"had fair Play; Politenefs prevail'd; Learning and Science flourish'd; and wonderful

was the Harmony, Temper, Friendship, "Charity, and Peace, which arose from the "Contrarieties allow'd among them. Enthusi"afm and Superftition being mildly treated, " and let alone, never raged to that Degree, as "to occafion Wars, or Blood-fhed, or Perfe"cutions, or Devaftations in the World."

Are not the United Provinces remarkable for Liberty and Peace? There all Men, how different foever in Notions, live in fuch Peace and Friendship with one another, as is unknown to Men of the fame Religion in other Countries; where fome foolish Question about the Antiquity and Authority of Hair, Teeth, Tears, Milk, Rags, Handkerchiefs, Smocks, Bones, and other Relicts, or about the immaculate Conception of the Virgin, or about Habits and Dress, or about (m) the Manner of holding their Fingers when they cross themfelves, and fuch like mere Ceremonies, or about metaphyfical Speculations, (fome of which are as little understood by the Difputants them

(m) Perry's State of Rufa, p. 153.

felves

felves as by the Vulgar) is Fuel for the most uncharitable Contention. There the Lyon and the Lamb, I mean, the Papift and the Mennonite, lye down in Peace together; the firft forgetting his wonted Rage, and the latter preferving that Innocence, which he was born with, and which Liberty and Experience have cultivated in him. (n) “It is hardly to be ima"gined, fays Sir W. TEMPLE, how all the "Violence and Sharpness, which accompanies "the Differences of Religion in other Coun"tries, feems to be appeafed or foftned in the United Provinces, by the general Freedom, which all Men enjoy, either by Allowance or Connivance; nor how Faction and "Ambition are thereby difabled to colour their "interested and feditious Designs with the "Pretences of Religion, which has coft the "Chriftian World fo much Blood for these "laft hundred and fifty Years. No Man can “here complain of Preffure in his Conscience; "of being forced to any publick Profeffion of "his private Faith; of being restrain'd from "his own Manner of Worship in his House,

or obliged to any other abroad; and wнo

(n) Temple's Obfervat. on the Netherlands, p. 205, &c.

EVER

"EVER asks more in Point of Religion, with-
out the undisputed Evidence of a particular
"Miffion from Heaven, may be justly fuf-
pected not to ask for God's Sake, but for
"his own;
fince pretending to Sovereignty,
"instead of Liberty in Opinion, is indeed pre-
"tending the fame in Authority too. But in this
Commonwealth, no Man having any Rea-
"fon to complain of Oppreffion in Confcience;
" and no Man having Hopes, by advancing his

Religion, to form a Party, or break in upon "the State, the Differences in Opinion make "none in Affections, and little in Converfa"tion, where it ferves but for Entertainment "and Variety. They argue without Intereft "and Anger; they differ without Enmity or "Scorn; and they agree without Confedera

cy. Men live together, like Citizens of "the World, affociated by the common Tyes of Humanity, and by the Bonds of Peace, "under the impartial Protection of indifferent Laws, with equal Encouragement of all Art "and Industry, and equal Freedom of Specu"lation and Enquiry; all Men enjoying their imaginary Excellencies and Acquifitions of Knowledge, with as much Safety as their more real Poffeffions and Improvements of

"Fortune,

1.

" Fortune. And as in other Places, 'tis in <c every Man's Choice with whom he will eat or lodge, with whom go to Market, or to "Court; so it seems to be here, with whom

he will pray or go to Church, or affociate "in the Service and Worship of God; nor is any more Notice taken or more Cenfure

pafs'd, of what every one chufes in these Cafes, than in the other.

"I believe the Force of Commerce, Alliances, "and Acquaintances, fpreading fo far as they "do in fmall Circuits, (fuch as the Province "of Holland) may contribute much to make "Converfation and all the Offices of common “Life so easy, among fo different Opinions, "of which so many several Perfons are often "in every Man's Eye; and no Man checks

ર

or takes Offence at Faces or Customs or Ceremonies, he fees every Day, as at those he hears of in Places far diftant, and perhaps "by partial Relations, and comes to fee late "in his Life, and after he has long been pof"fefs'd by Paffion or Prejudice against them. However it is, Religion may poffibly do more Good in other Places, but it does lefs Hurt here; and wherever the invifible Effects

are

are the greatest and most advantageous, I "am fure the vifible are fo in this Country,

by the continual and undisturb'd civil Peace "of their Government for fo long a Course " of Years; and by fo mighty an Encrease "of their People, wherein will appear to con"fift chiefly the vaft Growth of their Trade “and Riches, and consequently the Strength " and Greatnefs of their State."

I will conclude this Article with an Obfervation of our most judicious and learned (p) Archbishop. "Whilst instead of examining, Says he, impartially, where the Truth lies, "Men magifterially affume to themselves an

СС

Authority to denounce Anathemas against "their Brethren, who would convince them "of their Deviations; it is in vain to hope, "that either Truth should prevail, or PEACE "and Unity be establish'd among us. But "would they once be perfwaded to remove “this Obstacle out of the Way; would they "know themselves to be but Men, and as "fuch exposed to the fame Frailties and In

(1) Wake's Pref. before fure and honeft Means for the Converfion of Hereticks, p. 6.

" firmities