REASONS AGAINST RESTRAINING THE PRE E S S*. I F any reftraint is to be put upon the prefs, it must be either on a RELIGIOUS or CIVIL account. All that can be pleaded for it on the score of religion, is, that 'tis neceffary to prevent mens being led into error; and as a confequence of that, nothing is to be printed that may tempt them to question the truth of any part or point of the established religion. I have a copy of this tract, which belonged to Anthony Collins, Efq; wherein it is afcribed to Dr. Tyndal, and therefore there can be no doubt that he was the real author. In order to answer this, I must beg leave to obferve, that nothing is more certain than that God does not require of men impoffibilities, as a means to obtain their future happiness; and confequently all that he defires of them, is to ufe their rational faculties after the best manner they can, for the discovery of his will. He therefore that does this, tho' never fo much miftaken, is as acceptable to God, who is no respecter of perfons, as he that's not mistaken, fince he has done all that God requires of him,. and the other could do no more.. To affirm his mistakes are finful, is to make God the author of fin, in fo framing his understanding, that after he had done all he could to avoid error, he neceffarily fell into it. And if it be the height of impiety to condemn one of fin for obeying God's commands in impartially examining, it can be no less impious to affirm the opinion unavoidably caused by so doing to be a fin. How happy would men then be, if, notwithstanding their difference of opinion, they would allow on all fides, that impartiality and fincerity were fufficient to recommend them to God, and by confequence to one another? Go ing |