
             and
             
               Orthodox
               National
               Church
            
             .
             This
             is
             the
             very
             reverse
             to
             a
             Protector
             and
             Defender
             of
             the
             True
             Religion
             .
             For
             it
             implies
             a
             power
             to
             pervert
             the
             Great
             Design
             of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ;
             vis
             .
             a
             Unity
             of
             Faith
             and
             Worship
             ;
             by
             dissolving
             the
             Bonds
             of
             
               Catholick
               Unity
            
             ,
             and
             Authorizing
             the
             Members
             of
             CHRIST'S
             
               Mystical
               Body
            
             ,
             to
             disband
             and
             break
             into
             Schisms
             and
             Factions
             :
             whereas
             it's
             an
             External
             Rule
             ,
             That
             the
             Magistrate
             can
             only
             challenge
             a
             Power
             to
             Edification
             ,
             not
             to
             Destruction
             .
             This
             is
             so
             far
             from
             being
             a
             Prerogative
             of
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             that
             where
             a
             National
             Church
             is
             constituted
             under
             
               Lawful
               Governours
            
             and
             Pastors
             ,
             tho'
             there
             may
             be
             some
             Defects
             ,
             or
             Errors
             in
             her
             
               Faith
               ,
               Discipline
            
             ,
             
             or
             Worship
             ;
             he
             's
             not
             to
             unhinge
             and
             demolish
             ,
             but
             to
             endeavour
             to
             correct
             and
             remove
             them
             ,
             by
             such
             Means
             and
             Instruments
             ,
             as
             GOD
             ,
             in
             his
             revealed
             Will
             ,
             has
             decreed
             and
             appointed
             :
             and
             when
             this
             is
             done
             ,
             he
             's
             not
             to
             suffer
             any
             opposite
             Sects
             ,
             or
             Factions
             ,
             so
             much
             as
             to
             
               break
               in
            
             upon
             any
             of
             her
             
               Apostolick
               Rights
            
             ,
             or
             Immunities
             .
             For
             it
             's
             manifest
             ,
             the
             Duty
             of
             a
             
               Guardian
               ,
               Parent
            
             and
             Protector
             ,
             is
             to
             use
             all
             prudent
             Methods
             to
             cultivate
             and
             improve
             ,
             to
             advance
             the
             Interests
             ,
             and
             enlarge
             the
             Priviledges
             of
             those
             under
             his
             Care
             ;
             much
             more
             to
             defend
             them
             from
             Violence
             ,
             or
             Incroachment
             .
             To
             be
             appointed
             a
             Father
             ,
             and
             a
             Protector
             of
             CHRIST'S
             Church
             ,
             or
             the
             True
             Religion
             ,
             is
             not
             an
             Empty
             Name
             ,
             but
             carries
             very
             momentous
             Offices
             and
             Duties
             in
             it
             :
             it
             implies
             a
             Zeal
             for
             the
             
               Honour
               of
            
             GOD
             ,
             and
             the
             
               True
               Religion
            
             ;
             and
             consequently
             it
             engages
             the
             Magistrate
             to
             study
             such
             wholesom
             Provisions
             ,
             as
             will
             advance
             the
             Ends
             and
             Interests
             of
             it
             ,
             to
             the
             utmost
             Boundaries
             of
             his
             Dominions
             :
             and
             those
             that
             thus
             
               wait
               for
            
             CHRIST
             ,
             
               shall
               not
               be
               ashamed
               ,
               Isai.
            
             49.
             v.
             23.
             
          
           
           
             And
             now
             ,
             Sir
             ,
             I
             hope
             I
             have
             prepared
             You
             for
             the
             main
             Argument
             You
             proposed
             ,
             by
             informing
             You
             how
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             determined
             ,
             for
             the
             Interests
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             particularly
             those
             of
             this
             
               National
               Church
            
             .
          
        
         
           
             SECT
             .
             VI.
             I
             shall
             proceed
             to
             consider
             ,
             
               Whether
               the
               Restraint
               of
               the
            
             PRESS
             ,
             
               is
               not
               a
               Necessary
               Provision
               ,
               not
               only
               to
               advance
               the
               Interests
               of
               the
               True
               Religion
               ,
               but
               to
               preserve
               ,
               and
               maintain
               the
               Ends
               aud
               Designs
               of
               it
               ,
               as
               profess'd
               in
               a
               National
               Church
               ?
            
             And
             this
             will
             appear
             from
             the
             Necessity
             of
             a
             publick
             Establishment
             in
             Religion
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Pernicious
               Influences
            
             ,
             which
             the
             Liberty
             of
             the
             Press
             has
             upon
             it
             .
          
           
             It
             's
             already
             concluded
             ,
             that
             GOD
             has
             instituted
             a
             Governing
             Power
             in
             the
             Christian
             Church
             ;
             and
             the
             accommodating
             it
             to
             the
             Districts
             of
             the
             State
             ,
             and
             the
             Constituting
             the
             Civil
             Magistrate
             a
             Guardian
             ,
             and
             Protector
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             CHRIST
             ,
             is
             at
             least
             a
             sufficient
             Warrant
             of
             the
             Lawfulness
             of
             a
             publick
             Establishment
             ,
             if
             not
             an
             Indication
             of
             its
             Necessity
             .
          
           
           
             Indeed
             since
             there
             are
             Governing
             Powers
             in
             the
             Church
             of
             CHRIST
             ,
             we
             must
             conclude
             ,
             that
             GOD
             foresaw
             a
             great
             many
             Difficulties
             and
             Miscarriages
             ,
             under
             the
             great
             Revolutions
             and
             Emergencies
             of
             Human
             Affairs
             ;
             which
             he
             has
             Authorized
             them
             to
             
               adjust
               ,
               correct
            
             and
             remove
             :
             and
             this
             will
             justly
             infer
             the
             Necessity
             of
             publick
             
               Decrees
               ,
               Articles
            
             ,
             or
             Canons
             ,
             and
             that
             too
             in
             Matters
             of
             
               Faith
               ,
               Worship
            
             ,
             and
             Practice
             .
             It
             cannot
             be
             denied
             ,
             but
             Scripture
             it self
             has
             established
             the
             Authority
             of
             such
             Powers
             ,
             and
             Injunctions
             ;
             and
             consequently
             it
             's
             an
             indisputable
             Argument
             of
             their
             Necessity
             :
             since
             GOD
             never
             imparts
             special
             Powers
             ,
             or
             Functions
             ,
             but
             he
             infallibly
             discerns
             the
             Necessity
             and
             Usefulness
             of
             'em
             .
             Thus
             we
             have
             General
             Rules
             directed
             to
             particular
             Churches
             ,
             in
             the
             business
             of
             Publick
             Worship
             ,
             
               That
               things
               be
               prescribed
               ,
               and
               done
               according
               to
               the
               Laws
               of
               Decency
               ,
               Order
               ,
               and
               Edification
               .
            
             And
             no
             doubt
             St.
             Paul
             points
             at
             the
             same
             thing
             ,
             when
             he
             reminds
             Titus
             ,
             why
             he
             placed
             him
             over
             the
             Church
             of
             
               Crete
               ,
               That
               thou
               shouldst
               set
               in
               order
               the
               things
               that
               are
               wanting
               :
               Tit.
            
             1.
             5.
             
             So
             that
             we
             may
             justly
             conclude
             ,
             
             there
             's
             a
             Power
             given
             to
             prescribe
             such
             Laws
             and
             Rules
             ,
             and
             make
             such
             Publick
             Declarations
             ,
             as
             manifestly
             tend
             to
             the
             
               Edifying
               the
               Body
               of
               Christ
            
             ;
             or
             as
             are
             requisite
             to
             maintain
             the
             Catholick
             Laws
             of
             Unity
             ,
             or
             the
             
               Unity
               of
               the
               Spirit
               ,
               in
               the
               bond
               of
               peace
               .
            
          
           
             But
             to
             descend
             to
             particulars
             .
             And
             first
             ,
             as
             to
             matters
             of
             Faith
             ;
             Indeed
             it
             will
             be
             easily
             granted
             ,
             That
             the
             Holy
             Scriptures
             are
             a
             compleat
             Rule
             of
             Faith
             ;
             and
             consequently
             they
             seem
             to
             be
             a
             competent
             Standard
             ,
             for
             the
             Governours
             of
             particular
             Churches
             ,
             to
             try
             the
             Faith
             of
             Christians
             by
             .
             But
             yet
             we
             are
             assured
             that
             they
             contain
             a
             
               Great
               many
               things
               ,
               hard
               to
               be
               understood
               ,
               which
               the
               ignorant
               and
               unlearned
               wrest
               to
               their
               own
               destruction
            
             ;
             and
             consequently
             things
             of
             the
             greatest
             moment
             ,
             and
             importance
             .
             Again
             ,
             we
             are
             assured
             ,
             that
             Heresies
             will
             come
             ,
             that
             there
             will
             arise
             
               False
               Christs
            
             ,
             and
             
               False
               Prophets
            
             ,
             and
             
               Men
               of
               corrupt
               Minds
            
             ,
             who
             have
             not
             only
             erred
             ,
             but
             are
             
               reprobate
               concerning
               the
               Faith.
            
             In
             a
             word
             ,
             it
             's
             impossible
             but
             Controversies
             and
             Divisions
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Offences
             ,
             will
             come
             ;
             this
             is
             the
             case
             of
             
             every
             Tribe
             ,
             or
             Colony
             of
             Christians
             .
          
           
             And
             is
             there
             no
             Judgment
             to
             be
             made
             in
             these
             Circumstances
             ?
             Are
             these
             Persons
             to
             be
             suffered
             to
             proceed
             in
             their
             Errors
             ,
             and
             pervert
             the
             Faith
             of
             others
             ?
             If
             this
             must
             be
             so
             ,
             for
             what
             End
             has
             the
             Blessed
             AUTHOR
             of
             our
             Religion
             placed
             Governours
             and
             Pastors
             in
             his
             Church
             ,
             and
             enforced
             their
             Authority
             by
             the
             Discipline
             of
             special
             Censure
             ?
             They
             cannot
             remonstrate
             against
             them
             ,
             without
             making
             a
             Judgment
             whether
             the
             
               Doctrine
               be
               of
            
             GOD
             ,
             or
             is
             consonant
             to
             the
             Canon
             of
             Faith.
             And
             yet
             't
             is
             their
             Duty
             to
             declare
             the
             
               whole
               Counsel
               of
            
             GOD
             in
             these
             Cases
             .
             And
             certainly
             ,
             if
             
               Private
               Pastors
            
             are
             Authorized
             to
             expound
             the
             Sence
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             make
             a
             Judgment
             in
             these
             Matters
             ,
             and
             expect
             the
             Directions
             of
             the
             Holy
             Spirit
             ,
             to
             wait
             on
             their
             pious
             Labours
             ,
             and
             Endeavours
             ;
             much
             more
             may
             an
             Assembly
             ,
             or
             Council
             of
             Church-Governours
             interpose
             ,
             state
             the
             Sence
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             deliver
             a
             Definitive
             Sentence
             in
             express
             Articles
             and
             Decrees
             ,
             and
             expect
             the
             Influences
             of
             the
             same
             Spirit
             in
             the
             whole
             performance
             .
             Certainly
             ,
             where
             
               two
               or
               three
            
             ,
             or
             more
             ,
             are
             for
             these
             
             Ends
             
               gathered
               together
            
             ,
             (
             it
             may
             justly
             be
             presumed
             )
             GOD
             
               will
               be
               in
               the
               midst
               of
               '
               em
               .
            
