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

4 S4 Of ReligiouJ EslabliJbmmls,
, elusion from offices of trust and emolument in the
;' state, which is a partial toleration; :md the admitting
' them, without distinction, to aU the civil privileges
[
j and capacities of other citizens, which is a complete
I toleration. The expediency of toleration, and con.,
sequently the right of every citizen to demand it, as
far a3 relates to the liberty of conscience, and the claim
of being protected in the free and safe profession of his
re1igion, is deducible from the sitl)nd of those proposirions~
which we have delivered as tbe ground~ of
our conclusions upon the subjer-t. Tbat proposition
asserts truth, and truth in the abstract, to be the sUla
preme perfection of every religion. The advancement,
consequently, and di~covery of truth, is that
end to wbich all regulations concerning religion
ought principaliy to be adapted. Now every $ecies
of intolerance which enjoins supprc~sion and silence;
and every species of persecution which enforces such
injunctions., is adverse to the progre~s of truth ; forasmuch
as it causes that to be fixed by one set of men,
at one time, which is moch better, and with muchmore
probability of success, left to the independent
and progressive inquiries of separate individu~ls.
Truth results from di:-cu:;sion and from controversy ;
is investi~ted by tbe labours and researches of private
persons. \Vhatever, therefore, prohibit~ these,
obstructs· that industry, and that !iberty ~ which it is
the common interest of mankind to promote. In
religion, ac; in otber subject!', truth., if left to !ts~if,
will almost always obtain the a~cendency. If differ.
e.1t religions be professed in the same country., and
the minds of men remain unfetter€d and unawed by
intimidations of law, that religion which is Emncled
in maxims of reason and credibility, will gradually
gain over the other to it. I do not mean that men
will formally renounce their ancient religion, but
that they will adopt into it the mOfe rational doctrines,
the improvements and d;scoveries of the neighbouring
sect; by whid: means the worse religion,
without the ceremony of a reformation, will insensibly
assimilate itself to the better ~ If popery, for in-