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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), December 1819, Edition 1 of 1, Page 752, Untitled Article

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    • REVIEW. 44 -Still ptaased to praise, y«t not afraid to blame,"—Porg,
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      Untitled Article

      ( 752 )

      Untitled Article

      Art . I , —A Course of Lectures on Subjects connected with the Corruption , Revival , and Future Influence of Genuine Christianity . By W . J . Fox . 8 vo . pp . S 24 . [ A Secand Edition in 12 mo . pp , 386 . ] 'Hunter and Eatovi . 1 S 1 P .

      rliHESE Lectures were heard , we JL are informed , with marked attention by a crowded auditory , at whose unanimous request they have been published . The author defines controversial sermons ( Pref . p . v . )> 4 t

      speeches to set people thinking , and judging of these before us by this rule , we must pronounce that the . Lecturer has completely succeeded ^ for whether the reader agree in opinion with the Lecturer or differ from

      him , it seems to us impossible that his mind should not be excited by the specimens of dense thought , forcible argumentation , brilliant eloquence , and , we had almost said , sparkJiug wit , that are here displayed : and the , effect must have been much more powerful upon the hearer of the Lectures .

      'Jo such as look in a sermon for the qualities of an essay or a dissertation , Mr . Fox ' s Lectures will appear too declamatory , and to such as think that the prejudices of the many ought to be conciliated and not alarmed , his tone will sometimes appear too decided , bold and startling ; but the coldest critic must allow that llie

      declamation ( if suck it be ) is splendid , and the most timid theologian must acknowledge , if not admire , the honesty , manliness and Christian frankiiess whioh characterize every page . The few extracts that the scope of our work permits us to make will testify the Lecturer ' s extent of

      knowledge , his / facility of turning * his great reading to account , bis power of intellect , bis clearness of judgment , and , above all , his richness of imagination ; they may , perhaps , shew also hastiness of composition , abruptness of manner , familiarity , even to homeliness , of style , and , in some instances , the extension and accumulation of metaphors beyond the limits of good taste .

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      Lect . L is " On A ntichrfct . " ] n his description of this allegorical per sonage Mr . Fox agrees with W Evanson , [ " Letter to Hurd , "] cousi ' dering the character typical not of any one particular church , but of all churches in which are found the

      following marks of apostacy : " dominion over conscience , alliance with the temporal authority , mystery , idolatrous worship , blasphemy , hypocrisy , deceit and affected austerity , and persecution . ' ( P . 10 . ) He applies to Antichrist , thus expounded , the prophecies of Daniel , &c \ , which are usually interpreted by Protestants of the great Christian apostacy . We question , however , whether sufficient attention has yet been paid to the arguments of Grotius , who maintain *

      that all Ihe predictions in question related to persons and powers out of the Church . His reasoning is , we confess , to our minds unanswerable . ( See his Commentatw et Appendix de Antichristo , Op . IV . 457 , &c \) Referring to " pious frauds / ' Mr . Fox says ,

      " While we gladly forget the gross trickeries by which , in dark ages , ignorance was gulled that it might be enslaved and plundered , we- must be allowed to express regret that Protestants and Dissenters should vet retain some traces of

      this evil . How often , in the lecoJJeetiou of every one ? , has reputed lieiesj been assailed with calumnious and forged tales of blasphemies and sudden judg ments , got up for the purpose of terrifying * men from the use of their common sense on religious

      subjects ! Truth disdains such arms : they are the weapons of Antichrist , and worthy only . of the policy of the Inquisition , which , when its victims are led to the stake , clothes them with robes covered with painted devils . Happily , their use is almost abandoned by the more respectable of every party . " —Pp . 19 , 20 .

      The following reflections come seasonably after the Lecturer ' s denunciation of prevailing corruption and apostacy : " This view of our subject , thought first it may seein harsh , is really conducive to charity . It teaches that no one body ^ professing Christians is to be sfoff led oUt >

      Review. 44 -Still Ptaased To Praise, Y«T Not Afraid To Blame,"—Porg,

      REVIEW . 44 -Still ptaased to praise , y « t not afraid to blame , "—Porg ,

  • Citation
    • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1819, page 752, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1779/page/36/