          
           
             These
             are
             Proceedings
             warranted
             by
             the
             Practice
             of
             the
             College
             of
             Apostles
             ,
             and
             of
             all
             particular
             Churches
             ,
             from
             their
             Days
             ,
             to
             this
             very
             Hour
             :
             Such
             Errors
             ,
             Divisions
             ,
             and
             Miscarriages
             concerning
             the
             Faith
             authorized
             ,
             and
             gave
             birth
             to
             the
             Confessions
             of
             Faith
             ,
             in
             all
             Particular
             Churches
             .
             They
             were
             the
             only
             Barriers
             against
             Heresie
             and
             Error
             ,
             and
             indispensibly
             necessary
             ,
             to
             preserve
             the
             Unity
             of
             the
             Faith
             ,
             and
             the
             Church
             of
             CHRIST
             ,
             from
             Distraction
             and
             Ruine
             .
             To
             affirm
             that
             Scripture
             in
             these
             Cases
             is
             a
             sufficient
             Rule
             ,
             and
             reject
             all
             Interposals
             ,
             or
             Determinations
             pursuant
             to
             it
             ,
             is
             to
             mistake
             or
             perplex
             the
             Argument
             .
             For
             tho'
             Scripture
             is
             an
             adequate
             Rule
             of
             Faith
             ,
             and
             Manners
             ;
             yet
             GOD
             has
             constituted
             Guardians
             and
             Trustees
             ,
             to
             assert
             the
             Sence
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             and
             enforce
             a
             Faith
             and
             Practice
             ,
             conformable
             to
             it
             :
             and
             to
             deny
             this
             ,
             is
             in
             effect
             to
             discard
             the
             necessity
             of
             any
             
               Visible
               Ministry
            
             ;
             since
             Scripture
             ,
             with
             the
             help
             of
             private
             Reason
             ,
             is
             as
             much
             an
             adequate
             
             Rule
             in
             this
             respect
             ,
             as
             the
             other
             ;
             and
             consequently
             there
             could
             be
             no
             necessity
             of
             a
             standing
             Ministry
             .
             It
             's
             true
             ,
             these
             
               Publick
               Determinations
            
             ,
             these
             Confessions
             of
             Faith
             ,
             are
             not
             established
             upon
             a
             Spirit
             of
             Infallibility
             :
             but
             they
             are
             not
             to
             be
             rejected
             ,
             or
             less
             necessary
             ;
             because
             not
             Infallible
             .
             GOD
             has
             not
             thought
             fit
             to
             impart
             a
             Spirit
             of
             Infallibility
             ,
             in
             the
             Exercise
             of
             the
             Power
             of
             Excommunication
             ;
             yet
             Scripture
             establishes
             it
             as
             a
             
               Standing
               Ordinance
            
             in
             his
             Church
             A
             Spirit
             of
             Infallibility
             does
             not
             accompany
             the
             
               Ministerial
               Function
            
             ;
             and
             yet
             GOD
             has
             made
             it
             absolutely
             necessary
             .
             In
             a
             word
             then
             ,
             in
             as
             much
             as
             they
             are
             Decisions
             grounded
             on
             Scripture
             ,
             supported
             by
             Reason
             ,
             and
             confirm'd
             by
             the
             joynt
             Authority
             and
             Suffrage
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             GOD
             ,
             in
             the
             earliest
             Ages
             ,
             and
             of
             
               Saints
               ,
               Confessors
            
             and
             Martyrs
             ;
             they
             are
             the
             most
             apposite
             Moral
             Instruments
             ,
             under
             GOD
             ,
             and
             the
             use
             of
             Reason
             ,
             to
             determine
             the
             Judgment
             ,
             and
             satisfie
             the
             Conscience
             ;
             or
             at
             least
             to
             stop
             the
             Mouths
             of
             Gainsayers
             ,
             as
             far
             as
             concerns
             the
             outward
             Peace
             of
             the
             Church
             .
          
           
           
             In
             this
             Case
             ,
             they
             become
             indispensibly
             necessary
             ;
             there
             must
             be
             some
             External
             Umpire
             and
             Decision
             ,
             where
             Matters
             must
             at
             last
             terminate
             :
             that
             the
             publick
             Peace
             and
             Unity
             (
             things
             in
             the
             judgment
             of
             our
             Blessed
             Saviour
             ,
             of
             the
             greatest
             value
             and
             importance
             )
             may
             not
             be
             sacrificed
             to
             the
             Dissentions
             ,
             Heats
             ,
             and
             Animosities
             of
             Corrupt
             and
             Restless
             Spirits
             .
          
           
             If
             such
             Decrees
             ,
             or
             Injunctions
             are
             not
             to
             be
             imposed
             as
             Essentials
             of
             Faith
             ,
             or
             Terms
             of
             Communion
             ;
             yet
             they
             are
             ,
             in
             the
             Language
             of
             our
             Church
             ,
             to
             be
             received
             as
             Injunctions
             
               for
               the
               avoiding
               Diversity
               of
               Opinions
               ,
               and
               for
               establishing
               Consent
               touching
               True
               Religion
               :
            
             Or
             ,
             in
             one
             word
             ,
             as
             Articles
             of
             Peace
             ;
             so
             that
             whosoever
             publickly
             oppugns'em
             ,
             is
             at
             least
             to
             be
             censured
             ,
             as
             a
             Breaker
             of
             the
             Peace
             of
             the
             Church
             .
          
           
             But
             further
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             Duty
             of
             
               Publick
               Worship
            
             ,
             it
             's
             undeniably
             evident
             ,
             the
             great
             Circumstantials
             of
             Worship
             are
             no
             where
             determined
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             such
             as
             the
             
               Time
               ,
               Manner
            
             ,
             and
             Place
             ;
             and
             yet
             these
             are
             Moral
             ,
             and
             inseparable
             Circumstances
             ,
             without
             which'tis
             impossible
             the
             
             Duty
             can
             be
             performed
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             's
             absolutely
             necessary
             ,
             they
             should
             be
             committed
             to
             the
             Determination
             of
             those
             Powers
             and
             Authorities
             ,
             GOD
             has
             constituted
             in
             his
             Church
             .
             For
             tho'this
             ,
             or
             that
             
               Particular
               Determination
            
             be
             not
             necessary
             ,
             till'tis
             settled
             ;
             yet
             it
             's
             absolutely
             necessary
             ,
             they
             should
             be
             
               determined
               some
               way
               or
               other
            
             .
             And
             this
             demonstrates
             the
             Necessity
             of
             Publick
             Establishments
             ,
             in
             the
             Duties
             of
             Publick
             Assemblies
             ,
             and
             Publick
             Worship
             .
          
           
             Again
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             Case
             of
             Discipline
             ,
             how
             can
             that
             
               Decency
               ,
               Order
            
             ,
             and
             Uniformity
             ,
             which
             the
             Word
             of
             GOD
             so
             passionately
             recommends
             ,
             be
             maintained
             without
             the
             Establishment
             of
             Districts
             ,
             and
             the
             Settlement
             of
             Time
             and
             Place
             ?
             how
             can
             the
             Manners
             of
             Men
             be
             animadverted
             on
             ,
             or
             their
             Neglects
             ,
             or
             Irregularities
             in
             the
             Publick
             Worship
             of
             GOD
             be
             censured
             ?
             what
             must
             become
             of
             the
             Publick
             Duties
             of
             Admonition
             and
             Reproof
             ,
             and
             Exclusion
             from
             the
             
               External
               Means
            
             of
             Salvation
             ,
             to
             the
             Correction
             of
             Offenders
             ,
             Removing
             of
             Scandal
             ,
             and
             the
             Deterring
             of
             others
             ?
             These
             are
             such
             clear
             and
             uncontroulable
             
             Evidences
             of
             the
             Necessity
             of
             Publick
             Establishments
             ,
             that
             we
             find
             them
             in
             all
             the
             Churches
             of
             the
             Saints
             ,
             or
             Christian
             World
             :
             and
             the
             Civil
             Government
             ,
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Prophetick
             Character
             ,
             is
             the
             professed
             Guardian
             ,
             and
             Protector
             of
             'em
             .
          
        
         
           
             SECT
             .
             VII
             .
             It
             now
             remains
             ,
             
               That
               we
               consider
               the
            
             Influences
             ,
             
               which
               the
            
             Liberty
             
               of
               the
            
             PRESS
             
               has
               upon
               an
            
             Establishment
             .
          
           
             And
             certainly
             ,
             where
             Men
             are
             under
             an
             unlimited
             Allowance
             to
             publish
             their
             Sentiments
             of
             things
             ,
             it
             's
             the
             
               Publick
               Establishment
            
             ,
             that
             must
             suffer
             the
             sharpest
             attack
             .
             It
             's
             this
             that
             bears
             the
             shew
             of
             Authority
             and
             Dominion
             ,
             or
             stands
             between
             its
             Adversaries
             ,
             and
             some
             beloved
             Interests
             .
             It
             's
             the
             only
             Check
             to
             the
             Ambition
             ,
             Avarice
             ,
             Luxury
             ,
             or
             Impurity
             of
             a
             
               Licentious
               World.
            
             When
             this
             is
             born
             down
             by
             Calumny
             and
             Sophistry
             ,
             and
             brought
             into
             disgrace
             ,
             there
             's
             nothing
             left
             to
             obstruct
             a
             general
             Licentiousness
             .
             So
             that
             the
             greatest
             Libertine
             may
             plead
             a
             Right
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             erect
             his
             own
             Scheme
             ,
             but
             to
             do
             whatever
             seemeth
             right
             in
             his
             own
             Eyes
             .
             And
             therefore
             ,
             the
             common
             Torrent
             of
             Vice
             
             will
             not
             only
             bear
             down
             upon
             her
             ;
             but
             those
             more
             active
             Furies
             ,
             Envy
             ,
             Malice
             ,
             Prejudice
             ,
             and
             Revenge
             ,
             will
             unite
             to
             form
             an
             Indictment
             .
             In
             a
             word
             ,
             an
             Establishment
             as
             such
             ,
             is
             markt
             out
             as
             a
             Common
             Enemy
             ,
             against
             whom
             every
             Tribe
             and
             Sect
             ,
             of
             how
             different
             a
             Make
             and
             Complexion
             soever
             ,
             are
             prepared
             to
             unite
             and
             arm
             :
             and
             when
             they
             may
             do
             it
             at
             so
             easie
             an
             Expence
             of
             Danger
             ,
             or
             rather
             under
             the
             Banner
             of
             Freedom
             and
             Liberty
             ,
             no
             wonder
             if
             they
             
               shoot
               forth
               their
               Arrows
               ,
               even
               bitter
               words
            
             ;
             and
             are
             content
             with
             nothing
             less
             ,
             than
             reducing
             the
             whole
             Oeconomy
             to
             desolation
             and
             ruine
             .
          
