is permitted freely to contradift them.
Be it therefore enaBed by the General j4ffem- bljy That no man fhall be compelled to fre- quent or fupport any religious worfhip, place or miniftry whatfoever, nor (hall be enforced, redrained, molefted, or burthened in his body or goods, nor fhall otherwife fuffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men fhall be free to profefs, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion and that the fame fhall in no wife diminifli, enlarge, or afFedl their civil capacities.
And though we well know that this Aflembly, elected by the people for the ordinary purpofes of legiflation only, have no power to reftrain the afts of fucceeding Aflemblies, conftituted with the powers equal to our own, and that therefore to declare this aft irrevocable, would be of no efFeft in law, yet we are free to declare, and do declare, that the rights hereby af- ferted are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any aft Ihall be hereafter paiTed to repeal the prefent or to narrow its ope- ration, fuch aft will be an infringement of natural right.