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MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS ¦ .- ¦' , '¦ • ¦ ¦ ' i.. ¦ ¦ : ¦¦ ' '
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Mr . Cornish on ike Decline of Presbyterian Congregations . Sir , Colyton , Nov . 5 , 1818 . MANY observations have been occasionally made in your Repository and various other publications on the-decline of the Dissenting
churches , especially amongst those improperly denominated Presbyterian . Improperly , because every separate church was quite unconnected , as far a-s authority went , with any other * no right of interference being ever given * or seldom attempted or thought of ,
by a » y neighbouring societies : the whole body being less closely united than those denominated Independents , to which name thpse called Presbyterians have from their first separation had a full claim . The Presbyterian ministers , those who , if they had
possessed the power of forming an establishment , would have adopted the plan approved in Scotland , soon discontinued any other union amongst themselves , than what was perfectly free and voluntary . Their successors retained the name by which those who formed their societies had been
distinguished , fhough that form of spiritual government ceased to exist amongst them . Tho . se denominated Presbyterians were for a long while the most numerous , as well as the most learned
part of the Dissenting clergy , and those of the Baptist persuasion styling themselves General Baptists , though few in number , far excelled in learning such ministers as were followed by the more numerous part of those who rejected infant baptism .
That the number of congregations and ministers styled Presbyterian , for some time gradually , and afterwards rapidly , declined , has been frequent matter of observation . From the writings of many , anil the recorded
abilities and exemplary characters of more , who faithfully discharged their duty , endeavouring to promote knowledge , truth and holiness by their preaching arid their living , one important point is evident .
Their hearers di < J not faH off , owing to the iqcapacity or the neglect of
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their teachers , considered not individually , but as a collective bod y * So few worldly encouragements , -in the best times , presented themselves to candidates for the pastoral office , that the generality of those who offered themselves to the work were young
persons of serious , pious dispositions . In their places of education , commonly called academies , the most 1 diligent application was required . Improvement in various parts of knowledge , especially those connected with the ministerial office , was absolutely
requisite towards their being recommended and approved , as fit for public teachers of religion . Many socllSk ties , highly respectable for numbers ^ wealth , and the worthv characters of
the majority of those who composed them , especially in our metropolis , have been dissolved , and others are apparently going to decay . The causes which have led to this may be a useful subject of inquiry .
1 . When two thousand- ministers nobly refused to make declarations opposed to the dictates of conscience , numbers adhered to them from personal regard , from the duty thought t 6 be owing to them , as faithful teachers , from whose instructions they had
derived advantages of a spiritual nature , on which they set a high value . Few of thefcfc ministers scrupled , occasionally , attending the service of the Church , though they could not conform ministerially ; nor did they dissuade their friends from such
attendance , though wishing for , and endeavouring to obtain services in their estimation more pure and scriptural . When these pious pastors were removed by death , those who adhered to them front personal regard , if their places in the Established Chifrch happened to be filled by serious
divines , began to attend that worship constantly , which occasionally they had never beeii taught to decline , by the advice or the examples of their favourite spiritual guides . Tims there was very early a falling off , as to numbers amongst the Nonconformists * particularly of persons in the higher ranks , many of whom had adhered t 6
Miscellaneous Communications ¦ .- ¦' , '¦ • ¦ ¦ ' I.. ¦ ¦ : ¦¦ ' '
MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS ¦ .- ¦' , '¦ ¦ ¦ ' i .. ¦ ¦ : ¦¦ ' '
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VOX ,. XIV . M
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1819, page 77, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1769/page/9/
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