        
         
           
             SECT
             .
             VIII
             .
             GOD
             knows
             ,
             we
             are
             not
             now
             left
             to
             view
             the
             force
             of
             the
             Argument
             ,
             in
             empty
             Theory
             and
             Notion
             ,
             since
             we
             may
             read
             it
             in
             Matter
             of
             Fact
             ,
             and
             Observation
             .
             What
             Branch
             of
             our
             Establishment
             ,
             of
             moment
             and
             importance
             ,
             has
             the
             Liberty
             of
             the
             Press
             left
             free
             and
             untouched
             ?
             Has
             not
             the
             Divinity
             of
             our
             SAVIOUR
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             Doctrine
             of
             the
             Ever-blessed
             TRINITY
             (
             as
             delivered
             in
             our
             Articles
             )
             been
             run
             down
             ,
             and
             discarded
             ,
             by
             a
             whole
             shoal
             
             of
             Pamphlets
             ?
             Has
             not
             the
             whole
             Design
             of
             CHRIST'S
             Mission
             been
             industriously
             overturned
             ,
             and
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             His
             Redemption
             and
             Satisfaction
             ,
             by
             the
             
               Offering
               up
            
             of
             Himself
             ,
             been
             peremptorily
             rejected
             ,
             as
             
               groundless
               ,
               absurd
            
             ,
             and
             impossible
             ?
             [
             See
             
               Atheist
               turned
               Deist
            
             ,
             Sect.
             42
             ,
             43
             ,
             47.
             ]
             Has
             not
             Reason
             been
             asserted
             ,
             to
             be
             the
             only
             Measure
             of
             Faith
             ;
             so
             that
             whatever
             cannot
             be
             comprehended
             by
             it
             ,
             is
             to
             be
             rejected
             from
             being
             an
             
               Article
               of
               Faith
            
             ?
             [
             
               Christianity
               not
               Mysterious
            
             ]
             Has
             not
             an
             Assent
             to
             this
             single
             Proposition
             ,
             
               Jesus
               of
            
             Nazareth
             
               is
               the
               Messiah
            
             ,
             been
             asserted
             to
             be
             the
             only
             explicite
             Article
             of
             Faith
             necessary
             to
             Salvation
             ?
             [
             
               The
               Reasonableness
               of
               Christianity
            
             ,
             p.
             43
             ,
             49.
             192.
             ]
             Has
             not
             Revelation
             it self
             been
             disputed
             and
             rejected
             ,
             as
             an
             incompetent
             Rule
             to
             Mankind
             !
             [
             
               Oracles
               of
               Reason
            
             ,
             Let.
             3.
             14.
             ]
          
           
             Lastly
             ,
             As
             to
             our
             Offices
             of
             Publick
             Worship
             :
             Has
             not
             the
             Press
             brought
             Scandal
             and
             Reproach
             ,
             upon
             two
             of
             the
             Anniversary
             Solemnities
             of
             this
             Church
             ,
             tho'
             enjoyned
             by
             Acts
             of
             Parliament
             ,
             viz.
             The
             
               Martyrdom
               of
               King
            
             Charles
             
               the
               First
            
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Restauration
               of
               this
               Church
               and
            
             
             
               Monarchy
               ,
               in
               the
               Return
               of
               King
            
             Charles
             
               the
               Second
            
             ?
             For
             do
             we
             not
             find
             it
             expresly
             vindicating
             the
             whole
             Scene
             of
             Violence
             ,
             transacted
             in
             that
             Bloody
             War
             against
             the
             King
             ,
             and
             stigmatizing
             the
             great
             Instruments
             of
             the
             Restoration
             .
             Nay
             more
             ,
             we
             find
             the
             very
             Author
             applauding
             himself
             ,
             as
             having
             a
             Point
             of
             Honour
             done
             him
             ,
             by
             being
             chosen
             one
             of
             the
             
             King's
             Judges
             .
             [
             See
             
             Milton's
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             falsly
             pretended
             to
             be
             printed
             at
             Amsterdam
             ,
             and
             
             Ludlow's
             Memoirs
             ,
             
               London
               ,
               Vol.
               2d
               .
               p.
            
             871.
             ]
             These
             are
             the
             blessed
             Products
             of
             the
             Press
             ,
             laid
             open
             ,
             and
             prostituted
             to
             the
             Wit
             and
             Malice
             of
             designing
             Men
             ;
             and
             yet
             they
             are
             but
             the
             small
             Gleanings
             of
             that
             Mass
             of
             Filth
             and
             Corruption
             ,
             it
             has
             brought
             forth
             .
             And
             what
             can
             more
             directly
             tend
             to
             a
             total
             subversion
             of
             an
             Establishment
             ,
             and
             more
             effectually
             prepare
             .
             the
             World
             ,
             to
             believe
             the
             Truth
             of
             their
             repeated
             Declamations
             ;
             viz.
             That
             
               Creeds
               and
               Systems
               ,
               are
               only
               profitable
               Inventions
               ,
            
             or
             rather
             ,
             That
             the
             whole
             Oeconomy
             of
             our
             Establishment
             is
             but
             
               Secular
               Policy
            
             ,
             and
             the
             Arts
             of
             Priestcraft
             .
             The
             Press
             has
             already
             publickly
             declared
             thus
             much
             ;
             and
             that
             
             Coldness
             ,
             or
             rather
             Air
             of
             Contempt
             ,
             that
             too
             generally
             prevails
             against
             that
             of
             this
             Church
             ,
             abundantly
             demonstrates
             the
             pernicious
             Influences
             of
             it
             .
          
           
             But
             now
             to
             improve
             the
             Argument
             :
             It
             's
             already
             concluded
             ,
             That
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Establishments
            
             ,
             or
             
               National
               Churches
            
             are
             indispensibly
             necessary
             ;
             they
             rest
             on
             the
             Authority
             of
             
               Apostolick
               Institution
            
             and
             are
             confirmed
             from
             the
             very
             Nature
             and
             Design
             of
             the
             
               Christian
               Religion
            
             .
             It
             's
             concluded
             ,
             That
             the
             
               Christian
               Magistrate
            
             is
             by
             
               Divine
               Appointment
            
             ,
             constituted
             a
             Guardian
             and
             Protector
             of
             
               National
               Churches
            
             ,
             within
             his
             respective
             Dominions
             :
             It
             's
             a
             standing
             Trust
             committed
             to
             him
             by
             the
             Laws
             of
             Natural
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             
               Revealed
               Religion
            
             :
             If
             therefore
             the
             Liberty
             of
             the
             Press
             ,
             is
             highly
             destructive
             of
             the
             Interests
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             particularly
             as
             't
             is
             cultivated
             in
             
               National
               Churches
            
             :
             If
             it
             appears
             not
             only
             in
             the
             Nature
             of
             the
             thing
             ,
             but
             upon
             unquestionable
             Matter
             of
             Fact
             ,
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             who
             by
             Divine
             Appointment
             is
             constituted
             a
             Guardian
             and
             Protector
             in
             the
             cause
             of
             Religion
             ,
             is
             indispensibly
             bound
             to
             remove
             the
             mischief
             ,
             by
             laying
             
             a
             powerful
             Restraint
             on
             the
             Press
             .
             In
             a
             word
             ,
             it
             is
             concluded
             ,
             If
             a
             
               National
               Establishment
            
             is
             any
             way
             defective
             ,
             or
             unfound
             in
             
               Faith
               ,
               Worship
            
             ,
             or
             Discipline
             ,
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             to
             endeavour
             a
             Reform
             ,
             in
             a
             Regular
             and
             
               Canonical
               Method
            
             :
             and
             this
             ,
             I
             'm
             confident
             ,
             was
             never
             declined
             by
             the
             
               Established
               Church
            
             of
             England
             ;
             but
             if
             nothing
             of
             this
             Nature
             can
             ,
             with
             any
             force
             of
             Argument
             or
             Reason
             ,
             be
             charged
             upon
             Her
             ,
             then
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             
               ex
               officio
            
             ,
             is
             bound
             to
             protect
             and
             defend
             Her
             ,
             in
             the
             Purity
             of
             Her
             Faith
             and
             Worship
             ,
             and
             in
             Her
             just
             Rights
             and
             Immunities
             ,
             exclusive
             of
             all
             other
             Sects
             and
             Parties
             ;
             especially
             where
             the
             Publick
             Peace
             and
             Unity
             is
             attempted
             by
             '
             em
             .
             If
             therefore
             the
             Liberty
             of
             the
             Press
             is
             apparently
             prejudicial
             to
             Her
             
               Interests
               ,
               Rights
            
             and
             Immunities
             ,
             or
             the
             Purity
             of
             her
             Faith
             and
             Worship
             ,
             I
             cannot
             find
             how
             the
             Magistrate
             can
             fairly
             be
             supposed
             to
             discharge
             that
             Trust
             GOD
             has
             laid
             upon
             Him
             ,
             without
             laying
             a
             publick
             Restraint
             upon
             it
             .
          
