AN ESSAY. 209 think a prince may require the religious assistance of the people for the civil welfare. VII. And perhaps it may not be unlawful, for the civil_ power to lay some small penalty upon those, who without just excuse wilfully and rebelliously oppose or renounce any such religious services for the state, that is, in cases of most appa- rent danger or blessing: And perhaps a heavier penalty may be appointed for such obstinate and stubborn spirits, as will boldly transact any thing in public, in such a way of sport or labour, &c. which will be a manifest and public hindrance to the sacred offices required by the magistrate, on the days appointed.for public prayer or thankfulness. We find the king of Nineveh, who was a heathen, was led by the light of nature to appoint, in a very strict manner, such a day of humiliation and prayer throughout the city, when they were in imminent danger of destruction under the threatenings of God, by the month of Jonah his prophet, Jonah iii. 5-10. And as the light of nature and reason seem to dictate it, so the success of it was agreeable to their desires, and the threatened desolation was prevented. Whether the king had a right to command the ceremonies of sackcloth and ashes indeed may bear a dispute : But so far as I can see, their crying mightily unto their god, on some ap.. pointed day, might be a very lawful and proper command from their king, as a father and protector of the people, and I should think the people might be bound to obey it. But still, as I said before, it most be in such cases only, where they . are satisfied the true interest and welfare of the nation demands it. In dubious cases every man must have leave to judge for himself, and no .man's conscience should be bound to pray for those things which he believes inhis heart to be a public grievance or danger, or to pray against what he believes to be a public blessing, however the civil powers may enjoin or re- quire it. VII. Here then it will be said, if the magistrate may for- bid any thing that gives public interruption to the solemnity of such national fasting or thanksgiving days by laws and penalties, in evident cases of national dangers or blessings, or may he not by laws and penalties forbid also the common labours or sports of men on those days, which he himself believes sacred to God and religion? This argument may be further enforced thus : Ina christian country, where prince and people are chiefly christians, may not the prince forbid all his subjects, whether christians or pagans, Turks or Jews, to labour or sport publicly on the first (lay of the area, since it is manifest that the indul- gence of such sports or labours on that day would be an offence and a snare to the christians, a means of corrupting their chil- dren and families, &c. and hinder them in the learning or the VOL. iv. O
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