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to seek for religious instruction elsewhere . The decline of the Dissenting interest may be farther traced to the advancement of science and literature ,
which has rendered men indifferent to the forms of religion , and in some cases doubtful of its reality altogether . This disposition has - been encouraged by the enthusiastic pretences which have been mixed up too much with the profession of Christianity , as well as by
the little attention that has been paid by Dissenters in general to such subjects as are calculated to improve the intellectual and political condition of mankind . By neglecting to take
advantage of the improvements of the age , and thus to render the profession of Nonconformity respectable in the world , they have been left with the dregs of society , whilst their enemies have carried away the palm of
superiority . But , perhaps , nothing tends more to the disparagement of the Dissenters than their political condition , the profession of Nonconformity rendering them liable to certain civil disabilities , from which the favoured sect is
exempt . That they are usually identified with the opponents of government is not at all surprising , but it ought not to be charged upon them as a crime ; for , setting aside reasons of conscience , it would be absurd to suppose they can entertain any kind feeling for
a set of men vvho first trample upon their political rights , and then charge them with disaffection . The oppression to which they have been so long Bubject in this respect , has so far tinctured the prejudices of society , as to occasion an artificial circle to be
drawn around them , excluding them very much from the intercourse of life with persons of a similar station in the Established Church . Having no political influence , they are an
object of contempt with the government , any farther than they can become the instruments of its own purpose . It is to be lamented that the orthodox Dissenters have never been
sufficiently alive totheirpolitical rights The apathy they have discovered upori such subjects , from the * ridiculoUs notion-that ^ they are to be occupied ohly bycoacerns pf a religious nature , has' tended to debase the * quality , and
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to sink . the importance of tbeiiv cause If the profession of Nonconformit y fa destined again to / flourish , it must be identified with civil liberty , and then the friends of the latter will be its firmest supporters .
A Dissenter , whatever may be his the ^ ological opinions , Or however strongly he may feel the supreme importance of religion , is eminently a political character , being made so by the state . It is his duty , therefore , never to lose sight of his situation , nor to forego any fair opportunity for urging its amelioration . In order to inoculate
society with just sentiments , he should frequently bring forward for discussion such topics as the injustice and impolicy of penal laws upon account of religion ; the impropriety of
connecting Christianity with the state , and thereby rendering it subservient to political purposes ; the distinct objects of religion and of civil government - the irreligious tendencv of test laws the irreligious tendency of test laws
; the incongruity of a lordly hierarchy with the simplicity of a Christian church , to which it is an expensive incumbrance ; the inutility , for , purposes of instruction and pastoral
inspection , of a system that patronizes pluralities and non-residences ; the hypocrisy of educating men for a cure of souls , when the real purpose is to amass wealth , and to obtain
political influence * , the oppressive . nature of tithes , and their injurious effept upon the clerical character ; the absurd mixture of Jewish , Popish and Protestant worship in the English ritual -
the sectarian nature and unchristian spirit of the publicly-authorized creeds ; together with such other points as may suggest themselves , in order to shew the inefficacy of . the present ecclesiastical system for the p urposes for which it is so amply endowed .
The examples of Greece and Rome , and other ancient nations , ; have been cited as precedents to justify the civil patronage of religion , and the prosecution of opposite opinions . But , not to take notice of the impropriety of
the parallel drawn between Pagan and Christian institutions , it would be difficult to shew any warrant for the thing in either case , beyond that of statepolicy . Theexistence of re ligion doe * not require it ; for , supposing it to do of divine origin , and wnder the protec-
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394 An Essay on the Causes oftheDecline ofNonconformity *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1823, page 394, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1786/page/26/
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