        
         
           
             SECT
             .
             IX
             .
             But
             further
             :
             The
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             is
             necessary
             ,
             if
             we
             consider
             the
             
             pernicious
             Influences
             it
             casts
             upon
             Religion
             in
             General
             ,
             as
             't
             is
             the
             direct
             Inlet
             to
             
               Scepticism
               ,
               Heresie
            
             ,
             and
             Infidelity
             .
             It
             's
             certain
             the
             Attempts
             of
             a
             Licentious
             Press
             ,
             are
             almost
             infinite
             ,
             and
             inconceivable
             .
             Error
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Vice
             ,
             is
             extreamly
             prolifick
             ,
             and
             even
             as
             numerous
             as
             the
             sand
             of
             the
             Sea
             ;
             the
             most
             virulent
             Poison
             may
             be
             gilded
             over
             ,
             and
             Varnish
             and
             Colour
             may
             be
             laid
             on
             the
             foulest
             Cause
             ;
             and
             consequently
             the
             Press
             may
             be
             the
             Parent
             of
             the
             grossest
             Errors
             ,
             under
             the
             Mask
             of
             
               Innocence
               ,
               Zeal
            
             ,
             or
             Charity
             .
             And
             truly
             ,
             if
             Experience
             ,
             and
             
               Matter
               of
               Fact
            
             ,
             must
             decide
             the
             Controversie
             ,
             we
             are
             convinced
             ,
             that
             the
             Lewdest
             Notions
             that
             ever
             entered
             the
             Heart
             of
             Man
             ,
             have
             been
             of
             late
             advanced
             from
             the
             Press
             .
             And
             moreover
             ,
             the
             Mischiefs
             that
             are
             this
             way
             propagated
             ,
             are
             much
             more
             fatal
             than
             any
             other
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             Because
             't
             is
             the
             most
             Effectual
             way
             of
             
               Communicating
               '
               em
            
             .
             A
             Transient
             Harangue
             or
             Discourse
             ,
             tho'
             never
             so
             malignant
             ,
             cannot
             be
             so
             entirely
             lodged
             in
             the
             Memory
             ,
             as
             totally
             to
             infect
             the
             Judgement
             :
             and
             after
             this
             ,
             it
             passes
             not
             much
             beyond
             the
             
               Present
               Audience
            
             .
             But
             the
             
             Press
             is
             a
             standing
             Monument
             and
             Record
             ,
             that
             not
             only
             communicates
             the
             whole
             Poison
             ,
             and
             leaves
             it
             to
             rest
             upon
             the
             Mind
             or
             Judgment
             ;
             but
             conveys
             it
             to
             Posterity
             .
          
           
             Again
             ,
             as
             the
             Mischief
             is
             more
             
               Successfully
               propagated
            
             ;
             so
             't
             is
             more
             
               difficulty
               removed
            
             .
             The
             Men
             of
             Learning
             ,
             Judgment
             ,
             and
             Probity
             ,
             may
             be
             engaged
             in
             Matters
             of
             too
             great
             Importance
             ,
             to
             be
             at
             leisure
             to
             obviate
             the
             Mischiefs
             of
             every
             
               Poisonous
               Libel
            
             ;
             but
             if
             it
             happens
             to
             receive
             a
             just
             Confutation
             ,
             it's
             odds
             it
             either
             reaches
             not
             the
             deluded
             Reader
             ,
             or
             loses
             its
             just
             Efficacy
             by
             not
             presenting
             it self
             before
             the
             Infection
             is
             rivetted
             ,
             and
             the
             Defence
             of
             the
             Error
             become
             a
             Point
             of
             Interest
             or
             Honour
             .
          
           
             But
             that
             which
             is
             more
             fatal
             than
             all
             this
             ,
             is
             ,
             an
             Unrestrained
             Press
             gives
             a
             kind
             of
             Imprimatur
             to
             every
             thing
             that
             comes
             from
             it
             .
             As
             the
             Case
             stands
             ,
             the
             Generality
             of
             Mankind
             are
             scarce
             able
             ,
             or
             at
             leisure
             to
             detect
             the
             false
             Colours
             of
             an
             
               Artificial
               Harangue
            
             ;
             much
             less
             enter
             into
             the
             Merits
             of
             any
             particular
             Controversie
             ;
             and
             in
             these
             Cases
             ,
             where
             a
             right
             Judgment
             
             cannot
             be
             made
             ,
             every
             thing
             that
             appears
             in
             publick
             ,
             must
             pass
             for
             Orthodox
             ,
             unless
             it
             has
             some
             publick
             Note
             of
             Distinction
             fixed
             upon
             it
             .
             So
             that
             the
             most
             
               Heterodox
               Positions
            
             in
             this
             Case
             rest
             upon
             equal
             Authority
             with
             the
             most
             convincing
             Truths
             ,
             till
             they
             have
             received
             a
             Censure
             from
             the
             Government
             ,
             either
             in
             Church
             or
             State.
             And
             Since
             Paradoxes
             are
             capable
             of
             receiving
             a
             
               plausible
               Dress
            
             ,
             and
             
               Downright
               Contradictions
            
             may
             be
             advanced
             ,
             under
             a
             shew
             of
             Argument
             ;
             what
             fatal
             Consequences
             may
             not
             we
             justly
             dread
             ,
             when
             Religion
             is
             the
             subject
             of
             both
             ?
             The
             Injudicious
             and
             Illiterate
             Reader
             is
             exposed
             to
             the
             Rack
             ,
             and
             left
             to
             be
             divided
             and
             torn
             in
             pieces
             ,
             between
             contrary
             Opinions
             ;
             and
             either
             hangs
             so
             long
             between
             both
             ,
             till
             he
             commences
             Sceptick
             ,
             or
             Infidel
             ,
             and
             
               Believes
               Neither
            
             ;
             or
             at
             least
             follows
             the
             Biass
             of
             Lust
             ,
             and
             
               Corrupt
               Nature
            
             ;
             and
             is
             carried
             away
             with
             Declamation
             and
             Harangue
             ,
             the
             
               Usual
               Artifices
            
             of
             a
             
               Bad
               Cause
            
             ;
             and
             consequently
             is
             inevitably
             plunged
             into
             Heresie
             and
             Error
             .
          
           
             But
             further
             ,
             the
             Mischief
             rises
             higher
             yet
             ,
             for
             it
             's
             concluded
             ,
             An
             Unrestrained
             
             Press
             is
             often
             the
             most
             familiar
             with
             the
             
               Established
               Religion
            
             ,
             and
             never
             spares
             in
             bringing
             Disgrace
             on
             any
             Branch
             ,
             or
             part
             of
             it
             :
             It
             's
             the
             Publick
             Mark
             of
             Envy
             or
             Malice
             ,
             and
             consequently
             never
             wants
             the
             most
             Furious
             and
             Envenomed
             Assailant
             .
             But
             then
             ,
             this
             is
             the
             direct
             Method
             to
             usher
             in
             the
             most
             fatal
             Consequences
             ;
             for
             it
             will
             not
             only
             sap
             the
             Foundations
             of
             an
             Establishment
             ,
             by
             bringing
             Her
             Authority
             into
             Contempt
             (
             it
             being
             the
             Moving
             Principle
             of
             all
             such
             Attacks
             )
             but
             it
             strikes
             at
             the
             Reputation
             of
             Religion
             in
             General
             ,
             and
             makes
             way
             for
             resolving
             the
             whole
             into
             Sham
             ,
             and
             Imposture
             .
             For
             when
             the
             Government
             suffers
             the
             Press
             to
             attack
             a
             
               Received
               Article
            
             of
             the
             
               Established
               Religion
            
             ,
             without
             the
             least
             Censure
             ,
             or
             Controul
             ;
             an
             indifferent
             Judge
             must
             conclude
             ,
             that
             both
             cannot
             be
             true
             :
             And
             because
             Authority
             does
             not
             proceed
             ,
             to
             Assert
             and
             Vindicate
             its
             own
             Establishment
             ,
             or
             upon
             a
             fair
             Estimate
             ,
             establish
             and
             determine
             for
             the
             Truth
             ;
             he
             'll
             conclude
             ,
             there
             's
             no
             real
             Difference
             between
             Truth
             and
             Falshood
             ,
             and
             that
             
               Religion
               it self
            
             is
             nothing
             but
             a
             Set
             of
             Maxims
             ,
             calculated
             according
             to
             the
             several
             Aspects
             
             and
             Interests
             of
             Government
             .
             This
             is
             so
             great
             a
             Truth
             ,
             that
             I
             'm
             highly
             perswaded
             ,
             those
             publick
             and
             repeated
             Attacks
             ,
             made
             from
             the
             Press
             of
             late
             Years
             ,
             upon
             the
             
               Faith
               ,
               Authority
               ,
               Worship
            
             ,
             and
             Discipline
             of
             this
             Church
             (
             so
             many
             Articles
             of
             Religion
             having
             been
             so
             professedly
             questioned
             ,
             and
             rejected
             )
             is
             the
             
               Great
               Cause
            
             of
             that
             Scepticism
             and
             Infidelity
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             Contempt
             of
             Religion
             ,
             which
             so
             visibly
             reigns
             in
             this
             Nation
             .
          
           
             Give
             me
             leave
             to
             represent
             the
             Force
             of
             the
             present
             Arguments
             ,
             in
             a
             single
             Instance
             .
             It
             's
             already
             concluded
             ,
             that
             the
             Press
             has
             appeared
             in
             a
             Line
             of
             Contradiction
             ,
             to
             two
             of
             our
             
               Publick
               Offices
            
             of
             Worship
             ,
             the
             Anniversaries
             of
             that
             
               Glorious
               Martyr
               King
            
             Charles
             
               the
               First
            
             ,
             and
             the
             Restauration
             of
             King
             Charles
             
               the
               Second
            
             .
             They
             are
             by
             
               Royal
               Authority
            
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Statute-Law
             ,
             made
             part
             of
             our
             
               Publick
               Service
            
             .
             The
             whole
             Body
             of
             the
             Clergy
             are
             indispensibly
             bound
             to
             Celebrate
             them
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             Legislative
             Power
             ,
             in
             a
             Solemn
             Manner
             ,
             joyns
             in
             the
             Celebration
             of
             'em
             ;
             and
             yet
             we
             have
             Books
             published
             in
             Contradiction
             to
             'em
             ;
             published
             in
             the
             most
             
             open
             and
             audacious
             Manner
             .
             For
             the
             Press
             has
             not
             done
             its
             Duty
             ,
             by
             sending
             'em
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             but
             they
             are
             publickly
             sold
             in
             the
             Shops
             ,
             and
             exposed
             to
             sale
             from
             our
             
               Publick
               Prints
            
             ,
             and
             Term-Catalogues
             .
             Now
             ,
             what
             dismal
             Consequences
             can
             we
             imagine
             must
             attend
             such
             vile
             Practices
             ?
             Our
             Law-givers
             piously
             declare
             ,
             That
             
               By
               the
               Murder
               of
               Our
               late
               Dread
               Sovereign
               ,
               the
            
             Protestant
             Religion
             
               hath
               received
               the
               greatest
               Wound
               and
               Reproach
               ,
               and
               the
               People
               of
            
             England
             
               the
               most
               insupportable
               Shame
               ,
               that
               was
               possible
               for
               the
               Enemies
               of
            
             GOD
             ,
             
               and
               the
            
             King
             ,
             
               to
               bring
               upon
               us
            
             ;
             12.
             
             Car.
             II.
             c.
             30.
             
