truth when difcovered, but to the discovery of it; and if that fails, to make even error itself innocent, all the arguments on the account of religion do most religiously contend for its entire liberty. To which let me add, that

The noble art of printing, that by divine providence was discovered to free men from the tyranny of the clergy they then groaned under, and without which the proteftant religion must have proved abortive, ought not to be made a means to reduce us again under facerdotal flavery. And

If our ancestors could not fecure themselves from more than Egyptian bondage, which the pulpits brought on them, without the affiftance of the press: What hopes have we to defend ourselves against both, when by the means of the latter, the clergy have much greater opportunities, as well as abilities, to accomplish their defigns?

The restraint of the prefs is confiftent enough with popery; but for proteftants to attempt it, is ftriking at the foundation of their religion, which is built on the natural right

every

every one has of judging for himself in matters of religion. But what can favour more of a blind popish compliance, than fo entirely to give up the conduct of religion to a few licenfing priests, as that nothing fhall be published but what they think fit? The learned Dr. Clagget faith, (and after the fame manner do all our clergy write when they have to do with the papifts)" They that have a good cause, "will not fright men from confidering what

their adverfaries fay by their books, but "rather encourage them fo to do, that "they may fee the difference between truth and error, reafon and falfhood, with their "' own eyes. This is the effect of a well"grounded confidence in truth, and there is "the fign of a good cause apparently difcern

able, in the application of the clergy of the "church of England, both to their friends "and enemies. They defire the one and "t'other, to confider impartially what is faid "for us, as well as against us; and whenfoever "guides of a party do otherwise, they give

just cause to examine their doctrines more carefully, by how much they are unwilling

• Perfuafive to an ingenuous trial, p. 28.

VOL. IV.

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to

"to have them examined. 'Tis a bad fign, "when men are loth to have their opinions "feen in the day, but love darkness more than "light."

Every one thinks he has a natural right in all matters of learning and knowledge, except what relates to religion and government, to fee what can be faid on all fides, in order to form his judgment aright; and there can be no reason why these fhould be excepted, fince to have a right understanding in them, is what is moft worthy a rational being.

The more useful any fcience is to mankind, the greater will its abufes be: Divinity, law, phyfick are fad inftances of this. But how can these abuses be discovered, if the press be in their hands that gain by them? What can be more useful than history, especially of one's own country? and can we expect a true information, when only one fide is to print? And there are few perfons, especially at a diftance from London, but would think it a hardship to be deprived even of fuch trifles as the common news-papers, which would not be allowed under a reftraint of the prefs. Nay,

we could not then hope for an impartial account even in natural things, fince an evident truth in philosophy, has been thought a monftrous error in divinity; and a rational difcourfe on any fubject may be hindred from being printed, left, as the late bishop of Worcester faid of the most rational that ever was writ †, it might be applied to other ufes than what the author defigned.

Nothing can more difcourage men of abili ties from writing, than to fubject their difcourfe to the mercy of an ignorant, or at least an unleifured licenser: fuch a hardship on the commonwealth of learning, will be apt to make an imprimatur gnify no more, than that the book is foolish enough to be printed.

As the people retain a right to offer their advice to their reprefentatives, so there cannot but happen feveral things, wherein they may receive fatisfaction from what is published by thofe without doors (as happened in the cafe of the standing army, and feveral other matters) which may in a great meafure be hindered, by the licenfers of the prefs being in

Locke,

The Effy on Human Understanding, by Mr.

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fluenced

finenced by thofe, who have an interest to fifle truth.

In a word, as many things as are worth understanding aright, fo many arguments are there for the liberty of the prefs; though the only reason that is pleaded for its restraint upon a civil account, is to prevent falfe reprefentations of peoples defigns and actions, especially of fuch as are dignified with a publick character. But

Though this may be done by speaking, who ever thought it reasonable, that all but one party of men fhould have a padlock on their lips? And yet this is all that's meant by a reftraint on the prefs, fince what is to be printed, is left to the arbitrary will of men of this or that party. And there can be no manner of reafon, why writing and talking fhould not be on the fame foot, fince what's contrary to law is in both cafes equally punishable; and a reftraint of the press cannot hinder books from coming out by stealth.

What can be more unconfcionable, confidering how the nation is divided, than to have all but one party reftrained from writing in their

own