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Show 76 Off/16 Dflvzterr, and (fPerfccutz'an; Now to determine on the juttice of this charge againft the prefent Diflenters, particularly thofe in America, let us conlider the following facts. They went from England to ef'cablifh a new coun- [G. P.] partial/mg! in A M E R I C A. 77 returning to the church of England (through the laudable endeavours and a pro/w" application 9* of then funds by the fociety for propagating the gofpel), objections were made to the payment of they might enjoy the free exercife of religion in a tax appropriated to the fupport of a. church they difapproved and had forfaken. The civil ina- When they had purehaled the giftrates, however, continued for a time to col- territory of the natives, they granted the lands lect and apply the tax according to the original out in townfhips; requiring for it neither purchafe-money nor quit-rent, but this condition laws whlch remained in force; and they did it only to be complied with ; that the freeholders that the holders of lands {hould pay what was contracted to be paid when they were granted, as - try for themfelves, at their own ear/acme, 'where their own way. fhould fupport a gofpel-minifier (meaning probably one of the then governing feéts) and a free-fehool, within the townfhip. Thus, what is commonly called Prefbyterianifm became the {flab/5773051 religion of that country. All went on well in this way, while the fame religious opi- the more freely, as thinking it iui‘t and equitable the only connderation for the grant; and what had. been conhdered by all fubfequent purChalErS as a. perpetual incumbrance on the eftate, bought there- fore at a proportionably cheaper rate; a payment {chool being railed by a proportionate tax on the lands. But, in procefs of time, fome becoming which, it was thought, no honeft man ought to av01d, under pretence of his having changed his religious perlualion : And this, Ifuppofe, is one of the belt grounds of demanding tythes of dif- (Qakers 9", fome Baptifts, and of late years, forne fenters now in England. nions were general; the fupport of minif'ter and But the practice being returning clamoured againit by the epilbopalians as perfe- They were too e/Jrfez‘r Bay, near thirty years lince, pulled an act ‘ zealous Catholics to venture {0 hold a meafure in Portugal; ‘ but it was permitted in Goa, and the inquifition in that town ‘ was confined to Roman Catholics.' Lord Kaimx'r Seettll‘c: of 1/19 rities, fines, banilhment, imrrilitnment. and corporal punifhments were inllitutcd for th's ruol‘e; but with {0 little (hint, cution, the legiflature of the province offliflzw ‘ was difcovered long before by the Parmguq/z. Hi/Ieijy rfflltm, Vol. ll. p. 474.. E] * [‘ No perfou appeared in New England who profefi'ed the ‘ opinion of the Quakers, until 1656; [i. e. about 36 years ‘ after the fil‘ll {ettling of the colony]; when Mary Fry/Err and ‘ flan A/{flifl came from Radar/oer; and (0011 after, nine others ‘ arrived in the {hip Spend-wt]! from Lam'm.y They were fuc- cefil'ul in their preaching; and the provincial government, willi- ing to keep the colony free from them, attempted to fend away fuch as they difeovercd, and prevent the arrival of others. Secuu ritivs, that at lalt ‘ alaw was made to punifiiiwg "iih death, all {och ‘ as fhould rum-71 into the jurilluttiun {If/gr [wry/122mm. A few ‘ were hanged !' (See the hiilory of the Brainy/J tloniinions, alto, 17731;).118, 120.) E. '* [They were to {proud The gofpel, and maintain a learned and, orthodox elcrgy, where inil‘ters were \.‘.llltCtl or ill»provided5 adminlllering God's \V('I\l and Rte merits, and preventing athcilin, Infidelity, popery, and idolatry. EV] ft)? |