             But
             pardon
             me
             ,
             if
             I
             pronounce
             the
             
               Liberty
               of
               the
               Press
            
             ,
             to
             have
             advanced
             some
             Degrees
             beyond
             this
             :
             For
             the
             Fact
             ,
             with
             its
             Preliminaries
             ,
             is
             now
             not
             only
             levelled
             against
             the
             Authority
             of
             Law
             ,
             and
             consequently
             that
             Blasphemy
             ,
             and
             Reproach
             that
             is
             due
             to
             it
             ,
             is
             renewed
             ,
             and
             heightened
             ;
             but
             a
             manifest
             Blasphemy
             and
             Reproach
             is
             entailed
             on
             the
             very
             Cause
             of
             Religion
             :
             Such
             Allowances
             as
             these
             ,
             must
             cause
             the
             Enemies
             of
             GOD
             to
             Blaspheme
             ;
             and
             tell
             us
             ,
             that
             we
             either
             
               Worship
               we
               know
               not
               what
            
             ,
             or
             that
             
             our
             Worship
             is
             a
             Solemn
             piece
             of
             Mockery
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             a
             piece
             of
             Lip-Devotion
             ;
             or
             rather
             ,
             that
             the
             whole
             of
             Religion
             is
             Cheat
             and
             Imposture
             .
             For
             if
             these
             things
             be
             reconcilable
             ,
             there
             can
             be
             no
             Truth
             nor
             Reality
             in
             Religion
             ;
             and
             this
             or
             that
             Profession
             ,
             is
             no
             longer
             a
             piece
             of
             Religion
             ,
             than
             it
             runs
             with
             the
             Tide
             and
             Bent
             of
             a
             Community
             .
          
           
             But
             now
             when
             things
             discover
             such
             a
             fatal
             Tendency
             as
             this
             is
             ,
             if
             there
             be
             any
             such
             thing
             as
             a
             Guardian
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             CHRIST
             ,
             and
             if
             the
             Magistrate
             by
             
               Divine
               Designation
            
             ,
             is
             invested
             with
             the
             Character
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             an
             Indispensible
             Duty
             to
             exert
             with
             Vigour
             ,
             and
             Resolution
             .
             The
             whole
             Case
             will
             turn
             upon
             a
             short
             Issue
             ;
             if
             upon
             a
             Due
             and
             Regular
             Examination
             ,
             these
             
               Religious
               Offices
            
             are
             
               Materially
               Evil
            
             ,
             and
             Unwarrantable
             ;
             let
             'em
             be
             set
             aside
             ,
             and
             abolished
             ,
             that
             GOD
             may
             be
             no
             longer
             
               trifled
               with
            
             and
             blasphemed
             ;
             nor
             His
             Pastors
             loaded
             with
             Hatred
             and
             Contempt
             ,
             by
             being
             bound
             up
             to
             the
             Observance
             of
             things
             that
             are
             not
             Warrantable
             :
             But
             if
             notwithstanding
             the
             utmost
             Efforts
             of
             Malice
             and
             Declamation
             ,
             they
             appear
             to
             be
             a
             Pious
             and
             a
             
               Just
               Institution
            
             ,
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             if
             
             ever
             ,
             must
             be
             obliged
             to
             endeavour
             a
             speedy
             Redress
             ;
             and
             since
             these
             Mischiefs
             apparently
             derive
             from
             the
             
               Liberty
               of
               the
               Press
            
             ,
             certainly
             the
             Trust
             of
             a
             Guardian
             can
             never
             be
             discharged
             ,
             without
             destroying
             the
             Evil
             in
             its
             Cause
             :
             and
             consequently
             without
             laying
             a
             Powerful
             Restraint
             on
             it
             .
             When
             a
             Mischief
             is
             thus
             dangerous
             ,
             and
             destructive
             ,
             it
             becomes
             the
             proper
             subject
             of
             a
             Law
             ,
             and
             is
             to
             be
             suppressed
             with
             all
             the
             Ensigns
             of
             Authority
             and
             Power
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             ,
             Sir
             ,
             I
             hope
             I
             have
             ,
             in
             some
             measure
             ,
             answered
             Your
             Demands
             ,
             and
             discovered
             the
             
               Necessity
               of
               Regulating
               the
            
             PRESS
             ;
             and
             that
             too
             with
             Regard
             to
             the
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Establishment
            
             of
             
               this
               Nation
            
             :
             and
             therefore
             I
             'm
             inclined
             to
             perswade
             my self
             ,
             the
             Argument
             will
             have
             its
             just
             Weight
             ,
             and
             Influence
             on
             Your
             Zeal
             and
             Affection
             ,
             for
             the
             Publick
             Good
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Judgment
             .
             But
             that
             nothing
             may
             intervene
             ,
             to
             cause
             a
             Miscarriage
             ,
             I
             shall
             endeavour
             a
             short
             return
             to
             the
             most
             
               Considerable
               Objections
            
             ,
             that
             have
             been
             advanced
             against
             it
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             
               SECT
               .
               X.
               And
            
             ,
             first
             ,
             It
             may
             be
             objected
             ,
             That
             the
             Mischiefs
             of
             the
             PRESS
             may
             be
             effectually
             obviated
             ,
             by
             
               Particular
               Laws
            
             ;
             and
             that
             a
             Restraint
             of
             the
             PRESS
             from
             the
             Experience
             of
             former
             Times
             ,
             has
             not
             prevented
             '
             em
             .
          
           
             Now
             it
             must
             be
             confessed
             ,
             That
             the
             Law
             produced
             in
             the
             last
             Parliament
             ,
             may
             serve
             as
             a
             Bridle
             to
             the
             
               Deist
               ,
               Atheist
            
             ,
             and
             Anti-Trinitarian
             ;
             but
             this
             can
             by
             no
             means
             obviate
             the
             Mischiefs
             of
             a
             
               Licentious
               Press
            
             :
             For
             there
             are
             other
             Truths
             ,
             and
             Doctrines
             set
             forth
             in
             the
             
               Christian
               Religion
            
             ,
             and
             this
             
               Established
               Church
            
             ;
             which
             if
             publickly
             oppugned
             ,
             must
             prove
             highly
             Injurious
             to
             the
             
               Main
               Design
            
             of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             the
             Peace
             of
             the
             
               Present
               Establishment
            
             ,
             such
             as
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             CHRIST'S
             Satisfaction
             ,
             by
             the
             
               Sacrifice
               of
               Himself
            
             ;
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             Grance
             ,
             or
             
               Divine
               Assistance
            
             .
             How
             these
             have
             of
             late
             suffered
             ,
             the
             Publick
             has
             been
             too
             lately
             made
             a
             Witness
             ,
             if
             not
             a
             Judge
             .
          
           
             But
             certainly
             ,
             the
             Mischiefs
             of
             the
             Press
             can
             never
             be
             fully
             obviated
             ,
             unless
             by
             the
             Restraint
             of
             it
             ;
             or
             at
             least
             ,
             by
             such
             a
             Law
             as
             makes
             it
             highly
             Penal
             ,
             to
             publish
             any
             
             thing
             in
             Writing
             ,
             that
             is
             level'd
             against
             any
             Branch
             of
             the
             
               Established
               Religion
            
             ;
             for
             since
             
               National
               Establishments
            
             appear
             to
             be
             absolutely
             Necessary
             for
             the
             Carrying
             on
             the
             Ends
             and
             Designs
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             that
             which
             is
             amiss
             is
             to
             be
             regularly
             corrected
             ;
             and
             after
             this
             is
             done
             ,
             nothing
             is
             to
             be
             suffered
             ,
             that
             any-wise
             invades
             the
             Peace
             of
             such
             an
             Establishment
             .
          
           
             But
             after
             all
             ,
             
               Penal
               Laws
            
             of
             this
             Nature
             ,
             are
             not
             so
             apt
             Instruments
             to
             prevent
             the
             Mischiefs
             that
             usually
             spring
             from
             the
             Press
             ,
             as
             an
             absolute
             Restraint
             of
             it
             ,
             when
             the
             Authority
             of
             a
             License
             or
             Imprimatur
             is
             wanting
             .
             Such
             a
             Restraint
             destroys
             the
             Mischiefs
             in
             its
             Seeds
             and
             Principles
             ;
             it
             stops
             the
             Contagion
             in
             the
             very
             Spring
             or
             Fountain
             :
             whereas
             such
             Laws
             take
             place
             at
             a
             Distance
             ,
             it
             may
             be
             when
             the
             Infection
             is
             propagated
             to
             a
             considerable
             Degree
             .
          
           
             There
             is
             a
             solemn
             Process
             ,
             and
             a
             great
             many
             Formalities
             ,
             and
             Steps
             to
             be
             made
             ,
             which
             may
             serve
             as
             so
             many
             Advantages
             ,
             or
             Chances
             ,
             to
             escape
             the
             Force
             of
             the
             Law.
             The
             Author
             is
             not
             only
             to
             be
             discovered
             ,
             but
             an
             Information
             given
             in
             ,
             and
             received
             too
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Genius
             and
             Temper
             
             of
             the
             Magistrate
             ;
             and
             consequently
             the
             Undertaker
             must
             have
             Courage
             enough
             to
             bear
             the
             Title
             of
             Informer
             ;
             an
             Office
             ,
             which
             as
             the
             World
             goes
             ,
             neither
             the
             Justice
             nor
             Merits
             of
             the
             Cause
             can
             secure
             from
             Ignominy
             and
             Contempt
             .
             Again
             ;
             there
             must
             be
             a
             Prosecution
             by
             course
             of
             Law
             ,
             and
             the
             Case
             examined
             ,
             and
             tried
             whether
             it
             falls
             within
             the
             Penalty
             of
             the
             Law
             ;
             and
             all
             this
             ,
             perhaps
             ,
             without
             the
             least
             Recompence
             to
             the
             Prosecutor
             ,
             for
             Expences
             or
             Attendance
             .
             In
             a
             word
             ,
             a
             Verbal
             Recantation
             ,
             after
             the
             Labour
             and
             Difficulties
             of
             Conviction
             ,
             may
             render
             the
             Author
             
               Rectum
               in
               Curia
            
             :
             and
             after
             this
             ,
             he
             may
             under
             Disguise
             go
             afresh
             to
             work
             ,
             at
             the
             small
             hazard
             of
             the
             least
             of
             Punishments
             .
             I
             wish
             some
             Provisions
             of
             this
             Nature
             had
             not
             been
             wanting
             in
             the
             late
             
               Act
               against
               Profaneness
               and
               Immorality
            
             ,
             whereby
             a
             Pious
             Design
             may
             become
             Insignificant
             and
             Useless
             .
             For
             upon
             this
             bottom
             ,
             while
             the
             Press
             is
             open
             ,
             I
             'm
             afraid
             the
             Enemies
             of
             our
             Establishment
             will
             publish
             their
             Notions
             ,
             with
             the
             Satisfaction
             of
             secret
             Smiles
             and
             Triumphs
             .
          
