PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

400 of ReJig~1 Estahlishments,
most every church a pretence for extending, multiplying
and continuing such tests beyond what the
occa~ion justified. For though some purposes of or ..
def and traDquility may be answered by the establishment
~f ~reeds aed confessions, yet they are at all
times attended with serious inconvenience~. They
check inquiry; they viola~e liberty; they elsnare
the consciences of the clergy by holding out temptations
to prevarication; however they may express'
_ the persuasion, . or be accommodated to the controversies,
or to the fears, of the age in 'w hich they are
composed, in process of time, and by reason. of the
changes which are wont to take place in the judgment
()f mankin~ upon religious subjects, they come at
length to ·contradict the actual opinions of the church.,
whose doctr_'les they profess to contain; and they
often perpetc,.:tte the pro~cripri')n of sects and tenets,
freUl which any danger has long ceased to be apprehended.
?1 Ol
( It may .. W follow from these objections that tests
rand subscriptions ought to be abolished ; but it fol­
~ows that they ought to be made as simple and easy
\Is possib)~; that they should be adapted from rinle to
time to the varying sentiments and citcutn~tances of
the c~rch in which they are received ; and that they
skould a~ ~ time advance one step farther than S()IDe
subsisting necessity requires. If, for instance, promises
of cOBformity to the rites, liturgy and offices of
me church) b~ s~fficient to prevent confusion and
diso,der ift the celebration of divine worship, then .
such promBs-es ought to be accepted in the r'~r.e of
stricter 8ub3Ci'iptiol1S. If ~~rtides of peace, as;.;v:y are
ealled, that is, €ngagements 110t to preact.c certain
doctrines, nor to revive certain controver31es, woultl
exclude indecent altercations amongst the national
elergy, as well as F,ecure to the pulic teaching of re ..
ligion as much of uni:' n-mity and quiet as is necessary
to e~ification; ~herl ('onfessions of faith ought to be
O0Jl¥erted into ~rtid~ of peace.
in a word, it ought
to be held a suftidellt reasoR for relaKing the term.
of subsc:riptioa, or for dropping any or all of the ar~'