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    li&ps , is but art act of justice to his character , I shall now proceed to state in what we were agreed : —generally speaking , in all the fundamental doctrines arid essential principles of the gospel of Christ . To use his words , in his excellent Letters to the Bishop of St . David ' s , wherein he not only defends his secession , but contends

    with his usual ability for the right ( as he considered it the duty ) of every Christian , to inquire freely and fully into the meaning of the Scriptures , and remonstrates with his Lordship on the impropriety of peFsons being exposed to those penalties and disabilities , the loss of which , by the

    repeal of the persecuting laws respecting Unitarians , his Lordship deplored , and contended ought to be revived . * The existence of one God , by whom all things were created j the divine mission , death and consequent resurrection of Chrtst ; the divine authority of his precepts , revealed in the

    gospel ; and the hope of immortality in the resurrection of the dead / These opinions , together with considering the Father as the sole object of religious worship , and his free , unpurehased grace to the penitent , and the

    necessity of personal obedience to the precepts of the gospel , as indispensable to insure a good conscience , and a well-grounded hope in the Divine mercy ; and a future state of rewards and punishments according to the deeds of men in the present life .

    "While he defended these opinions , with a demonstration seldom equalled , he could also offer the best reasons why men should live in charity aud good-will . For , not to mention his political opinions , he had the most enlarged views of religious liberty ;

    and , from the increasing liberality of the times , confidently anticipated thedestruction of every species of intolerance and persecution ; for , as he used to say , what has genuine Christianity to fear from its enemies ? And

    if it had , the means taken to support it are by no means suitable to its spirit and character , which enjoins upon its followers , to do unto all men as they wish others should do towards them . ** These enlightened views of the Christian religion saved him from the

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    baneful influence of . vulgar erroik * His ideas of the Divine character and government were most extensive and exalted ^ and white he was neither enthusiast nor fanatic , yet his religious views were to him a fund of happiness and pleasure , which , added to the natural cheerfulness of his

    temper , gave a cheerful and agreeable turn to his conversation , a quality seldom combined with the character of studious men . € i To these remarks I shall only add his golden rule in ascertaining religious truth : * What is clearly and explicitly taught in the Scriptures , or is

    the plain and undoubted inference therefrom , ought to be considered as the fundamental principle and ground of interpretation for that which is less explicit or more difficult . ' For , as he used to say , 4 no religious opinion should contradict the general current of the Scriptures /

    46 With respect to the social and relative duties , the public respect , in addition to what I have stated , bears ample testimony to the one , and his attention to his mother and sisters ,

    their union and felicity , sufficiently apeak the other . They will severely feel his loss . We can enly offer our sincere condolence , and pray the God of all consolation to support them under this bereavement . And we

    hope it will be no small alleviation of their affliction , that his mortal career , though short , was with credit and honour . ** I have thus stated a few particulars respecting the religious course of this excellent man . It remains for

    us to shew the same manly and decided character . Let ouv minds be free to the impressions of truth , and eagerly seek for it . When found , let us honestly confess it , and dissent upon principle : at the same time forgetting not to cultivate Christian charity to * wards those who differ from us , as

    well as amongst ourselves . Pursuing this path , let us strive to perfect the Christian character , and cherish the hope that , at another day , according to the promises of the gospel , all the good and virtuous of every nation and sect shall be re united in a holy , happy and immortal statc , where separation will be no * more *

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    S Tribute to the Memory of the late Mr . G . W . Meadlig .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1819, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1768/page/8/