           
           
             But
             now
             if
             the
             Press
             were
             shut
             ,
             till
             an
             Imprimatur
             is
             obtained
             ,
             the
             mere
             want
             of
             one
             is
             a
             
               Competent
               Evidence
            
             for
             Conviction
             ;
             and
             tho'
             some
             may
             be
             so
             daring
             to
             expose
             their
             Notions
             ,
             at
             the
             hazard
             of
             their
             Safety
             ,
             yet
             such
             a
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             gives
             this
             considerable
             Advantage
             ,
             That
             whatever
             comes
             forth
             without
             Authority
             ,
             carries
             its
             own
             Mark
             in
             the
             Title-page
             ;
             and
             consequently
             gives
             an
             Alarm
             to
             the
             incautious
             READER
             ,
             of
             Infection
             and
             Mischief
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               SECT
               .
               XI
               .
               But
            
             Secondly
             ,
             
               it
               is
               objected
            
             ,
             That
             such
             a
             Restraint
             of
             the
             PRESS
             is
             a
             giving
             up
             the
             Consciences
             ,
             and
             Judgments
             of
             Mankind
             to
             a
             Party
             ,
             and
             a
             condemning
             them
             to
             an
             Implicit
             Faith
             ,
             and
             is
             a
             direct
             Method
             to
             involve
             the
             World
             in
             Ignorance
             and
             Error
             .
          
           
             As
             for
             the
             
               First
               part
            
             of
             the
             Objection
             ;
             If
             an
             
               Orthodox
               National
               Church
            
             is
             the
             Party
             intended
             ,
             I
             may
             safely
             affirm
             ,
             That
             as
             it
             is
             the
             Duty
             of
             every
             Person
             within
             her
             Communion
             ,
             to
             conform
             to
             her
             
               Faith
               ,
               Worship
            
             and
             Government
             ;
             so
             I
             hope
             it
             already
             appears
             ,
             that
             it
             's
             a
             standing
             Duty
             
             in
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             
               Church
               Governours
            
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             enforce
             all
             Gospel
             Means
             to
             bring
             every
             Soul
             into
             the
             Pale
             of
             it
             ;
             but
             to
             Maintain
             and
             Cultivate
             the
             Purity
             of
             its
             Faith
             and
             Worship
             ,
             against
             all
             the
             Attempts
             of
             its
             Enemies
             .
             If
             any
             thing
             is
             unsound
             and
             deficient
             ,
             GOD
             has
             invested
             a
             Power
             of
             using
             such
             proper
             Means
             in
             the
             Governours
             of
             his
             Church
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Believing
               Magistrate
            
             ,
             as
             under
             his
             Divine
             Protection
             ,
             will
             secure
             a
             True
             and
             Orthodox
             Religion
             ;
             but
             if
             nothing
             of
             this
             Nature
             can
             be
             truly
             charged
             upon
             Her
             ,
             when
             Endeavours
             have
             been
             made
             in
             this
             kind
             ,
             tho'
             there
             may
             be
             no
             foundation
             ,
             by
             Violence
             and
             Force
             ,
             to
             compel
             Men
             to
             be
             of
             
               one
               Mind
            
             ,
             and
             
               one
               Heart
            
             ;
             yet
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             of
             Right
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Duty
             ,
             bound
             not
             to
             suffer
             her
             Peace
             to
             be
             Disturbed
             ,
             or
             her
             Faith
             and
             
               Worship
               shaken
            
             by
             
               Publick
               Harangues
            
             ,
             and
             
               Professed
               Declamations
            
             :
             This
             is
             no
             Persecution
             ,
             but
             a
             Necessary
             Provision
             ,
             whereby
             the
             Designs
             of
             an
             important
             Trust
             committed
             to
             the
             Magistrate
             ,
             are
             fulfilled
             and
             answered
             ,
             I
             mean
             that
             of
             a
             Guardian
             ;
             and
             since
             it
             is
             so
             ,
             I
             cannot
             imagine
             why
             any
             Government
             
             should
             be
             slack
             in
             the
             Exercise
             of
             a
             
               Just
               Power
            
             ;
             especially
             since
             all
             sides
             are
             sensible
             how
             much
             Unanimity
             ,
             in
             Matters
             of
             Religion
             ,
             contributes
             to
             the
             
               Publick
               Weal
            
             of
             a
             Nation
             .
             And
             truly
             ,
             if
             to
             this
             Just
             Law
             ,
             another
             as
             Equitable
             were
             established
             ,
             
               That
               Persons
               who
               will
               not
               content
               '
               emselves
               with
               the
               Communion
               of
               the
               Established
               Religion
               ,
               should
               thereby
               be
               uncapable
               of
               any
               Places
               of
               Trust
               or
               Office
               ,
               either
               in
               Church
               or
               State
            
             ;
             as
             we
             find
             it
             in
             Neighbour
             Countries
             ,
             I
             question
             not
             but
             it
             would
             have
             produced
             a
             greater
             Unanimity
             in
             Matters
             of
             Religion
             ,
             than
             the
             most
             hopeful
             Projects
             of
             Comprehension
             .
             As
             the
             Case
             now
             stands
             ,
             the
             Tolerated
             Party
             is
             envigorated
             with
             the
             Hopes
             of
             one
             Day
             reducing
             every
             thing
             to
             their
             own
             Model
             ;
             but
             certainly
             had
             an
             
               Incapaciting
               Clause
            
             been
             fixed
             to
             the
             last
             
               Act
               of
               Grace
            
             ,
             I
             mean
             that
             of
             Toleration
             ,
             it
             would
             not
             only
             have
             proved
             an
             invincible
             Bulwark
             to
             our
             Pure
             and
             
               Apostolick
               Establishment
            
             ,
             but
             the
             most
             Healing
             Principle
             of
             Unity
             that
             could
             have
             been
             contrived
             ,
             or
             thought
             of
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             SECT
             .
             XII
             .
             But
             to
             return
             :
             As
             to
             the
             Charge
             of
             
               Implicit
               Faith
            
             ,
             it
             must
             be
             confessed
             ,
             That
             the
             Depriving
             Mankind
             of
             any
             of
             those
             Means
             ,
             or
             Instruments
             which
             GOD
             has
             appointed
             for
             the
             Discovery
             of
             His
             
               Revealed
               Will
            
             ,
             is
             a
             direct
             Invasion
             of
             the
             Privileges
             of
             a
             Christian
             ,
             and
             a
             considerable
             step
             towards
             the
             Introduction
             of
             an
             
               Implicit
               Faith.
            
             But
             I
             presume
             it
             cannot
             be
             pretended
             ,
             that
             an
             
               Unlimited
               Power
            
             of
             Printing
             is
             one
             of
             those
             Means
             which
             GOD
             has
             appointed
             for
             the
             Discovery
             of
             the
             True
             Religion
             .
             If
             so
             ,
             GOD
             seems
             to
             have
             been
             very
             much
             wanting
             to
             his
             own
             Designs
             ,
             in
             not
             communicating
             the
             Art
             by
             some
             Apostle
             or
             Prophet
             ,
             long
             before
             it
             obtained
             in
             the
             Christian
             World.
             But
             it
             's
             well
             known
             ,
             the
             True
             Religion
             rests
             upon
             other
             Foundations
             ;
             it
             was
             Established
             in
             Purity
             and
             Perfection
             ,
             long
             before
             this
             useful
             Art
             was
             formed
             ,
             or
             thought
             of
             ;
             and
             I
             question
             not
             ,
             will
             long
             continue
             so
             ,
             unless
             the
             Privilege
             of
             Printing
             the
             lewdest
             and
             most
             
               Heretical
               Notions
            
             ,
             subvert
             its
             Foundations
             .
          
           
             As
             for
             this
             
               National
               Establishment
            
             ,
             I
             challenge
             her
             most
             avowed
             Enemies
             to
             
             produce
             one
             single
             Instance
             ,
             wherein
             she
             denies
             her
             Members
             the
             use
             of
             any
             Divine
             or
             
               Apostolick
               Means
            
             ,
             that
             are
             Instituted
             for
             the
             Discovery
             of
             the
             True
             Religion
             .
             Our
             Church
             imposes
             no
             Article
             of
             Faith
             upon
             pure
             Church-authorities
             ;
             she
             recommends
             every
             thing
             to
             the
             Mind
             and
             Conscience
             upon
             rational
             Motives
             ,
             and
             Convictions
             :
             She
             is
             careful
             to
             publish
             useful
             Discourses
             ,
             in
             Matters
             of
             Faith
             and
             Practice
             ;
             and
             ,
             in
             a
             word
             ,
             every
             thing
             
               that
               is
               profitable
               for
               Doctrine
               ,
               for
               Reproof
               ,
               for
               Correction
               ,
               for
               Instruction
               in
               Righteousness
               ,
               that
               the
               Man
               of
            
             GOD
             
               may
               be
               perfect
               ,
               throughly
               furnished
               unto
               all
               good
               Works
               .
            
             She
             does
             not
             only
             allow
             ,
             but
             exhort
             her
             People
             ,
             
               To
               examine
               themselves
               whether
               they
               are
               in
               the
               Faith
               :
            
             She
             denies
             'em
             no
             Means
             of
             Information
             ,
             she
             does
             not
             only
             lay
             open
             the
             Well
             of
             Life
             ,
             or
             Fountain
             of
             Living
             Waters
             ,
             the
             
               Holy
               Scriptures
            
             ,
             but
             recommends
             'em
             to
             their
             Search
             and
             Enquiry
             ,
             even
             to
             the
             Trying
             
               of
               the
               Spirits
            
             by
             them
             :
             She
             allows
             'em
             to
             propose
             their
             Doubts
             and
             Scruples
             to
             their
             
               Spiritual
               Pastors
            
             ,
             and
             administers
             Counsel
             and
             Advice
             upon
             the
             force
             of
             Reason
             and
             Scripture
             :
             
             In
             a
             word
             ,
             as
             she
             conceals
             nothing
             of
             the
             
               whole
               Counsel
               of
            
             GOD
             ,
             so
             she
             admits
             all
             their
             Proposals
             ,
             by
             way
             of
             Enquiry
             and
             Information
             :
             So
             that
             there
             is
             nothing
             wanting
             of
             those
             Means
             GOD
             has
             instituted
             to
             enable
             every
             Man
             
               To
               give
               a
               reason
               of
               the
               Hope
               that
               is
               in
               him
               .
            
