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same time a more determined opponent of religious indifference, than I am. My creed in this matter is formed upon the Redeemer's words, "He that is not with me is against "me." Yet let no man libel me as an enemy to free inquiry on religious subjects, or to the privilege of worshipping God as his conscience dictates. The motto which I have adopted is, "Prove all things; hold "fast that which is good."

No one ought to be molested in his religion; but at the same time no man ought to be considered as innocent who equalizes all religions. Whilst, therefore, a protest is given in against the authority of the civil magistrate ever to invade the rights of conscience in religion, by temporal penalties, let it not be considered that the protest in any degree justifies the error, that in the sight of God all the various forms of worship and systems of religion are entitled to the same respect. But one form and one system can be right, and the rest must be

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erroneous.

On this ground, whilst I cheerfully grant to the members of the Roman Church the right which they possess to avow and defend

their opinions, without suffering civil penalties, I claim the right which I possess as a protestant, to declare my firm conviction that they constitute the religious society denominated in Scripture," MYSTERY, BABYપ LON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HAR"LOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH'," without being maligned by them as their persecutor. An An opponent I confess that I am; the weapons of my warfare, however, are not carnal, but spiritual.

With this view of the antichristian Church is inseparably connected the belief, that all who have not come out of her will partake of her judgments. If the belief be wellgrounded, it is certain, we shall not be punished as a branch of that antichristian empire, never having given our national power to her.

3. We, as a nation, have shed no righteous blood.

On this head, enlargement, for the purpose of adducing proof, is needless. No man has ever yet lost his life, or forfeited his temporal ease, in this country, for his religion. All classes of Christians are equal

t Rev. xvii. 5.

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In our

ly protected and countenanced. country, the rare and pleasing spectacle is exhibited, of every man sitting under his own vine and fig-tree, with none to molest him, or make him afraid. Nor has this state of things introduced more religious divisions, or less respect to religious ordinances, than exists in Europe. There are not a greater number of religious sects here than there are in Britain. The Ministers, as a body, are as well supported, and, wherever the regular administration of the Gospel is enjoyed, the attendance upon public worship is as good. As to the power of religion, I do not hesitate to say, that, in proportion to the population of the two countries, we have more real believers, persons living under the influence of than they have.

grace,

The contrast between Europe and America in this respect is striking, and affords us a useful lesson. The religious establishments of the former, being incorporated with the state, have in all countries, not excepting Holland under the government of Maurice, and Britain, given rise to persecutions, and authorized the infliction of death on account of dissent. In the United States, neither

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persecution nor death has ever been experienced on account of religion. This single fact speaks more against such ecclesiastical establishments as they have in the old world, than volumes could; and the tes

$ timony which it affords against them, gives F a decided preference to our conduct, to leave

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the Church to herself, without coercing her to promote secular purposes.

4. We have not fought for, nor contributed to the upholding of the Man of Sin in these latter days.

As we never have been members of his apostate communion, so we never have aided him. The very war in which we are engaged, so far as it does, or can produce an effect upon his interest, is hostile to it: for it is opposed to the power of Britain, which is exerted to support those nations who are slavishly devoted to him. 5. God is prospering his work among

us....

Since the commencement of our difficul-, . ties with the two great belligerent powers of Europe, there has been an increase of seriousness in a large proportion of our Churches. Especially since the declaration

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of war, has the Spirit been poured out from
on high copiously upon many of the parched
parts of the Redeemer's vineyard. The
judgment of war seems to have awakened
many to reflection; others have been exci-
ted by the pressure of present suffering to
attend to eternal concerns. The ordinances
of worship have thus been better observed than
heretofore, and multitudes in various places
have been brought to the knowledge and
acknowledgment of the truth. Thus, though
there has been a deterioration of morals and
religion in the nation at large, we have es-
pecial tokens that God is still in the midst of
us; that whilst he is inflicting temporal pu-
nishments richly merited, he is dispensing
spiritual blessings. This revives us in our
bondage and fills our hearts with gladness.
Though we have abundant cause for regret
and sorrow,
and deep humiliation, on ac-

count of our grievous national sins; we have
also cause for thankfulness and praise on ac-
count of God's remembrance of us in our
low estate. Whilst, therefore, we are called
to mourn over judgments, we must ac-
knowledge that God has enabled us to sing
of his mercies.

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