The boasted peaceableness about questions of Faith too often proceeds
from a superficial temper, and not seldom from a supercilious disdain
of whatever has no marketable use or value, and from indifference to
religion itself. Toleration is a herb of spontaneous growth in the
Soil of Indifference; but the weed has none of the virtues of the
medicinal plant, reared by Humility in the Garden of Zeal. Those, who
regard religions as matters of taste, may consistently include all
religious differences in the old adage, _De gustibus non est
disputandum_. And many there be among these of Gallio's temper, who
_care for none of these things_, and who account all questions in
religion, as he did, but matter of words and names. And by this all
religions may agree together. But that were not a natural union
produced by the active heat of the spirit, but a confusion rather,
arising from the want of it; not a knitting together, but a freezing
together, as cold congregates all bodies, how heterogeneous soever,
sticks, stones, and water; but heat makes first a separation of
different things, and then unites those that are of the same nature.
Much of our common union of minds, I fear, proceeds from no other than
the afore-mentioned causes, want of knowledge, and want of affection
to religion. You that boast you live conformably to the appointments
of the Church, and that no one hears of your noise, we may thank the
ignorance of your minds for that kind of quietness.
The preceding extract is particularly entitled to our serious
reflections, as in a tenfold degree more applicable to the present
times than to the age in which it was written. We all know, that
Lovers are apt to take offence and wrangle on occasions that perhaps
are but trifles, and which assuredly would appear such to those who
regard Love itself as folly. These quarrels may, indeed, be no proof
of wisdom; but still, in the imperfect state of our nature the entire
absence of the same, and this too on far more serious provocations,
would excite a strong suspicion of a comparative indifference in the
parties who can love so coolly where they profess to love so well. I
shall believe our present religious tolerancy to proceed from the
abundance of our charity and good sense, when I see proofs that we are
equally cool and forbearing as litigants and political partizans.