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fai thfully endeavoured to Improve ia knowledge and goodness . « With the members of the Establishment he always lived on the most
friendly terms , and was also treated with great civility by several respectable vicars and curates who succeeded each other in jColyton , during his long abode there . In ihree families he had seen the fifth generation .
" Before his leaving the Academy , J . Cornish published ' A Serious and PJarnest Address to Protestant
Dissenters / The first edition of 750 copies was speedily sold , and a second of 2000 went off quickly , as did a large number of the third edition , and they have long been out of print . The low price of Ad . inclined many to distribute them .
"' A Brief and Impartial History of the Puritans / price 4 d . also , met a favourable reception , 2000 having been sold ; about half the number in one year , the rest since . "In 1775 , Mr . Johnson , in St . Paul ' s
Church-yard , who was always ready to encourage publications in favour of liberty , gave J . Cornish five guineas for the copy of a pamphlet entitled , ' A Blow at the Root of all Priestly Claims . '
"' A Letter to the venerable Bishop of Carlisle / who ardently wished for alterations in the Establishment , both as to the Liturgy and Articles , was particularly noticed in the Monthly and
Critical Reviews , in 1777 . The good Bishop wished for Reform , but thought Conformity justifiable in those who could not approve all they subscribed to , and yet wished like him for alterations . J . Cornish endeavoured to
prove that the most likely way to bring about a Reform would be for all who disliked the terms required , to imitate Mr . Lindsey , Jebb and other worthies , in withdrawing from the Church * No public notice was taken of this letter , but the Bishop ,
through Mr . Corpe , the Vicar of Seaton , near Colyton , who thought much as Bishop Law did , thanked J . Cornish * ° r the manner in which he had addressed him , but said , private reasons
justified his conduct in a way satisfactory to his own mind . To this j ^ ornish only replied , that all he t * ie 4 to prove was , thjat the reasons presented to the public did not appear 10 mx to jasitify , on scripturar princi-
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ples , persons solemnly declaring * that they subscribed , ex animo , t& what they inwardly disapproved . Much at that time had been written on the subject , and the pamphlet obtained an extensive sale .
" In 1 / 80 , J . Cornish published a Life of that excellent citizen Mr . T . Firaiin ... His venerable friend Mr . Towgood wished him to decline the attempt , as tending- to revive the &ocinian controversy , but on reading it , expressed his approbation of the temper and spirit with which it was written . J . Cornish neither at that time
nor since has ever adopted the Socinian scheme , but thinking , with that very competent judge Dr . Kippis , that Mr . Firrnin was one of the best men that ever lived , he thought a new account of his Life might be useful , and has some ground to hope its
having proved so . The perusal may soften the prejudices of zealous Trinitarians , and excite Christians of every persuasion to activity in doing good * Mr . Lindsey , whose integrity and
disinterestedness entitle him to his praise , opposed the circulation of this Life amongst Unitarian Tracts , because it contained some apology for Mr . Firming continuing in the Church . His peculiar circumstances might justify what J . Cornish endeavoured to shew
could form no rational pretence now . Yet on that account a former Life of Mr . Firmin was circulated , which , whether or no it was so well adapted for general reading and usefulness , those who have perused both are the proper judges . The ingenious Mr .
Christie , in a volume of interesting Essays , recommended the book , as did the Monthly Review . The whole edition has long since been dispersed . "In 1784 , J . Cornish printed , by request , a Thanksgiving berinon , oa the Happy Restoration of Peace with America .
" It was in 1783 ( 1785 ?) his ' Attempt to display the Importance of Classical Learning , addressed to tjie Parents and Guardians of Youth , ' appeared . Of this Dr . Knox tpok very polite a < o-
tice in a subsequent edition of bis valuable Treatise on Education , and it was mentioned with approbation in the Monthly Review . The Messrs . Robinsons took on themselves the risque , and J . Cornish was to have half the profited .
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Memoir of the late Rev . Joseph Cornish , of Colyton . <® 1
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1823, page 621, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1790/page/5/
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