Of Chriflian Liberty. 139 ligion, hath often tended to corrupt it. For S ER M.. what in effet have the civil powers efta- V. blifhed, or can they eftablifh, that is, en-""/""a force by their authority ? Not the original plan of that grace which hath appeared to men bringing falvation ; that muff ftand up- on the foot of the divine inftitution, and its own intrinfick excellence ; and it is calculated to be the religion of every man for himfelf, voluntarily chofen and voluntarily profeffed, on which its whole value and efficacy depend ; not to be the religion of civil communities, as fuch, and enforced by their power, for they are not capable of it : But the civil powers have only eftablifhed peculiar forms of pro- feffions, and the chara teriftick opinions and ufages of particular parties, giving them an outward fantion, and diftinguifhing them by exclufive privileges granted to thofe who conform. Such is the religious part of our legal efta- blifhment ; though in feveral important re- fpets incomparably better than fome others, it maketh arbitrary inclofures in the chriftian church, impofeth unnecelLry things and uncommanded in fcripture, as terms of reli- gious communion, fo far deviating from the - fimplicity and purity of the gofpel, and en- croaching
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