192 CIVIL POWER IN THINGS SACRED, affairs, is so poor and sorry a pretence, -and is big with such ab. surdities; that it is now banished out of the books and opinions of every nation where liberty is known; nor should it ever be recalled or revived-lest God, as the author of all civil govern- ment should be made the author and commander of all that idolatry and superstition, which the governors of this world may command. IV. Wherepersons therefore profess the obligations of con- science to any revealed religion, and claim the right of worship which arises thence, it must always be granted.; but still with this'proviso, as was said before, that none of these pretences to divine revelation; none of these peculiar forms or practices, to which men profess to be houndby their consciences, be inconsist- ent with the peace of the state, the welfare of their neighbtíurs, and the support of the civil'government: For it is not to be sup- posed that the great God would ever reveal and appoint any thing to be believed or practised as a matter of religion, by creatures who must dwell under some civil government, which should be inconsistent with civil government itself or thecommon and social welfare of mankind. For this very reason it is that no religion hatb a right to be tolerated which professes-and maintains the persecutions of other religions, or which binds down persons under penalties to act in the things of God contrary to their con- sciences.: because this is injurious to mankind in general, and invades the just and natural liberties of. men, and thereby breaks in upon the peace of the state. And for the same reason no person, whatsoever religion he professes, can claim toleration for himself in the practice of it, who asserts and maintains a right to persecute other religions besides his own : Such a person is a common nuisance to a state, Mr his principles are inconsist- ent with the peace of civil society : And besides, what reason can he have to claim,that toleration for himself which he refuses to others? V. Where particular persons of the same religion shall unite in societies for religious purposes, with this proviso of the safety of the state, there the state has not only no right nor authority to forbid them, but the rulers of the state are obliged to guard and protect them from insults and injuries in the em- ployment of all their natural liberties and these invaluable rights of conscience ; and they are obliged by their office to maintain these rights of their people, in o;position to all the public scandal and outrage with Which persons of different religions might be tempted to treat each other : For all magistrates are guardians of the peace of the state, and of all the natural rights and liber- ties of mankind, in things relating to God or man. The great rule is happily expressed by our Saviour ; Mat. xxii. 21. Render to Geesar the things that are Ceesar's, and to God the things that 1
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