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meaning . But as the case now stands , thelangu&ge of John is to us sonaewfaat ambknious . Had I been asked what I conceived to be the meaning of the passage Iri which \ % is found , I
should perhaps have replied , that the general import of it might be expressed as follows : . " .. I write unto you little children , because by your profession of the Christian faith you are redeemed from Heathenism and
idolatry , and introduced into a state of moral and religious privilege /* That this change , of moral condition is what is meant by the forgiveness of eins , as spoken of in connexion with the death of Christ , I { eel more and more convinced . I should , however , like to see the subject fully discussed
by men ( and many such men there are ) who are better qualified for such a discussion than myself . From the habit of my mind , and the nature of my occupation and pursuits , I can only throw out hints , leaving to others every thing like minute examination and inquiry .
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The A onconformut . No . XXVI . On the Mawim , that " Christianity is part and parcel of the Law of the Ijand "
NHAPPILY for the honour of our Ucountry and the present times , it is too well known that an express Act of Parliament , or rather the unrepealed portion of an Act , ( 9 and 10 of William and Mary , ) still remains in force , by which persona who openly assail the truth of the Christian
religion , are made subject to fines and imprisonment . It is remarkable , however , that in the late frequent prosecutions instituted against the publishers and venders of Deistical books , this statute has seldom been referred to as
the principal -ground of these legal proceedings . : To justify such prosecutions , we hear it asserted by the expounders of the law , that Christianity is an established portion of the common , or unwritten law of the land :
and that therefore , independently of any existing statute pointing out the nature of the offence and the specific penalties attached to it , all open endeavours to brijiff tjbis religion into disrepute , are offences indictable in every competent court of justice . This
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circumstance appears to demand the attention of every friend to an tinxestrained discussion of opinions ; and especially of every Christian , who , besides his abhorrence of persecution for whatever purpose , cannot but feel the deepest interest in such bro ^ d declarations concerning the religion which he believes and venerates .
It is proper to be stated , however , before I proceed further , that it is by no means my object to dispute the foundation of this maxim in the recorded decisions of our judges . Such
an undertaking it is to be apprehended , would be hopeless in any hands , and would be particularly presumptuous in one altogether unlearned in books of cases and records .
It appears not to b £ ^ ptirely a novel maxim . And perhaps some persons may be of opinion , * that its antiquity is its best apology ; inasmuch as such a maxim could have become established only in an age when the true nature of Christianity , and the just province
of civil government , were but very imperfectly understood . It savours not a little of those past times , when the priest a » d the ruler were allowed the most extensive power of affording each other mutual assistance , in their endeavours to fetter the freedom of
the human mind . However , it is not necessary , I presume , to overturn the authority of this maxim in law , in order to justify our condemnation of it , should it appear , upon inquiry , to be unreasonable , a violation of the principles of Christianity , injurious to the interests of
truth , and conducive to no good purpose in the present state of society . He who commits upon me a manifest act of injustice * or occasions injury toany good cause for which I am concerned , has scarcely a right to demand , that I should confute him by quotations and precedents , before I can be allowed to lift up my voice in reprobation of his conduct .
The following thoughts have been suggested to my mind , by considering ? " In the ? 34 th year of Henry VIChief Jtffttice Priaot ^ clared in fftrfCourf of Common Pleas , &efiptu ? e ? esf wfafhon ley , stir quel touts manures d 6 && ***** y&w « fe »;?—31 ackston ^ I BJ to' €# 4 W # *«» Note . < ,
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H 22 The Nonconformist . No , XXVI ;
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1823, page 222, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1783/page/30/
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