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

and if Tolel.1tiol;.
4SS
fonn of Christianity, by distnouting teachers of a re- ,
ligiocs system throughout the country ~ and by providing
fo! the maintenance of these teachers at the
public expense; that is, in fewer terms, when tht~
laws establiri) a national religion~ they exercik ct pow- ·
er and an interference, which are likely, in their general
tendency, to promote the intere~t of mankind;
for even supposing the specie5 of Christianity which
the law~ patronize to be erroneous and corrupt, yet
when the option lies between this religion and DO re.
jigion at al!, which would be the consequence of leaving
the people without any Fublic meaDS of instruc­
~on, or any regular celebration of the offices of
Christianity, our proposition teaches us that the fore!
mer alternative is conS12ntly to be preferred._
But after the right of the magistrate to e..~blish a .
particular religion has been, upon this principle, ad.
mitted; a doubt sometimes presenL~ itseIf,(whether .
tlte religion which he ought to estabHsh be diat which ~
he himself profes~es, or that \vhich he ob~erves to
prevail amongst the majoritY of the people.} Now
when we consider thjs question with a vie. to the
formation .of a general rule upon the subject, which
view alone can furnish a ju~t solution of the doubt, it
must be assumed to be an equal chance whether of the
two religions cuntains more of truth, that of the magistrate,
or that of the people. 'l"he chance then that
i~ Ido( to truth being equ~.l upon bot.h suppositions,.
~~e remainiug consideration wiii be i from which ar-I
rangement more efficacy can be tA;;~cted-fr!lm an \
order of nlen appointed to teach tile people their own .
In my·
religion, or to convert them to another.
opinil)n, the advantage lies on the side of d.e former
-scheme; and this opinion, ifit be assented t(), makes
it the duty of the magi·:trate, in the choice of the re-'
lig!Oll wh!ch he establishes, to cons!!l! thi;~
nation rather thaIl bi& own.
r.ith of t.he
I The case-- a)s~-of dissenters must be determined hy
To/eralion is of two
the principle~ just now stat~.J·
kinds: the allowing ~o disseDters!beiAlD9lested profession
and exercise of their r~.!ion, but with an ex-