Of Natural, Moral, and Civil Liberty. 73 cry Abba Father, ferving him with an in- S E R Nt. genuous filial confidence and refped. III. Agreeable to the defign of chriftianity, was the manner of its propagation and efta- blifhment ; it was intended to reftore, to enlarge, and improve, the moral powers of the human nature ; and it was addreffed to the underftandings and affections of men, not forced by feverities and terrors, as it is certain true religion can never be, but fub- mitted to a fair impartial inquiry, and of- fered to free choice. How glorious Both this liberal inflitution appear to attentive minds, which confider their own nature and privileges as rational moral agents, to- gether with the dignity and excellence of virtue ? It is in this view fo lovely, fo at- trative of efleem, that it is impoflible for an ingenuous heart to refill it ; but how de- fpicable are thofe illiberal forms and fchemes of religion, whofe ftrength is all derived, and their pretenfions all fupported by hu- man authority, by the pleafures and pains, the hopes and fears of this world. The blefr'ed author of the gofpel, and the pri- mitive teachers of it commiflioned by him, publifhed it with the greateft fimplicity, in- viting every hearer to enquire and judge for himfelf concerning its truth, its excellence, and
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