          
           
             Where
             then
             is
             that
             Nursery
             of
             
               Implicit
               Faith
            
             and
             Ignorance
             ?
             If
             Mens
             Judgments
             by
             all
             these
             Methods
             cannot
             ,
             or
             will
             not
             be
             set
             right
             and
             informed
             ,
             shall
             they
             challenge
             a
             Right
             to
             publish
             Dogmatically
             ,
             what
             they
             pretend
             to
             retain
             on
             no
             other
             Authority
             ,
             than
             that
             of
             a
             weak
             Conscience
             ,
             to
             bear
             down
             
               a
               rightful
               Establishment
            
             ?
             Are
             all
             the
             Means
             of
             Information
             useless
             ,
             and
             to
             be
             despised
             ,
             if
             this
             is
             not
             suffered
             ?
             Must
             they
             from
             Examiners
             and
             Enquirers
             ,
             immediately
             commence
             Doctors
             and
             Dictators
             ;
             and
             deliver
             their
             Sentiments
             with
             equal
             Authority
             to
             that
             of
             the
             
               Established
               Religion
            
             ?
             Where
             is
             that
             
               Spiritual
               Tyranny
            
             ,
             or
             
               Blind
               Obedience
            
             ,
             when
             they
             may
             propose
             their
             
               Arguments
               ,
               Doubts
            
             ,
             and
             Scruples
             to
             
               Private
               Pastors
            
             ,
             or
             a
             
               Publick
               Convocation
            
             ;
             when
             they
             may
             depute
             Proxies
             ,
             and
             be
             admitted
             to
             Conferences
             ,
             
             and
             
               Publick
               Debates
            
             ,
             without
             Passes
             of
             Safety
             ,
             without
             the
             Dread
             of
             an
             Inquisition
             ,
             or
             of
             a
             
               Writ
               de
               Hoeretico
               comburendo
            
             ?
             These
             are
             Privileges
             that
             may
             be
             obtained
             for
             asking
             ;
             and
             they
             are
             the
             most
             apposite
             Methods
             for
             the
             distinguishing
             Truth
             from
             Falshood
             :
             They
             are
             such
             as
             GOD
             has
             appointed
             ,
             and
             consequently
             such
             as
             GOD
             may
             be
             presumed
             to
             give
             a
             Blessing
             to
             .
             When
             therefore
             an
             Establishment
             has
             done
             all
             this
             ,
             shall
             the
             Magistrate
             that
             is
             constituted
             a
             Guardian
             ;
             and
             Trustee
             in
             the
             Church
             of
             CHRIST
             ,
             suffer
             the
             consciences
             of
             Men
             to
             be
             distracted
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Publick
               Peace
            
             of
             the
             Church
             invaded
             ,
             by
             the
             bold
             Cavils
             and
             Harangues
             of
             every
             
               Unreasonable
               Gainsayer
            
             ?
          
        
         
           
             SECT
             .
             XIII
             .
             Thirdly
             ,
             'T
             is
             objected
             ,
             
               That
               every
               one
               ,
               not
               only
               of
            
             Natural
             Right
             ,
             
               but
               in
               point
               of
            
             Duty
             ,
             
               particularly
               that
               of
            
             Charity
             ,
             
               may
               and
               ought
               to
               publish
               whatever
               appears
               to
               be
            
             Truth
             ,
             
               for
               the
               Information
               and
               Direction
               of
               others
               ;
               and
               consequently
               the
               Restraint
               of
               the
            
             Press
             ,
             
               that
               abridges
               this
               Right
               ,
               must
               be
               unlawful
               ,
               and
               unjust
               .
            
          
           
           
             But
             ,
             First
             ,
             it
             's
             an
             indisputable
             Truth
             ,
             That
             the
             
               Natural
               Rights
            
             and
             Duties
             of
             
               Private
               Persons
            
             ,
             are
             perpetually
             consonant
             to
             the
             Rights
             and
             Interests
             of
             
               Publick
               Societies
            
             ;
             and
             the
             Exercise
             of
             the
             former
             ,
             is
             for
             the
             most
             part
             to
             be
             regulated
             ,
             and
             determined
             by
             the
             latter
             .
             Again
             ,
             Whatever
             the
             Rights
             and
             Interests
             of
             Private
             Persons
             may
             be
             ,
             the
             Magistrate
             is
             absolutely
             entrusted
             with
             the
             Preservation
             of
             the
             Publick
             Peace
             ;
             and
             consequently
             may
             rightfully
             suppress
             every
             thing
             that
             is
             level'd
             against
             any
             Branch
             of
             the
             
               Publick
               Establishment
            
             ;
             since
             such
             Attempts
             unsettle
             the
             Minds
             of
             a
             People
             ,
             and
             engender
             intemperate
             Heats
             and
             Animosities
             ,
             and
             consequently
             carry
             a
             direct
             Tendency
             to
             Disorder
             and
             Confusion
             .
          
           
             All
             Governments
             give
             a
             latitude
             for
             
               private
               Opinions
            
             and
             Sentiments
             ;
             and
             therefore
             do
             not
             usually
             extend
             their
             Tests
             or
             Subscriptions
             ,
             beyond
             Places
             of
             Trust
             or
             
               Publick
               Employments
            
             :
             whereas
             't
             is
             their
             Care
             and
             Prudence
             to
             keep
             a
             watchful
             Eye
             upon
             
               New
               Notions
            
             obtruded
             on
             the
             Publick
             .
             Whilst
             an
             Opinion
             rests
             in
             the
             Breasts
             of
             private
             Persons
             ,
             the
             
               Publick
               Peace
            
             is
             not
             
             exposed
             ;
             but
             when
             't
             is
             pressed
             upon
             Mankind
             in
             
               Publick
               Harangues
            
             ,
             and
             transmitted
             from
             the
             Press
             too
             ;
             it
             gives
             Umbrage
             to
             the
             Peace
             and
             Weal
             of
             the
             Community
             ,
             and
             consequently
             calls
             for
             the
             Care
             and
             Vigilance
             of
             the
             Magistrate
             .
             In
             Cases
             of
             this
             Nature
             ,
             the
             first
             Christian
             Emperors
             appear'd
             as
             Guardians
             in
             the
             Church
             of
             CHRIST
             ,
             and
             vigorously
             exerted
             their
             Power
             and
             Authority
             ,
             to
             maintain
             its
             publick
             Peace
             and
             Unity
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               SECT
               .
               XIV
            
             .
             As
             for
             the
             Duty
             of
             Communicating
             our
             Opinions
             to
             others
             ,
             with
             a
             Design
             of
             Information
             ,
             it
             is
             indisputably
             to
             be
             regulated
             by
             two
             Considerations
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             The
             Importance
             of
             the
             Opinion
             ,
             and
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             The
             Certainty
             and
             Evidence
             of
             it
             .
          
           
             First
             ,
             If
             the
             Opinion
             be
             such
             as
             does
             not
             affect
             any
             considerable
             Interest
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             or
             correct
             or
             remove
             any
             dangerous
             Error
             ,
             but
             rather
             serves
             to
             entertain
             our
             Speculation
             and
             Curiosity
             ,
             than
             regulate
             our
             Conscience
             or
             Practice
             ;
             there
             can
             be
             no
             Obligation
             to
             disturb
             the
             World
             by
             opposing
             
               Established
               Doctrines
            
             or
             Notions
             ,
             
             when
             after
             all
             they
             may
             carry
             in
             them
             greater
             Marks
             or
             Evidences
             of
             Truth
             ,
             than
             a
             private
             Judgment
             can
             reasonably
             pretend
             to
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             Unless
             our
             Opinions
             are
             supported
             by
             the
             clearest
             Convictions
             of
             Reason
             ,
             or
             Authority
             of
             Scripture
             ,
             (
             as
             all
             matters
             of
             Importance
             undoubtedly
             are
             )
             there
             can
             be
             no
             just
             Plea
             for
             Duty
             ,
             to
             engage
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             World
             to
             become
             Disciples
             or
             Followers
             .
             And
             indeed
             it
             seems
             highly
             unreasonable
             ,
             that
             private
             Persons
             should
             amuse
             the
             Minds
             of
             others
             by
             obtruding
             
               New
               Notions
            
             ,
             when
             it
             may
             be
             they
             rest
             upon
             bare
             Probabilities
             ,
             or
             no
             higher
             Evidences
             than
             those
             that
             have
             been
             peaceably
             received
             from
             
               Publick
               Authority
            
             in
             Church
             and
             State.
             If
             the
             Projections
             and
             Opinions
             of
             Men
             were
             governed
             by
             these
             Maxims
             ,
             I
             'm
             perswaded
             the
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             (
             when
             it
             is
             thereby
             only
             committed
             to
             the
             Inspection
             of
             
               Publick
               Authority
            
             )
             would
             seldom
             be
             interpreted
             a
             Breach
             of
             any
             
               Natural
               Rights
            
             or
             Duties
             .
          
        
         
           
             SECT
             .
             XV.
             There
             now
             only
             remains
             an
             Objection
             no
             way
             worthy
             to
             be
             animadverted
             
             on
             ,
             except
             for
             its
             Popularity
             and
             
               Modern
               Fashionableness
            
             :
             'T
             is
             this
             ,
             
               That
               the
               Restraint
               of
               the
            
             PRESS
             ,
             
               is
               an
               Invasion
               of
               the
               Liberty
            
             and
             
               Property
               of
               an
            
             Englishman
             .
          
           
             But
             I
             'm
             perswaded
             before
             the
             Objection
             can
             justly
             take
             place
             ,
             the
             Privileges
             of
             the
             Press
             should
             be
             discovered
             to
             be
             an
             Article
             of
             
               Magna
               Charta
            
             ,
             tho'
             it
             were
             some
             Centuries
             before
             Printing
             had
             its
             Beginning
             :
             But
             in
             a
             word
             ,
             if
             the
             Power
             of
             Legislation
             is
             to
             be
             crampt
             ,
             and
             fettered
             in
             the
             Case
             before
             us
             ,
             I
             cannot
             see
             but
             that
             every
             Authoritative
             Regulation
             of
             the
             Actions
             of
             an
             English
             Subject
             ,
             might
             be
             disputed
             as
             a
             Breach
             of
             the
             Liberty
             and
             Property
             of
             an
             Englishman
             ,
             and
             consequently
             no
             Law
             could
             be
             established
             ,
             without
             first
             obtaining
             the
             Unanimous
             Consent
             of
             the
             People
             .
          
        
         
           
             SECT
             .
             XVI
             .
             And
             now
             ,
             Sir
             ,
             I
             have
             in
             some
             measure
             dispatched
             what
             I
             proposed
             ,
             and
             You
             seem
             to
             have
             demanded
             ;
             and
             tho'
             I
             have
             not
             expresly
             replied
             to
             Your
             Enquiries
             in
             the
             very
             Terms
             ,
             or
             order
             they
             were
             proposed
             ;
             yet
             I
             have
             the
             Vanity
             to
             presume
             ,
             That
             I
             have
             not
             only
             made
             returns
             to
             the
             Arguments
             contained
             in
             them
             ;
             
             but
             dispel'd
             that
             Cloud
             of
             Objections
             that
             of
             late
             has
             been
             raised
             to
             obstruct
             the
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             .
             If
             therefore
             what
             has
             been
             already
             offered
             has
             the
             good
             Fortune
             to
             carry
             the
             Balance
             ,
             against
             Your
             former
             Sentiments
             ,
             be
             pleased
             to
             suffer
             a
             short
             Address
             on
             my
             part
             ,
             in
             the
             case
             before
             us
             ,
             as
             a
             hearty
             Advocate
             for
             the
             Maintainance
             and
             Welfare
             of
             the
             Government
             in
             Church
             and
             State.
             
