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Untitled Article
by an infidel , but by a Christian—a Unitarian Christian , and , to complete the climax , —a candid Christian . Candid us , in repeating his charge
against me of being a persecutor , says , in reply to my solemn and repeated declarations to the contrary , that " actions speak louder than words , ' * and he takes due care to inform us ,
* ' that he has suffered a good deal for joining that sect to which I belong . ' Now , Sir , 1 cannot but think this boasting might hare been as well spared in an anonymous writer , as no one but himself , unless bv some other
means than your Repository , can know any thing about the sacrifices alluded to , but I hope , as I am not unknown to some of your readers , and to the friends of civil and religious liberty in more than one part of the
kingdom , I may challenge any one to point out a single action of my life inconsistent with my professions on the present occasion . I deem it an honour that some of my services m the cause of religious liberty , however feeble , have not b' en deemed unv /
orthy of record in your miscellany : but my words and actions are alike disregarded by Candidus . I cim pronounced unworthy of credit—I claim infallibility—I am a persecutor and a hypocrite . Had I taken up my pen at the moment of first reading these
gross misrepresentations , I should probably have pronounced them wilful ; but momentary indignation gave place to pity : —pity for the writer "who can perceive no difference between reprobation of opinions , and persecuting the holder of them .
I am again charged with " making light of fine , imprisonment , and the pillory , and in part justifying it . I am obliged on this occasion to repeat language which has already proved so offensive to your correspondent .
** Darkness is not more opposite to light" than this statement is opposite to truth . 1 " made light" of the language , and the language only which infidels had used on this subject . 1 declared that the prosecution even of two or three " miserable and
abusive writers , " by our gothamitc Christian statesmen during the past half century , was " most unjust , and most contrary to the letter and sprit of Christianity . " I termed all such prosecutions ** folly and wickedness united . ' This is " making light of , and
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palliating / , and justifying persecution " Your correspondent justly feare d "the charge of disingenuousness , " when my paragraph which he had mutilated , leaving out the part which contained a complete refutation of his
charges , was by me fairly brought before your readers : —He , however in spite of meridian evidence of their falsehood , dares to repeat those charges and seems determined , if possible , to brand me with a mark of perpetual infamy , by holding me up to the world as an instance , that those who
profess the greatest regard to religious liberty only want the power to persecute . Whether this be " disingenuousness" or something worse , I leave to the judgment of your readers . My explanation of the term infidel , is to Candidus " very unsatisfactory . ' As he has not however ventured to
impeach its correctness , I can only lament the state of mind of that man who is obliged to seek for satisfaction from some other source than that of truth . 1 beg leave to repeat , notwithstanding the additional dissatisfaction of
Candidus , that the quotation prefixed to his first letter " had nothing to do with the subject . ' It was referred , by the author , to Christians , and to Christians only . Candidus adds , " it seems that they are not to make use of hard names to each other while
those who do not believe in Christianity may be reprobated and called names at pleasure . " Who , Sir , let me ask , has used hard names and called names at pleasure ? " The defender of Christianity who has merely reprobated infidel opinions in language
not so severe as he , who , if Candidus be a Christian , he must acknowledge had the undoubted right to use such language , our Lord and Saviour , who is appointed to be our Judge , or he
who is offended at any expressed reprobation of such opinions ? 1 d ° earnestly exhort your correspondent seriously to reflect on the diamet ^ cally opposite decision to that of o Saviour which he has presumed to
pronounce respecting infidel opinion I have carefully avoided saying any thinff respecting the persons of in dels , or of entering on the && *» «» whether there may not , owing to traordinary circumstances , be w » ces , exceptions to the general ru > but , it is impossible even for tne m
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420 s Mr . Flowers Defence dgaintt the Charges of Candidus .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1815, page 420, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1762/page/20/
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