AN ESSAY. 205 sent time and the present situation of affairs, and this will an- swer all the just and reasonable purposes of a supreme ruler : But to establish such a law, lays a long and constant odium, or public reproach as well as incapacity, on that whole sect or party for time to come, when it may be the best interest of the state to have that very officer, or a magistrate of that religion, chosen or fixed in such a 'station. See section ix. And, III. I enquire, whether in many cases this would not be found direct persecution for conscience : If ever so worthya manbe employed for several years in a heathen country, in an office of honour or profit, or both, and he be convinced and pro- fesses christianity, would not such a law, which excludes chris- tians from all offices, turn him out of his place and livelihood, and perhaps leave him andhis family to starve ? The same case may happen, whereany law is made to seclude any different sects of the same religion from all offices. X. Yet in order to secure the peace and welfare of the state, and the common good of mankind,. which. is the great end of government, Í would here venture to enquire whether there are not two sorts of persons, who may be constantly and rightfully excluded even by a law, from any supreme or subordinate offices in the state, and that merely upon the account of their religionor some wicked articles in it. XI. First, When the religion which any person professes, contains such pernicious articles in it, and especially if it has been frequently attended with such correspondent practices from time to time, as give abundant evidence and example that the principles of that religion, encourage and authorize men to in- vade the peace of the state, the rights of the prince, and the civil or religious liberties, the property and welfare of the peo- ple. Thence I would take leave to enquire, whether or no the popish religion, by its persecuting and bloody principles, as well as by its subjection to a foreign potentate or prince, even the Pope of Rome, who pretends to absolve men from the most solemn and sacred bonds ; I say, whether this Roman religion has not made it effectually appear, that neither princes nor peo- ple can be safe wheresoever the papists have power*: For I take all those principles of religion which allow the deposing of * Let it be observed here, that this scheme does not allow any prince or state to persecute the papists in the least degree on the account of their worship- ping images, or making a piece of bread their God, and adoring it as the body of Jesus Christ; nor for any fooleries or idolatries in their religion, which do not injure the public welfare in things natural or civil. Not a farthing of their money, nor a hair of their head should le taken away on this account. But if they will profess and maintain such opinions and principles about the powers of a priest or a pope to absolve them of their oaths, and to break all their bands of duty to the cie l government, and to their fellow subjects, I see not how they can claim any protection from the state, much less an admission into any post of trust or profit, as appears in the next paragraphs.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=