LECTURE I.

The doctrine of free religious inquiry stated, explained, and vindicated.

INTRODUCTION.

DAVID entertained a just and beautiful idea of religion, when he called it inquiring in Jehovah's temple-THE phrase implies two things-1. A right of inquiry in the people-2. A sufficiency in revelation to answer inquiries.

STATED.

INQUIRY is interrogation-examination-search -disquisition-investigation.

RELIGIOUS inquiry is examination of all subjects that belong to religion-as-NATURE and worship of GOD-MORAL obligations of men TRUTH of revelation in general-AND the meaning of each part of it.

FREE religious inquiry is examination uncontroulled by human authority-BY our own passions and prejudices-BY popular customs-FASHIONS

-MAXIMS.

EXPLAINED.

The most free religious inquiry is necessarily limited by the nature of things-NATURE and revelation exhibit subjects to be examined-SOME subjects are beyond our capacities, and a search into them is vain-OTHERS are comprehensible without revelation---OR with it-AND others again are revealed in their truth; but not in their mode of existence.-INQUIRY, therefore, is then free, when it possesses a liberty of proceeding as far as the reason and fitness of things allow.

VINDICATED.

1. EVERY intelligent creature is capacitated for it-GOOD men are peculiarly fitted for it-THE highest inspiration does not exclude it-HEAVEN exhibits the noblest exercise of it.

2. It is essential to religion.-CONSIDER the nature of God-MAN-VICE-VIRTUE-REVELATION written or preached-GRACES of a christian,

3. It is expressly commanded by Jesus ChristHIS prophets AND apostles.

4. Ir injures no civil rights.-OBSERVE the three grand articles implied in it-THE sole dominion of Christ--THE right of private judgmentENTIRE liberty of conscience allowed by an universal toleration.-NEITHER of these interferes with secular things- ALL ennoble society-AND enrich and aggrandize a nation.

ILLUSTRATED.

CONTRAST the countries where it is suppressed with those where it is cherished-THE times in our own country when it has been depressed with those in which it has been encouraged--THE meanness and misery of those, who do not claim it, with the dignity and felicity of those who do-IN prosperity

ADVERSITY--AFFLICTION

TION-DEATH-JUDGMENT.

PERSECU

Finish-BY applauding the worship of our churches, consisting of free prayer-FREE and frequent preaching-FREE debate-FREE psalmody -FREE joining a church-FREE dismission-ALL tending to nourish free inquiry-WHICH human establishments-CUMBERSOME rituals—AND penal sanctions drop and depress.-PRAISE the liberal men of all denominations, who have claimed and exercised it in states-SCHOOLS-AND churchesAND have lost civil liberty→PROPERTY—AND life for doing so.

LECTURE II.

The History of the Reformation.

INTRODUCTION.

MOSES in the viii. of Deuteronomy furnisheth us with two general notions.-1. THE doctrine of providence.-2. THE benefits of investigating it. -THESE were properly addressed to a people just freed from despotism-AND they are so to us, whom the reformation hath placed in similar cir cumstances we are come out of Egypt-BUT not yet arrived at the promised land.

THE state of religion at the accession of Henry VIII. naturally excited prejudices in our ancestors against it-As the claims and condition of the head of the church, the pope-THE doctrines preached -THE laws of church government-THE ceremonies of worship-THE pomp-POWER-TYRANNY --AND temper of prelates-THE lives of the clergy -IMMORALITIES of religious orders-IGNORANCE and misery of the populace, &c.

THE history of the corruption of natural religion --AND of that of the Jews-ALONG with prophecies of the new testament-STRENGTHENED those prejudices against the papal community.

SEVERAL events coincided-LITERATURE revived-PRINTING was invented.-FRANCIS I. Henry VIII. and Charles V. pursued measures, which emboldened inquirers-HENRY quarrelled with the Pope-UNIVERSITIES favoured him.

HENRY's reformation altered the form of popery --BUT did not remove the grand principle of it, human authority in matters of religion-THE act of supremacy lodged the same power in the crown, that had been vested in the pope.-IN virtue of this power the king exercised ecclesiastical legislation and jurisdiction-APPOINTED by commission articles of religious doctrine-AND practice for the nation-AND supported them by penal sanctions REFORMATION went backward in the close of his reign.

THE reformers in the reign of Edward VI. retained the doctrine of royal supremacy-THEY availed themselves of his minority-AND youthPUT out two service books-INTENDED a thirdAND might have put out a thousand on the same principles-THEY sacrificed the rights of all the nation to a fancied prerogative of a boy.

AT Queen Mary's accession popery was restored-FOUR HUNDRED protestants burnt-Or murdered-MULTITUDES fled-THE greatest number settled at Francfort-AND worshipped God without the English service-book.-Dr. Cox disturbed their worship-CABALLED with the magistratesGOT those banished, who had purified religion from popish ceremonies-INTRODUCED the English liturgy and government-AND was the cause of the separation.-CALVIN and others were applied to-THEY censured the book-AND the violence of those who imposed it.

QUEEN Elizabeth's reigning passion was love of despotism-HER means of obtaining it were full