P R E F A C E. diCtion, no harm could be flared from them. And, as his mqjejiy is de– fender of the faith in Scotland, as well as England, and equally the guar– dian of both churches, he will, no doubt, hold the balance, and prevent either from ri)ing to foch a pitch if greatnefs, as to afl independently on the jlate, or become formidable and opprdfive to their neighbours; the former •would create imperium in imperio; and there is but one fl:ep between the church's being independent on the STATE, and the sTATE becoming dependent on the church. Bifides, as freedom if religion is for the true honour and dignity of the CROwN, it is no le(s for the flr'l•jce of the com– munity; for the example of the neighbouring natiom may convince us, that uniformity in the church, will always be attended with abfolute and de– fpotic power in the sTATE. '!'he meetings of diffenting protefl:ants were formerly called feditious, becaz!fe the peace of the public was falfily jup– pqfed to conjijl in uniformity of wor!hip; but long experience has taught us the contrary; for, though the non-conformifl:s in thofl times ga·ve no dijlurbance to the adminijlration, the nation 7eJas far from being at peace ; but 7eJhen things came to a crijis, their joining with the church againft a corrupt court and mini!lry, faved the ·religion and liberties of the nation. It mt.Jl tberifore be the intertjl of a free people to .fopport and encourage liberty if confcience, and not to fojfer a;1y one great and powerful religious body to opprefs, devour, and .fwal/ow up the re/l. FINALLY, When protrfl:ant ditfenters recolleCt the fufferings of their fathers in the lafl: age, for the freedom of their confciences, let them be thankful, that their lot is cafl: in more fettled times. The liberties of England are the price, if a great deal of blood and treajitre; wide breaches were made in the conjlitution in the four reigns of the male line of the STUARTS, perflcution and arbitrary po~e;er went band in hand; tbe co1!fiitution was often in convu!five agonies, when the patromof liberty ap– peared boldly in the noble cauji:, and Jacrificed their iftates and liveJ in itJ defence. '!'he puritans Jiood firm by the protefl:ant religion, and by the liberties of their country, in the reigm of king Charles IT. and king James II. and received the fire ol the enemy from all their batteries, with– out moving .[edition, or taking adva11tage of their perfecutors, when it was after~vards in their power. Some amendments, in my bumble opi– nion, are .(till w~nting to flttle the cm!fe of' liberty on a more equal bqjis, and to delzver 'Wife and good men from the fitterJ if oaths, fubfcriptions, and religious tetl:s of all forts. But whether jitch dijirable bldfingJ are in refor"ve for this nation, muft be lift to the determination if an all-wife pro– r..;tdence. In the mean time, may protefl:ant diffenters exprrfs their grati– tude for the proteflion and eaji: they enjoy at preftnt, by an undif!i:mb/ed c 2 piety :xi"
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