as a parent. Though, indeed, upon more consideration, I think he may; as it is probable, that he who is chopping off his own fingers, may soon proceed to chop off those of other people. If I think it right to steal Mr. Dilly's plate, I am a bad man; but he can say nothing to me. If I make an open declaration that I think so, he will keep me out of his house. If I put forth my hand, I shall be sent to Newgate. This is the gradation of thinking, preaching, and acting: if a man thinks erroneously, he may keep his thoughts to himself, and nobody will trouble him; if he preaches erroneous doctrine, society may expel him; if he acts in consequence of it, the law takes place, and he is hanged."-M. "But, Sir, ought not Christians to have liberty of conscience?"J. "I have already told you so, Sir. You are coming back where you were." -B. "Dr. Mayo is always taking a return postchaise, and going the stage over again. He has it at half price."-J. "Dr. Mayo, like other champions for unlimited toleration, has got a set of words*. Sir, it is no matter, politically, * Dr. Mayo's calm temper and steady perseverance, Mr. Boswell tells us, rendered him an admirable subject for the exercise of Dr. Johnson's powerful abilities. He never flinched; but, after reiterated blows, remained seemingly unmoved as at the first. The scintillations of Johnson's genius flashed every time he was struck, without his receiving any injury. Hence he obtained the epithet of THE LITERARY ANVIL. whether the magistrate be right or wrong. Suppose a club were to be formed to drink confusion to King George the Third, and a happy restoration to Charles the Third: this would be very bad with respect to the State; but every member of that club must either conform to its rules, or be turned out of it. Old Baxter, I remember, maintains, that the magistrate should tolerate all things that are tolerable.' This is no good definition of toleration upon any principle; but it shews that he thought some things were not tolerable."-TOPLADY. "Sir, you have untwisted this difficult subject with great dexterity." VOL. I. END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. |