AN APPE AL ΤΟ ΤΗΕ PUBLIC FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, Against the Oppreffions of the present Day. Franc Backus Brethren, ye have been called unto Liberty; only use not Liberty for an occafion to the Flesh, but by love ferve one another. GAL. V. 13. BOSTON : Printed by JOHN BOYLE in Marlborough-Street. MDCCLXXIII. Lot 9-17. 110 k. $16. AN APPE AL TO THE PUBLIC, &c. I INTRODUCTION. NASMUCH as there appears to us a real need of fuch an appeal, we would previously offer a few thoughts concerning the general nature of liberty and government, and then fhew wherein it appears to us, that our religious rights are encroached upon in this land. It is fuppofed by multitudes, that in fubmitting to government we give up fome part of our liberty, because they imagine that there is fomething in their nature incompatible with each other. But the word of truth plainly fhews, that man first loft his freedom by breaking over the rules of government; and that thofe who now now fpeak great fwelling words about liberty, while they defpife government, are themselves fervants of corruption. What a dangero us, error, yea, what a root of all evil then muft it be, for men to imagine that there is any thing in the nature of true government that interferes with true and full liberty! A grand cause of this evil is, ignorance of what we are, and where we are; for did we view things in their true light, it would appear to be as abfurd and dangerous, for us to afpire after any thing beyond our capacity, or out of the rule of our duty, as it would for the frog to fwell till he bursts himself in trying to get as big as the ox, or for a beaft or fowl to dive into the fishes element till they drown themselves. Godliness with contentment is great gain But they that will take a contrary courfe fall into temptation, and a fnare, and into many foolish and hurtful lufts, which DROWN men in deftruction and perdition. 1 Tim. 6. 6, 9. The true liberty of man is, to know, obey and enjoy his Creator, and to do all the good unto, and enjoy all the happiness with and in his fellow-creatures that he is capable of; in order to which the law of love was written in his heart, which carries in it's nature union and benevo lence to Being in general, and to each being in particular, according to it's nature and excellency, and to it's relation and connexion to and with the fupreme Being, and ourselves. Each rational foul, as he is a part of the whole fyftem of rational beings, to it was and is, both his duty and his liberty to regard the good of the whole in all his actions. To love ourselves, and truly truly to feek our own welfare, is both our liberty and our indifpenfible duty; but the conceit that man could advance either his honor or happinefs, by difobedience instead of obedience, was first injected by the father of lies, and all fuch conceits ever fince are as falfe as he is. Before man imagined that fubmiffion to government, and acting ftrictly by rule was confinement, and that breaking over those bounds would enlarge his knowledge and happiness, how clear were his ideas! (even fo as to give proper names to every creature) and how great was his honor and pleasure! But no fooner did he tranfgrefs, than inftead of enjoying the boldnefs of innocency, and the liberties of paradife, he fneaks away to hide himfelf; and instead of clear and juft ideas, he adopted that master of all abfurdities (which his children follow to this day) of thinking to hide from OMNICIENCY, and of trying to deceive HIM who knows every thing! Inftead of good and happiness, he felt evil, guilt and mifery; and in the room of concord was wrangling, both against his Creator and his fellow-creature, even fo that he who was before loved as his own flesh, he now accuses to the great Judge. By which it appears, that the notion of man's gaining any dignity or liberty by refufing an intire fubmiffion to government, was fo delufive, that instead of it's advancing him to be as Gods, it funk him down into a way of acting like the beafts and like the devil! the beafts are actuated by their fenfes and inclinations, and the devil pursues his defigns by deceit and violence. With malicious reflections upon God, |