On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
The matter of fact is here too notorious to be denied , and too gross to be justified . An abominable practice cannot be sanctified by the great name of any author . When therefore M . de Meaux ( Bossuet ) re * proaches Protestants as he does , I think that part of Mr . Pilloniere ' s answer is very just : .. * That ih 6 conduct of our reformers in this respect is the subject of our tears , 3 nd the too just occasion of the
Church of Rome ' s triumphs / But I must take the liberty to add , that however severely Protestants condemn the thing itself , yet there is no need they should themselves expatiate in invectives against the first reformers , who were not wholly clear of it . I think M . P ;* s expression is by far too severe , when he says , ' he dare not determine , &c * *
The church of God is unquestionably indebted to them , in a great degree , for the good they did in reforming the state of Christianity , and in recovering the liberties of mankind . This is certainly a considerable advantage ; whereas they may reasonably be excused , from being the proper authors of the harm which they did to the reformation . Persecution was an abomination which had overspread the world before they were born into it 3 and it was their unhappiness , that they did not know these depths of Satan ; for which reason , they are rather to be pitied than insulted , for their being carried away with the prevailing error of their time . I can ^ t apprehend it is prudent in Protestants to
be severe in their censures of those famous men ; nor can I think they are likel y / nuch to befriend their cause , by making so free with theit reputation 3 and , if I may be allowed to speak my mind , M . P . having so lately left the most persecuting communion in the whole world > ifcight with much more decency have spared his invective against those great lights of the reformation , who deserve to be mentioned with a far greater respect and honour . His expression of the < hypostatical Union " displeases me more than any thing . I see no reason he has to
dislike th * e ordinary application of that term , to signify the unity of th& Logos , with the human nature of our Saviour ; but if he dislike it , yet such things ought to be treated with decency and respect . Ish * itiael ' s scoffing is reckoned by the apostle persecution , Gal . iv . 2 . Q and M . P . is the more inexcusable in turning those matters into burlesque , which he knows others treat with a religious veneration , because he was professedly writing against persecution . " I am very much mistaken , if such a holy , mortified , laborious life as Calvin ' s would not justly entitle } iim to a far better character than that of a devil incarnate . ' When we cannot but condemn his practice , let us make a due allowance for his circumstances . He was but just come out of the darkness of popery ; and what wonder if he did not in an instant obtain a full and clear view of all things ? 'Tis a difficult matter to drive the spirit of persecution out of men .
" As to Calvin , it may be further considered , that he was narrowly watched by his Popish enemies , who would have been ready to charge him as patronising all the opinions of Servetus , if he had not by such & method testified his abhorrence of them . This may well be supposed to strengthen the temptation Calvin was under , of endeavouring to establishing opinions heWras fond of , by the help of the magistrate ' s
power , when he had got it <> n his side . —He that reads Calvin ' s Letters concerning Servetus will easily perceive he had not thoroughly considered the matter } for he pleaded against the Papists persecuting Protestants , not from the unreasonableness and barbarity of persecution m its own nature , but from the evidence and certainty * of the Protestant dotrines , and the mpnstrQUS absurdity of the opinions the Papists
Untitled Article
The Inquirer * & 77
Untitled Article
vol . 1 . 4 e
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1806, page 577, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1730/page/17/
-