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treasure, our greatest and noblest Privilege, in comparison of which, all other Rights are mean and trifling, and hardly deserve the name of blessings and advantages? A free Protestant Country, without the Liberty of the Press, is a contradiction in terms; it is free Slavery, or inchained Liberty. Light and Darkness are not more opposite than Liberty and the deprivation of the means of being rational.

Who, that loves Mankind, is not sorry, that any thing is ever published tending to confound Men's Understanding, mislead their Judgments, or deprave their Morals? But is there any more likely method for Sense to prevail against absurdities, than leaving her at full liberty to paint them in their native colours? Can Truth be better armed against Error than with the mighty blade of uncontrouled Reason? Or Virtue more surely triumph over Immorality, than by the vigorous execution of the truly wholesome Laws purposely framed for her support?

I hate all Calumny and Defamation, as I hate the corruption of heart, from which alone it can proceed; and do with the utmost zeal detest those profaners of Liberty, who pretending to be friends

to it, have recourse to such black diabolical methods. But I take the Laws already in force among us, to be a more than sufficient preservative (at least as far as human Prudence is able to provide) against all the abusive overt-acts, I am now expressing my abhorrence of: And as such we have reason to esteem them very valuable securities of our Liberties and Reputations. But because wicked things are publish'd, must there be no publishing? I know it is objected that there is a medium between an absolute Liberty of the Press, and an absolute suppression of it. Which I admit; but yet aver the medium (by which either Licensing, or nothing at all is meant) is far worse on all accounts, than either extreme. though we are indeed told, that Licensers would serve us with wholesome goods, feed us with food convenient for us, and only prevent the distribution of poison; sure such cant was never meant to impose on any, but those who are asleep, and cannot see one inch before them. Let no true Briton therefore be deceived by such fallacious speeches, but consider the necessary consequences which must follow, and he will soon find that it is as the flattering language of the strange Woman

For

[in the Book of Proverbs] who with her fair smooth tongue, beguileth the simple, and leadeth them as an ox to the slaughter. That plausible and deceitful language leadeth indeed into the chambers of Darkness and Death. But this subject is fully handled in the excellent Treatise subjoin'd. I will only propose to the consideration of all Lovers of Religion, Virtue, Science, and Mankind, the few following Queries; and every one ought methinks to propose them to himself every day of his Life, as making a fundamental Catechism. For if the Truths, which these contain, are not fundamental, Man is not a Man, but a beast; Religion and Virtue are empty names.

1. What is our most valuable part, or what is it that maketh us capable of Religion, Virtue, and rational Happiness? Is it not our Reason or Understanding?

2. What then is the noblest Privilege that belongs to Man? Is it not the free exercise of his Understanding, the full use of all the means of advancing in Virtue, and Knowlege?

3. What is it then that is, and must be, the chief end of Government to encourage and promote? Is it not Knowlege, Virtue, and Religion?

4. And can Knowlege, Virtue, or Religion be promoted, if the only means of promoting them are taken away? For what are the means of promoting them, but the Liberty of Writing and Publishing, without running any risque but that of being refuted or ridiculed, where any thing advanced chances to labour under the just imputation of Falshood or Absurdity?

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