Part II. The Conformist. William Penn. 1909-14. Fruits of Solitude. The Harvard Classics

William Penn. (1644–1718). Fruits of Solitude.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Part II

The Conformist


249. It is reasonable to concur where Conscience does not forbid a Compliance; for Conformity is at least a Civil Virtue.	1
250. But we should only press it in Necessaries, the rest may prove a Snare and Temptation to break Society.	2
251. But above all, it is a Weakness in Religion and Government, where it is carried to Things of an Indifferent Nature, since besides that it makes Way for Scruples, Liberty is always the Price of it.	3
252. Such Conformists have little to boast of, and therefore the less Reason to Reproach others that have more Latitude.	4
253. And yet the Latitudinarian that I love, is one that is only so in Charity; for the Freedom I recommend is no Scepticism in Judgment, and much less so in Practice.	5