for it deceives us with the idea of acting with propriety, while we are doing exactly the reverse. The dissenter thinks every churchman must be illiberal, while those of his own persuasion he considers as men of enlarged sentiments. Liberality, however, does not consist in a man's own opinions, but in the tenderness and respect which he shews to those who differ from him; it is not what we think or believe, but what we think of others, that makes us deserve the name of liberal; for tho' freedom from prejudice is one part of liberality, yet to respect the prejudices of others is a greater, and it is certainly that part which most contributes to the peace, comfort, and pleasure of society.

We are apt, by a very common mistake, to Indifference confound indifference with liberality, and a often conman who has no opinions of his own, is often founded with said to be liberal to those of others--a degree liberality of praise to which he has properly no claim, for the most liberal men are generally the most tenacious and best convinced of their own opinions, and as they feel how much it cost them to arrive at conviction, they pardon with more ease the mistakes of others. There are some men who have never given themselves the trouble to think much on any subject, yet

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if they interfere not with other people's opinions, pass in the world for very liberal, good sort of men, and are never troubled with doubts or difficulties; they look steadily to their interest, and generally succeed in obtaining respect, consideration, and money.

iberality of Liberality of sentiment is scarcely consistent Sentiment with any establishment of religion, for the funinconsistent damental article of them all is, the belief of with every their own superior excellence; yet it is not on religions this account alone that they are illiberal, (for Code this belief, in philosophy, is thoroughly consistent with the fullest indulgence to others) but in those establishments which are well endowed, the riches of the superior clergy induce them to entertain a mean opinion of those who dissent from the faith of the church; for the debasing effect of interest on the human mind is such, that we generally despise those who are superior to its temptations. The dissenter is not so much laughed at by the haughty churchman on account of his difference of opinion, as for his tattered coat and humble dwelling; for the patience with which he submits to the frowns of fortune, while he sees others enjoying her smiles; such is the illiberality with which delicacy of conscience is regarded by the degraded votaries of interest and pre

ferment. The intolerant and illiberal spirit of the Romish church is now almost extinct, adversity has humbled her, and taught her forbearance and tenderness for the belief of others; she is now content to enjoy her own in quiet, without insisting upon its being received by all the rest of mankind, on pain of being condemned to eternal punishment. The protestant establishment seems to take place of her ancient rival, in sentiments of intolerance, but the time is fast approaching, when the liberality of true philosophy will teach her moderation and forbearance; and when all the persecuting statutes which she caused to be enacted will be erased from our civil code, and dissenters of all sorts will enjoy the utmost freedom of thought and expression. The church herself will, in time, give way to the progress of information, and even now her boasted and pre-eminent utility can no longer be maintained, when it is acknowledged that two-thirds of the nation are dissenters. There will soon be neither dissenters nor churchmen, but all men will be of one religion, the religion of reason, or true self-interest well understood.

Liberality of sentiment is the result of the free exercise of our reason, for the more this faculty is cultivated, the more ready we are to

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mark of a libera & mind

make allowance for the errors and excesses of our fellow-creatures, nor is there any danger to be apprehended from its most unlimited exereise; it may endanger many establishments which were formed in ages of ignorance, but it can never injure the happiness of society; it may oppose our prejudices, but it can never deprive us of any thing truly valuable; because it tends to the highest improvement of our nature. The love of liberty and the love of power are so nearly allied, that in some minds it is almost impossible to separate them, hence it is commonly said that a republican is always a tyrant; but a man of just and liberal mind will be as much averse to tyrannize over others as he will be unwilling to let others tyrannize over him; nevertheless, he will take care to maintain all the authority he has a right to, in his paternal and civil relations.

To bear to hear the truth, either of ourselves or of our friends, is the mark of a liberal and cultivated mind. In every human being there is a mixture of good and evil in different proportions, and therefore to expect praise unalloyed, for the whole or any part of our conduct, is narrow minded and unmanly; for so long as men continue to have different habits and pursuits, they will view the same actions in

different lights, and praise or censure accordingly. A liberal man will make allowance for this difference of opinion, and be content with the praises of those whom he wished to please. Such a man is impartial in all his sentiments, and never suffers his judgment to be directed by narrow or private motives, but shews an equal tendenerness for the failings of one man as of another, and considers, that however ridiculous any man's sentiments or conduct may appear, yet that they are the result of his impressions, and consequently cannot be altered but by contrary impressions, and, therefore, tho' he may wish to reason or laugh him out of his follies, he will forbear to insult or injure. A liberal man will never be a party man, nor will he ever believe or reject any opinions from private, interested, or personal attachments; he will never be hasty to believe evil reports, even of his enemies, for as he will always be desirous to act from a knowledge of the truth and the actual state of things, he will never hastily give credit to what may be false, for any thing he knows to the contrary. Were this disposition more general, we should seldom see private quarrels either long or violent, for what is it that gives importance to trifles in all such disputes, but the readiness with which peo