And it is not otherwise
in our commonwealth, where the parochial congregation elects or
ordains its pastor. To object the Commonwealth of Venice in this
place, were to show us that it has been no otherwise but where
the civil power has lost the liberty of her conscience by
embracing popery; as also that to take away the liberty of
conscience in this administration from the civil power, were a
proceeding which has no other precedent than such as is popish.
"Wherefore your religion is settled after the following
manner: the universities are the seminaries of that part which is
national, by which means others with all safety may be permitted
to follow the liberty of their own consciences, in regard that,
however they behave themselves, the ignorance of the unlearned in
this case cannot lose your religion nor disturb your government,
which otherwise it would most certainly do; and the universities
with their emoluments, as also the benefices of the whole nation,
are to be improved by such augmentations as may make a very
decent and comfortable subsistence for the ministry, which is
neither to be allowed synods nor assemblies, except upon the
occasion shown in the universities, when they are consulted by
the Council of State, and suffered to meddle with affairs of
religion, nor to be capable of any other public preferment
whatsoever; by which means the interest of the learned can never
come to corrupt your religion, nor disturb your government, which
otherwise it would most certainly do.
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