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cfopse o ^ e agaif ^ t ;> •* ¦ cap ital punishments /* the ' oAer { against * ' the eternity of hell torments /' The superiority of his talents gave
instant alarm among , the heads of the university , " who supposed that the youthful wrangler would not fail in the dispute to shake the pillars of orthodoxy : they
enjoined him instantly to relinquish , at least , the last question . Mr . jpaley acquainted Mr . Watson the moderator , with the order , who felt indignant at this unjust interference , in a matter that he
conceived belonged to him only : * Are you sir , " said he , CQ inde ^ pendent of your college ? if you are , these shall be the questions
for your act . Mr . Paley wished not to give offence . u Very well , ** replied the moderator , " the best way then to satisfy the scruples of these gentlemen , will be for you to
defend * the eternity of hell torments : * " which , changing his thesis to the affirmative , he actu - ally did . Tftiis might be prudent
advice , and might conciliate those xvhose good will it was desirable he should possess ; yet on a mind less firm than that of Mr . Paley , the justification of sentiments which are deemed false cannot
but have an injurious tendency . He kept this act with uncommon credit , and in this , and every succeeding instahce , he more than answered the expectations formed of him , and carried away generally the highest prizes . When he had taken his batchelors
degree , * he engaged as second assistant at a large school at Greenwich , and his department was Reaching the Latin language . Here he seems to > have been chearfui and happy , declaring he had but one object of ambition , which
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would be completely gratified could he be the principal , instead of the subordinate , assistant . His leisure hours were frequently
occupied in ramblmg about the metropohs ' , where a variety of new and interesting objects engaged his . notice , and gave full scope to his active mind . He was also
much attached to theatrical exhibitions ; but his chief amusement while in the neighbourhood of London seemed to arise from attending the different courts of justice , and the Old Bailey in particular , where from his
frequent attendance and great sagacity , he acquired a clear and accurate knowledge of the criminal law . In 1765 , he became candidate for one of the prizes given annually by the representatives of the University to senior
batchelors : the subject proposed was u a comparison between the stoic and epicurean philosophy , with respect to the influence of each on the morals of the people . " Mr . Paley took the epicurean side , and in his favour the first prize was adjudged . At a proper age , he was ordained deacon , and engaged himself as curate to Dr . Hinchclifle , who
was afterwards bishop of Peterborough y but who was at that time vicar of Greenwich . In 1766 , he was elected fellow on the foundation of Christ ' s college , took his degree of ' master of arts , and engaged in the business of
private tuition . He afterwards undertook a part of the public tuition of bis college , ancj on the 21 st of December 1767 , was ordained a priest by bishop Terrick . As a public lecturer , Mr . Paley was associated with his partly culnr friend Mr / Law , now bishop
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178 Memoirs of the Rev . William Paley ^ D . D .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1809, page 178, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1735/page/2/
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