NOTES OF SPEECH AGAINST ASSESSMENTS FOR SUPPORT OF RELIGION. NOVEMBER — 1784. mad. mss. - James Madison, The Writings, vol. 2 (1783-1787) [1901]
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The Writings of James Madison, comprising his Public Papers and his Private Correspondence, including his numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed, ed. Gaillard Hunt (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1900). Vol. 2.
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NOTES OF SPEECH AGAINST ASSESSMENTS FOR SUPPORT OF RELIGION. NOVEMBER — 1784.mad. mss.
Tendency of estabg Xnty—1. to project of Uniformity. 2. to penal laws for supportg it.
Progress of Gen. Assest proves this tendency.
Difference between estabg. and tolerating errour.
“True question—not Is Rel. necessy,—but
II. are Religs. Estabts necesy. for Religion? No.
1. propensity of man to Religion.
2. Experience shews Relig. corrupted by Estabts.
3. Downfall of States mentioned by Mr. H.—happened where there was estabt
4. Experience gives no model of Genl Asst
5. Case of Pa. explained—not solitary. N. J. See const. of it. R. I. N. Y. D. factions greater in S. C.
6. Case of primitive Xnty.
of Reformation.
of Dissenters formerly.
7. Progress of Religious liberty.
III. Policy—
1. promote emigrations from State.
2. prevent immig. into it, as asylum.
IV. Necessity of Estabt inferred from state of coy.
True causes of disease.
1. war } common to other States & produce same complts in N. E.
2. bad laws }
3. pretext from taxes.
4. state of administration of Justice.
5. transition from old to new plan.
6. policy and hopes of friends to G. Asst.
True remedies not Estabt.—but, being out of war,
1. laws to cherish virtue.
2. administration of justice.
3. personal example—associations for R.
4. By present vote, cut off hope of G. asst.
5. Education of youth.
V. Probable defects of Bill,
1. limited.
2. in particular.
3. What is Xnty? Courts of law to Judge.
4. What edition: Hebrew, Septuagint, or Vulgate? What copy what translation?
5. What books canonical, what apocryphal? the papists holding to be the former what protestants the latter, the Lutherans the latter what the protestants & papists ye former.
6. In what light are they to be viewed, as dictated every letter by inspiration, or the essential parts only? Or the matter in general not the words?
7. What sense the true one for if some doctrines be essential to Xnty those who reject these, whatever name they take are no Xn Society?
8. Is it Trinitarianism, Arianism, Socinianism? Is it salvation by faith or works also, by free grace or by will, &c., &c.
9. What clue is to guide [a] Judge thro’ this labyrinth when ye question comes before them whether any particular society is a Xn society?
10. Ends in what is orthodoxy, what heresy.
Dishonors christianity.
panegyric on it, on our side.
Decl. Rights.”
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