206 mint. rowmt IN THINGS SACRED. kings and the persecuting of people, merely on account of re- ligion, to be unjust in themselves, and inconsistent with the welfare of any state ; and consequently I query whether any wise state should ever admit of such rulers or officers in any post whatsoever of high or low degree, - unless they can first clear themselves from these wicked principles. In the second place, XII. Secondly, I enquire whether persons, whose religion will not permit them to give effectual security of their allegiance to their superiors in the government, or security to the people of their protection, I say, whether persons of such a religion as in- dulges men in the violation of all such bonds of security, can be safely admitted to be supreme or subordinate officers in any state: For such officers cannot faithfully stipulate or contract with their prince to serve him ; nor can rulers or princes of such a religion stipulate with their people to be faithful in their office : Nor do I see any way how such a religion can effectually secure tite distinct rights either ofpeople or prince, unless this part of it be absolutely and effectually renounced. XIII. And indeed, as I have hinted before, such persons among the people who cannot engage by bonds laid upon con- science for their allegiance and, faithfulness to any civil govern- ment, or who think their religion allows them to break those bonds for the sake of their religion, I do not see how they can claim common protection under any state or government what- soever; and therefore I think with more abundant evidence, they may be very rightfully excluded by a law from any office therein. And we maybe well assured that that religion can ne- ver be from God which allows no secure stipulation between prince and people ; that is in short, which allows no mutual secu- rity in civil government, which in general is anordinance of God for the góodof mankind. SECT. X. Of the Power of the Prince in every Worshipping Assembly. I. Though the supreme power of any state, has no right to impose the profession or practice of any one peculiar religion upon the people, yet since civil government is an ordinance of' God as the God of nature for the welfare of mankind, the su- preme power in any nation may possibly have a right to command several things to be done in every assembly that meets for divine worship : As, II. 1. I think they may give it in charge to every religious society, as they are members of the state, that sometimes at least, and upon proper occasions, they should preach up moral duties to men, as well as the duties of piety towards God that
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