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Untitled Article
asserts , after advancing it , triumphantly exclaim— This is his display of Christianity in its native simplicity : this is rendering it plain and intelligible to the poor and humble "—( such
language being applied to a different subject ) , I appealed to your readers how admirably the nofi ^ observance of one day in seven as a day of rest from secular employments , and , for devotional purposes , was calculated to promote these ends ! How does your correspondent attempt to refute the charge ? First ,
by insinuating that I have not read the controversy , or that I do not understand it , and then , by affirming , that the only point at issue between Mr , Evanson and Dr . Priestley—the positive institution of & Christian Sabbath—was conceded by the latter "
After thus charging me with ignorance and want of understanding ; after making such an assertion as that I have quoted , what must be the surprise of your readers , who may not have perused , or who may not recollect the controversy alluded to f
when they are informed , that the positive institution of a Christian Sabbath , so far from being the only point at issue between Mr . E . and Dr . Priestley , was not a point of controversy between them . Dr . Priestley endeavoured to enforce the observance of the Christian Sabbath , from the example of the primitive Christians , and from its moral uses , I do not think the
repetition of their arguments necessary , as they must be familiar to the minds of Christians in general , Mr , Evanson opposed the observance of a Sabbath on similar grounds ; and these constjitiitecl the grand , if not the only points at issue between thepn . Mr , Evanson contended , that ' < the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ are no where ( in the Holy Scriptures )
said to have distinguished the first day of the week in any way whatsoever *;* ' that , * £ howsoever decent and proper it may be for Christians , when assembled together for any other purpose ^ to join in coficise prayers or praises , expressive of their commoa feelingsthe assembling merely for the purpose of public
^ worship is not a duty of the gospelf . " Mr . E . reprobated not only the abuses of the Sabbath-r- ^ not only the assembling for public worship , on any day—but our ** sitting at home , with our hands before us , yawning over what "are called books of piety and devotion 1 . " He further declares the observance of a Christian
Sabbath , or day of cessation from worldly business , whether it be considered in a political , moral , or a i-eligious point of view , is absolutely indefensible § : that , f * to the best of his abilities , he fyad endeavoured to explode an erroneous practice , * Arguments , Sec . p . * 6 . f Ibid . P . «• i Ibid . p . 12 . p Ibid , p , £ 4 j ? ¦
Untitled Article
Remarks on the Writings of Mr . Evanson . SSI
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1806, page 581, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1730/page/21/
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