THE PREFACE. THE Author of these Papers has frequently fallen into Company, wherein he had occafion to converfe on the Topicks of Liberty and Power, both Civil and Religious: and having never Settled and ranged his own Ideas and Reafonings thereupon in fo exact and fo barmonious an Order as he wish'd, be fome Years ago fet himself down to try if he could draw out his Thoughts into a regular Scheme, whereby he might better confirm or correct his own Conduct. He then apply'd him A 2 Self Self to a diligent and faithful Enquiry, without confulting other Authors, how far his own Reafon would carry him toward the Establishment of any certain Religion in a Country or Nation, with a real defire to find a juft Foundation for it, and try how far it could be brought into Form and Method. And that he might fecure himself the better from all Prejudices arifing from prefent Establishments, he propofed to himself the Idea of a new erected State or Government of any kind whatsoever, laying afide all Prepoffeffions and Influences from the prefent Statutes and Customs of Men, and from the Appearances of Things in any Nation whatfoever, while he was engaged in these Speculations. In matters of Practice he has always fhewn himself on every Occafion a conftant and fincere Friend and faithful Subject to our British Government; and as he endeavors to pay pay every one in Church and State their due, fo he rejoices in the Proteftant Succeffion to the Crown, and the illuftrious Family which poffeffes it. And 'tis the defire of his Soul, that our prefent Rightful Sovereign King GEORGE the Second may have every Grace and Bleffing pour'd down upon his Royal Perfon, to render him a long and glorious Inftrument of Divine Mercy, to diffufe Bleffings over the whole Proteftant World, and particularly over the British Nation. As the Author abbors the Thought of raifing Seditions in the State under our happy Conftitution from any Pretences either Civil or Religious, fo he has no Views of disturbing any Character or Sett of Men in those just Privileges and Poffeffions which they enjoy by the Laws of the Land, for be poffeffes all his own Privileges by the fame. He is fo well convinced of our happy Situation above and beyond almoft every other Nation under Heaven, that he does not fuppofe it can be either proper or lawful for any Perfons or Parties among us to attempt to fhake the prefent Foundations of our Government, in order to introduce in practice fuch a Scheme of Liberty in Matters of Confcience as thefe Papers defcribe in Speculation. Surely we value our British Conftitution and the Privileges we enjoy, both Civil and Sacred, at too high a rate, ever to bring the Hazard and Lofs of them into a Competition with any new Schemes or Models, which may be form'd by the warm Imaginations or doubtful Reasonings of Men. Yet it may be proper and useful to any Man for his own Satisfaction to enter into this Subject, and to Search it through and through, according to his beft Capacity, that he may form a better Judgment of the many late Contests in our Nation concerning Penal Laws and Tefts in Civil and in Religious Affairs. The Author ·Author was very defirous to try how far his Reafon could establisha Na-/ tional Religion, and adjust and limit the common Rights of Mankind, both Sacred and Civil, under this Eftablishment, in any Country whatfoever, wherein Religion may be profefs'd in various Forms; and at the fame time to maintain a perfect Confiftence with all due Liberty of ConScience and fupport the juft Authority of Supreme Rulers. What he had written on this Subject he was defired to publifh as a Matter of further Enquiry to thofe who have thought much on this Argument; and perhaps it may ferve to lead those who have never much thought of it into a more natural and eafy Track of Thinking and Reasoning about it. If any thing in this Effay shall prove fo happy as to fhed one peaceful and ferene Beam of Light upon this dark and noify Controverfy, he hopes to find Forgiveness and Acceptance a mong |