THE PREFACE. THE Author of these Papers has frequently fallen into Company, wherein he had occafion to converse on the Topicks of Liberty and Power, both Civil and Religious: and having never Settled and ranged his own Ideas and Reasonings thereupon in so exact and So harmonious an Order as he wish'd, be some Years ago set himself down to try if he could draw out his Thoughts into a regular Scheme, whereby be might better confirm or correct his own Conduct. He then apply'd himSelf A 2 Self to a diligent and faithful Enquiry, without consulting other Authors, how far his own Reason would carry him toward the Establishment of any certain Religion in a Country or Nation, with a real defire to find a just Foundation for it, and try how far it could be brought into Form and Method. And that he might fecure himself the better from all Prejudices arifing from present Establishments, be proposed to himself the Idea of a new erected State or Government of any kind whatsoever, laying afide all Prepoljeffrons a poffefssions and Influences from the preSent Statutes and Customs of Men, and from the Appearances of Things in any Nation whatsoever, while he was engaged in these Speculations. In matters of Practice he has always shewn himself on every Occafion a conftant and fincere Friend and faithful Subject to our British Government; and as he endeavors to pay pay every one in Church and State their due, so he rejoices in the Protestant Succession to the Crown, and the illustrious Family which poffefsses it. And'tis the defire of his Soul, that our present Rightful Sovereign King GEORGE the Second may have every Grace and Blessing pour'd down upon his Royal Person, to render him a long and glorious Instrument of Divine Mercy, to diffuse Blessings over the whole Proteftant World, and particularly over the British Nation. As the Author abbors the Thought of raising Seditions in the State under our happy Constitution from any Pretences either Civil or Religious, so be has no Views of disturbing any Character or Sett of Men in those just Privileges and Poffeffions which they enjoy by the Laws of the Land, for he poffefses all his own Privileges by the fame. He is so well convinced of our happy Situation above and beyond almost every other Nation under Heaven, that he does not suppose it can be either proper or lawful for any Persons or Parties among us to attempt to shake the present Foundations of our Government, in order to introduce in practice fuch a Scheme of Liberty in Matters of Confcience as these Papers describe in Speculation. Surely we value our British Constitution and the Privileges we enjoy, both Civil and Sacred, at too bigh a rate, ever to bring the Hazard and Lofs of them into a Competition with any new Schemes or Models, which may be form'd by the warm Imaginations or doubtful Reasonings of Men. Yet it may be proper and useful to any Man for his own Satisfaction to enter into this Subject, and to fearch it through and through, according to his best Capacity, that he may form a better Judgment of the many late Contests in our Nation concerning Penal Laws and Tests in Civil and in Religious Affairs. The Author every Author was very defirous to try how far his Reason could establisha Na-/ tional Religion, and adjust and limit the common Rights of Mankind, both Sacred and Civil, under this Establishment, in any Country whatfoever, wherein Religion may be profess'd in various Forms; and at the Same time to maintain a perfect Confiftence with all due Liberty of Confeience and support the just Authority of Supreme Rulers. What he had written on this Subject he was defired to publish as a Matter of further Enquiry to those who have thought much on this Argument; and perhaps it may serve to lead those who have never much thought of it into a more natural and easy Track of Thinking and Reasoning about it. If any thing in this Essay shall prove so happy as to shed one peaceful and ferene Beam of Light upon this dark and noisy Controversy, he hopes to find Forgiveness and Acceptance a mong |