If I think it right to steal Mr. Dilly's plate, I am a bad
man; but he can say nothing to me. If I make an open declaration that
I think so, he will keep me out of his house. If I put forth my hand, I
shall be sent to Newgate. This is the gradation of thinking, preaching,
and acting: if a man thinks erroneously, he may keep his thoughts to
himself, and nobody will trouble him; if he preaches erroneous doctrine,
society may expel him; if he acts in consequence of it, the law takes
place, and he is hanged.' MAYO. 'But, Sir, ought not Christians to have
liberty of conscience?' JOHNSON. 'I have already told you so, Sir. You
are coming back to where you were.' BOSWELL. 'Dr. Mayo is always taking
a return post-chaise, and going the stage over again. He has it at
half price.' JOHNSON. 'Dr. Mayo, like other champions for unlimited
toleration, has got a set of words. Sir, it is no matter, politically,
whether the magistrate be right or wrong. Suppose a club were to
be formed, to drink confusion to King George the Third, and a happy
restoration to Charles the Third, this would be very bad with respect
to the State; but every member of that club must either conform to its
rules, or be turned out of it.
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