Page:Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion volume 1.djvu/269

 plays an essential part, and co-operates with God by exercising his subjective freedom, and in his acts of knowing, willing, and believing, the presence of the moment of subjective freedom is expressly required. In States where different religions prevail, it may happen, on the other hand, that the two sides do not agree, that the religion is different from the principle of the State. We see this to be the case over a very widely extended area: we find, on the one side, a religion which does not recognise the principle of freedom; on the other, a constitution which makes that principle its basis. If it be said that man is in his true nature free, then this certainly expresses a principle of infinite value. But if an abstraction of this kind be adhered to, it effectually prevents the development of any kind of organically-constituted government, for this demands a systematic organisation in which duties and rights are limited. That abstraction permits of no inequality, and inequality there must necessarily be if an organism, and with it true vitality, are to exist.

Such principles as these are true, but they must not be taken in their abstract meaning. The knowledge of the truth that man is free in virtue of his real nature, that is, in virtue of his true conception, belongs to modern times. Now whether the abstraction be adhered to or not, it may in either case happen that to these principles a religion stands opposed, which does not acknowledge them, but regards them as illegitimate, and holds that freewill or caprice alone is legitimate. This necessarily gives rise to a conflict which does not permit of adjustment in a true way. Religion demands the annulling of the will; the worldly principle, on the contrary, takes it for its starting-point. If such religious principles succeed in establishing themselves, it cannot but happen that the government should proceed by force and suppress the religion which is thus opposed to it, or else treat those who belong to it as a faction. Religion, in the form of the Church, may indeed act discreetly here, and be