4
We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men
are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless
their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and
liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to
interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men,
nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil
magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.
5
We believe that all men are bound to sustain
and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while
protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such
governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every
citizen thus protected, and should be punished
accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws
as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public
interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of
conscience.
6
We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men
show respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be
supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the
express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations,
between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker.
• • •
8
We believe that the commission of crime should be punished
according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery,
theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment.
• • •
10
We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their
members for disorderly conduct, according to the rules and regulations
of such societies; provided that such dealings be for fellowship and
good standing; but we do not believe that any religious society has
authority to try men on the right of property
or life, to take from them this world’s goods, or to put them in
jeopardy of either life or limb, or to inflict any physical punishment upon them. They can only excommunicate them from their society, and withdraw from them their fellowship.
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