The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""274 THE FAITH OF OUH FATHERS.which Maryland started into being. ... Its history isthe history of benevolence, gratitude, and toleration." 1Maryland was the abode of happiness and liberty. Conscience was without restraint. A mildand liberal proprietary conceded every measurewhich the welfare of the colony required \domesticunion, a happy concert between allthe branches ofgovernment, an increasing emigration, a productivecommerce, a fertile soil, which heaven had richlyfavored with rivers and deep bays, united to perfectthe scene of colonial felicity. Ever intent on advancing the interests of his colony, Lord Baltimoreinvited the Puritans of Massachusetts to emigrate toMaryland, offering them lands and privileges andfree liberty of religion but; Gibbons, to whom hehad forwarded the commission, was so wholly tutoredinthe New England discipline, that he would notadvance the wishes of the Irish Peer, and so the invitation was declined." *On the 2d of April, 1649, the General Assemblyof Maryland passed the following Act, which will reflect unfading glory on that State as long as libertyis cherished in the hearts of men :Whereas theenforcing of conscience in matters of religion hathfrequently fallen out to be of dangerous consequencein those commonwealths where it has been practised,and for the more quiet and peaceable governmentof this province, and the better to preserve mutuallove and unity amongst the inhabitants, no person1Bancroft s History of the United States, Vol. I., ch. vii.