          
           
             Sir
             ,
             We
             have
             been
             hitherto
             engaged
             in
             the
             Cause
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             the
             Methods
             of
             its
             Preservation
             and
             Support
             .
             And
             the
             late
             passionate
             Address
             of
             the
             last
             Parliament
             ,
             and
             His
             
             Majesty's
             most
             Gracious
             Answer
             to
             it
             ,
             seems
             to
             Authorize
             the
             Pursuit
             of
             the
             Argument
             .
             That
             
               Venerable
               Body
            
             wisely
             applied
             Themselves
             to
             their
             Sovereign
             ,
             to
             consult
             His
             Pleasure
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             excite
             His
             Zeal
             and
             Piety
             :
             and
             He
             was
             pleased
             to
             signifie
             His
             concurrence
             ,
             and
             remit
             the
             Managery
             of
             the
             Affair
             to
             His
             
               House
               of
               Commons
            
             ,
             as
             to
             the
             proper
             Instruments
             to
             prepare
             Matters
             for
             the
             Formation
             of
             a
             just
             Law.
             It
             's
             true
             ,
             that
             
               Honourable
               House
            
             formed
             a
             Bill
             upon
             the
             present
             Argument
             ;
             but
             the
             Miscarriages
             of
             
             it
             ,
             where-ever
             justly
             to
             be
             fixed
             ,
             cannot
             conclude
             against
             ,
             the
             Reasonableness
             or
             Necessity
             of
             it
             .
             I
             'm
             confident
             the
             Eyes
             and
             Heart
             ,
             the
             Hopes
             and
             Expectations
             of
             every
             Englishman
             ,
             that
             is
             acted
             with
             a
             true
             Concern
             for
             the
             True
             Religion
             ,
             are
             fixed
             on
             the
             ensuing
             Session
             ;
             and
             pardon
             me
             ,
             if
             I
             flatter
             My-self
             ,
             That
             the
             Arguments
             already
             suggested
             ,
             demonstrate
             the
             absolute
             Necessity
             of
             Restraining
             the
             Press
             ,
             as
             an
             effectual
             Expedient
             to
             preserve
             the
             Interests
             of
             it
             .
          
           
             The
             Liberty
             of
             Printing
             without
             License
             or
             Inspection
             ,
             has
             sufficiently
             discharged
             its
             poisonous
             Influences
             against
             the
             Interests
             of
             the
             
               Established
               Religion
            
             ;
             and
             a
             small
             tract
             of
             Time
             in
             the
             same
             Allowance
             ,
             would
             demonstrate
             its
             Force
             and
             Efficacy
             against
             the
             Interests
             of
             the
             
               Civil
               Polity
            
             ,
             as
             established
             in
             a
             Monarchy
             .
             I
             wish
             some
             late
             Essays
             had
             not
             asserted
             the
             Truth
             of
             the
             Observation
             :
             witness
             those
             gross
             Insinuations
             the
             Press
             has
             presented
             us
             with
             ,
             for
             the
             preference
             of
             a
             Republick
             to
             that
             of
             Monarchy
             :
             [
             See
             
               Ludlow's
               Memoirs
            
             ]
             Witness
             those
             base
             and
             unwarrantable
             Characters
             vented
             ,
             in
             a
             late
             Paper
             ,
             
             wherein
             the
             present
             Reign
             seems
             to
             be
             blacken'd
             by
             the
             Help
             of
             a
             
               Prophetick
               Spirit
            
             ,
             and
             making
             it
             an
             Accessary
             to
             what
             may
             come
             hereafter
             ;
             where
             every
             Estate
             of
             the
             Realm
             ,
             and
             every
             Order
             of
             Men
             in
             Authority
             and
             Places
             of
             Trust
             ,
             are
             described
             like
             Ruffians
             and
             Paltroons
             ,
             rather
             than
             Persons
             of
             Dignity
             and
             Honour
             .
             What
             can
             be
             the
             Scope
             of
             such
             unmannerly
             Declamation
             ,
             but
             to
             bring
             the
             English
             Constitution
             into
             Disgrace
             ,
             and
             prepare
             the
             Minds
             of
             the
             People
             for
             Anarchy
             and
             Confusion
             .
             [
             See
             
               The
               short
               History
               of
               Standing
               Armies
               in
               England
               .
            
             ]
          
           
             But
             to
             return
             :
             YOU
             ,
             Sir
             ,
             and
             Your
             
               Honourable
               Brethren
            
             ,
             are
             concerned
             as
             Trustees
             and
             Guardians
             in
             part
             for
             Religion
             ;
             and
             since
             the
             necessity
             of
             a
             National
             Establishment
             is
             fully
             demonstrated
             ,
             all
             disinterested
             Persons
             must
             conclude
             ,
             That
             Your
             special
             Care
             and
             Inspection
             should
             be
             engaged
             to
             advance
             that
             of
             this
             Nation
             ,
             of
             which
             You
             profess
             Your selves
             Members
             ,
             and
             from
             whose
             Communion
             ,
             by
             Civil
             Appointment
             ,
             You
             receive
             Qualifications
             for
             Places
             of
             Trust
             ,
             or
             
               Publick
               Employ
            
             .
             A
             Temporary
             Interest
             may
             engage
             a
             great
             
             many
             Men
             ,
             to
             declare
             '
             emselves
             Members
             of
             Her
             Communion
             ;
             but
             it
             's
             certain
             the
             true
             Test
             of
             Membership
             is
             to
             use
             all
             imaginable
             Endeavours
             to
             maintain
             her
             Rights
             ,
             and
             support
             her
             Constitution
             ;
             whenever
             she
             's
             publickly
             attack'd
             in
             any
             Branch
             of
             it
             .
          
           
             To
             have
             the
             Press
             regulated
             by
             the
             received
             Doctrines
             of
             a
             
               National
               Establish
               ment
            
             ,
             is
             to
             be
             esteemed
             one
             of
             her
             
               undoubted
               Rights
            
             and
             Immunities
             ;
             and
             therefore
             when
             Invasions
             of
             this
             Nature
             are
             daily
             made
             ,
             she
             may
             justly
             expect
             the
             interposal
             of
             Authority
             :
             But
             if
             she
             could
             not
             challenge
             thus
             much
             of
             Right
             ,
             yet
             since
             the
             
               Dissenting
               Sectaries
            
             have
             received
             very
             ample
             Acts
             of
             Grace
             ,
             under
             the
             
               present
               Government
            
             ;
             the
             
               Established
               Religion
            
             ,
             one
             would
             think
             ,
             may
             reasonably
             expect
             her
             tail
             in
             this
             kind
             ,
             and
             command
             the
             Press
             in
             matters
             of
             Religion
             ,
             as
             the
             
               First
               Act
            
             of
             Grace
             ;
             especially
             since
             't
             is
             no
             more
             but
             what
             
               Former
               Reigns
            
             ,
             by
             an
             indisputable
             Authority
             ,
             afforded
             her
             .
          
           
             But
             to
             draw
             towards
             a
             Conclusion
             :
             Give
             me
             leave
             to
             tell
             You
             ,
             Sir
             ,
             If
             the
             Restraint
             of
             the
             Press
             cannot
             be
             obtained
             by
             way
             of
             
             Right
             ,
             nor
             Grace
             and
             Favour
             :
             I
             question
             not
             but
             the
             fatal
             influences
             it
             has
             upon
             Morality
             and
             Religion
             ,
             is
             Motive
             sufficient
             to
             accomplish
             it
             .
             I
             shall
             not
             resume
             the
             Argument
             I
             have
             already
             enlarged
             on
             ;
             but
             certainly
             it
             seems
             to
             be
             a
             fruitless
             Attempt
             to
             suppress
             Immorality
             and
             Profaneness
             ,
             and
             establish
             a
             Sence
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             Principle
             of
             Piety
             ,
             whilst
             a
             latitude
             is
             permitted
             in
             the
             most
             publick
             manner
             ,
             to
             dispute
             the
             most
             
               Sacred
               Points
            
             of
             Religion
             ,
             to
             decry
             
               National
               Establishments
            
             ,
             arraign
             the
             whole
             Order
             of
             the
             Ministers
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             the
             Solemnities
             of
             
               Publick
               Worship
            
             .
             It
             's
             impossible
             the
             generality
             of
             Mankind
             under
             these
             Instructions
             ,
             can
             entertain
             any
             serious
             Thoughts
             concerning
             Religion
             ,
             but
             are
             rather
             prepared
             to
             contemn
             and
             vilifie
             the
             Blessed
             AUTHOR
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             Contrivance
             :
             and
             therefore
             if
             Morality
             and
             strict
             Vertue
             is
             pursued
             on
             these
             terms
             ,
             it
             's
             more
             to
             be
             ascribed
             to
             the
             happy
             Genius
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             than
             any
             Principle
             of
             Religion
             .
             In
             a
             word
             then
             ,
             If
             the
             Honourable
             Assembly
             of
             Commons
             is
             in
             earnest
             for
             Reformation
             (
             as
             I
             question
             not
             but
             they
             are
             )
             what
             has
             already
             been
             offered
             ,
             
             seems
             to
             bespeak
             the
             Regulation
             of
             the
             Press
             to
             be
             the
             most
             likely
             Introduction
             to
             it
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             ,
             Sir
             ,
             I
             have
             delivered
             my
             Sentiments
             with
             as
             much
             Sincerity
             as
             Freedom
             .
             All
             that
             remains
             ,
             is
             ,
             If
             they
             happen
             to
             make
             You
             a
             Proselyte
             ,
             I
             hope
             You
             'll
             employ
             Your
             hearty
             Endeavours
             ,
             in
             the
             Post
             You
             're
             fixt
             ,
             to
             make
             the
             Argument
             the
             subject
             of
             a
             Law
             ;
             and
             the
             greatest
             Testimony
             of
             this
             will
             be
             ,
             that
             Care
             be
             taken
             ,
             not
             only
             that
             a
             Law
             be
             formed
             ,
             which
             will
             effectually
             answer
             the
             Designs
             of
             it
             ;
             but
             that
             the
             Forming
             of
             it
             be
             done
             with
             that
             Prudence
             and
             Caution
             ,
             as
             not
             to
             give
             a
             handle
             to
             crush
             it
             in
             its
             first
             Production
             .
             When.
             this
             is
             accomplished
             ,
             it
             will
             lay
             perpetual
             Obligations
             of
             Gratitude
             and
             Respect
             towards
             the
             Instruments
             of
             it
             ,
             on
             all
             those
             in
             whom
             the
             Interest
             of
             this
             Government
             apparently
             consists
             ;
             
               The
               True
               Members
               of
               the
               Established
            
             CHURCH
             of
             ENGLAND
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           Pag.
           1.
           lin
           .
           1.
           read
           solicite
           .
           P.
           24.
           l.
           20.
           read
           Eternal
           .
           P
           :
           49.
           l.
           4.
           dele
           absolutely
           .
           P.
           65.
           l.
           20.
           read
           Tale.