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    some time before we obtain the superiority ¦ but be assured , that time will come , and then it will be your turn to repay our adversaries with the scorn and contempt , with which we are , and for some time shall be treated . Is it possible that any one , who reads the life of our beloved master , can entertain

    such an opinion ? much less can we who are Christians suppose , that he would consent that any man , who names the name of Christ , should attempt to vindicate his honour by exposing the reviler to worldly punishment . The

    thing is impossible * The man who injures another by thought , word or deed , on account of his not being a Christian , or because he treats the Christian religion with contumely , forgets the precepts of our holy master , and acts decidedly against the spirit of Christ and his

    religion . The last month has exhibited a sight , which afflicts us with the deepest concern . It has afforded a triumph to infidelity . We lament the situation of all who have been concerned in this unhappy business , the prosecutors as well as the prosecuted . The man' who was ad ]

    udgcd to stand in the pillory , for reviling in print the Christian religion , and treating Christ as an impostor , has undergone this part of his sentence ; He was taken in the usual manner from the prison , 2 > nd exposed " on this disgraceful stage , to the populace ., This punishment was intended to hold up the . sufferer to

    contempt ,, and to . deter all others from exposing . themselves ,., by a similar crime , to similar , ignominy-, In many cases the punishment ip . a very severe one , ais it respects the body , which is exposed tp injury , from % he filth , dirt and Stones , thrown at it by the beholders . In

    this case , however , npthing of this kind appeared . No insult whatever was offered to the criminal , but oil the contrary ,, he was received with greetings of applause , apd anyone who had . offered him , the ; accustomed insults , would have ran , a ^ great risk , of beirig torn to pieces . Perhaps , it is some credit to the

    country 9 tha £ { here was not an individual in it so depraved in mind , as to . oner any insult whatever to t ( ie object . on the pii-!? % * ; v ...., . . 7 ^ e Jangjuagc , used by the ; multitude , jjiewed t £ ie gcr * qj > l senae of % h , e proceedings of tM ^ ujqhappy . d ^ y . WJir is he

    j ? utapn thejg » . ilH > ry jfc said one . For writ ing against the Bible , replied another

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    How can that be , says a third , when we pay so many millions a year to the parsons ; cannot they find one to answer bis book ? What do men do , when they cannot answer an argument ? cries one ; Knock down their opponent , says another . A pillory is a poor way of settling a question , exclaims a third =- * -and in this

    way the hour allotted by the law was passed , in gibes and jeers , and the per ~ son intended to be exposed to public shame , was encouraged in his career , by the applause of the people , and the bitterest sarcasms against his opponents . What a lesson does not this hold up

    to all who name the name of Christ , who profess the Christian relig on , who sincerely wish for its triumph in the world * Great has been the a post acy from our holy religion , and horrible have been the maxims set up by those , professed to be guided by the precepts of the Lamb of God . No wild beasts

    could be more furious than these professing Christians , who thought that trjey did God service , in torturing their fellow-creatures , and exposing them to every kind of death and disgrace . Happily much of that unhallowed temper , that diabolical spirit has subsided : but its prevalence at one time should set every man upon his guard against the deceit , fulness of his own heart , and lead him

    seriously to enquire , how far if circumstances brought round a similar temper , he would be led by the doctrines of the gospel , to which party he would adhere , that of the persecutors , the great , the noble , the rich , and the learned , with the great body of the people , or that of the persecuted , the despised , and the few- We mention this with greater

    seriousness , because the case of the unhappy man , who has given rise to these remarks , has led us to ask the question of very worthy people , how far they approved of this mode of treating an infidel- They were approvers of the Bible and the Missionary Societies ; they read

    with pleasure ( he exertions of Christians to destroy religions established in other parts of the world , yet from some strong prejudice in their minds , they thought a pillory a proper way of supporting Christianity m this country , and could not see that it militated with the laws

    and precepts of Christ . Frorn . this subject , which is intended only for serious Chi tstians , we turn to an ¦ occurrence , which affords u « great atfejfoctira : and at in our last month ' s

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    State of Public Affairs . 405

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1812, page 405, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1749/page/61/