Theywereweary，besides，ofhumouringthepeople，andofdependingupontheircapriceforasubsistence。Inmakingthisdemand，therefore，theyconsultedtheirowneaseandcomfort，withouttroublingthemselvesabouttheeffectwhichitmighthaveinfuturetimesupontheinfluenceandauthorityoftheirorder。
Thecivilmagistrate，whocouldcomplywiththisdemandonlybygivingthemsomethingwhichhewouldhavechosenmuchrathertotake，ortokeeptohimself，wasseldomveryforwardtograntit。
Necessity，however，alwaysforcedhimtosubmitatlast，thoughfrequentlynottillaftermanydelays，evasions，andaffectedexcuses。
Butifpoliticshadnevercalledintheaidofreligion，hadtheconqueringpartyneveradoptedthetenetsofonesectmorethanthoseofanotherwhenithadgainedthevictory，itwouldprobablyhavedealtequallyandimpartiallywithallthedifferentsects，andhaveallowedeverymantochoosehisownpriestandhisownreligionashethoughtproper。Therewouldinthiscase，nodoubt’havebeenagreatmultitudeofreligioussects。Almosteverydifferentcongregationmightprobablyhavemadealittlesectbyitself，orhaveentertainedsomepeculiartenetsofitsown。Eachteacherwouldnodoubthavefelthimselfunderthenecessityofmakingtheutmostexertionandofusingeveryartbothtopreserveandtoincreasethenumberofhisdisciples。Butaseveryotherteacherwouldhavefelthimselfunderthesamenecessity，thesuccessofnooneteacher，orsectofteachers，couldhavebeenverygreat。Theinterestedandactivezealofreligiousteacherscanbedangerousandtroublesomeonlywherethereiseitherbutonesecttoleratedinthesociety，orwherethewholeofalargesocietyisdividedintotwoorthreegreatsects;theteachersofeachactingbyconcert，andunderaregulardisciplineandsubordination。Butthatzealmustbealtogetherinnocentwherethesocietyisdividedintotwoorthreehundred，orperhapsintoasmanythousandsmallsects，ofwhichnoonecouldbeconsiderableenoughtodisturbthepublictranquility。Theteachersofeachsect，seeingthemselvessurroundedonallsideswithmoreadversariesthanfriends，wouldbeobligedtolearnthatcandourandmoderationwhichissoseldomtobefoundamongtheteachersofthosegreatsectswhosetenets，beingsupportedbythecivilmagistrate，areheldinvenerationbyalmostalltheinhabitantsofextensivekingdomsandempires，andwhothereforeseenothingroundthembutfollowers，disciples，andhumbleadmirers。Theteachersofeachlittlesect，findingthemselvesalmostalone，wouldbeobligedtorespectthoseofalmosteveryothersect，andtheconcessionswhichtheywouldmutuallyfinditbothconvenientandagreeabletomaketooneanother，mightintimeprobablyreducethedoctrineofthegreaterpartofthemtothatpureandrationalreligion，freefromeverymixtureofabsurdity，imposture，orfanaticism，suchaswisemenhaveinallagesoftheworldwishedtoseeestablished;butsuchaspositivelawhasperhapsneveryetestablished，andprobablyneverwillestablish，inanycountry:because，withregardtoreligion，positivelawalwayshasbeen，andprobablyalwayswillbe，moreorlessinfluencedbypopularsuperstitionandenthusiasm。Thisplanofecclesiasticalgovernment，ormoreproperlyofnoecclesiasticalgovernment，waswhatthesectcalledIndependents，asectnodoubtofverywildenthusiasts，proposedtoestablishinEnglandtowardstheendofthecivilwar。Ifithadbeenestablished，thoughofaveryunphilosophicalorigin，itwouldprobablybythistimehavebeenproductiveofthemostphilosophicalgoodtemperandmoderationwithregardtoeverysortofreligiousprinciple。IthasbeenestablishedinPennsylvania，where，thoughtheQuakershappentobethemostnumerous，thelawinrealityfavoursnoonesectmorethananother，anditistheresaidtohavebeenproductiveofthisphilosophicalgoodtemperandmoderation。
Butthoughthisequalityoftreatmentshouldnotbeproductiveofthisgoodtemperandmoderationinall，oreveninthegreaterpartofthereligioussectsofaparticularcountry，yetprovidedthosesectsweresufficientlynumerous，andeachofthemconsequentlytoosmalltodisturbthepublictranquillity，theexcessivezealofeachforitsparticulartenetscouldnotwellbeproductiveofanyveryharmfuleffects，but，onthecontrary，ofseveralgoodones:andifthegovernmentwasperfectlydecidedbothtoletthemallalone，andtoobligethemalltoletaloneoneanother，thereislittledangerthattheywouldnotoftheirownaccordsubdividethemselvesfastenoughsoassoontobecomesufficientlynumerous。