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tants had teen equally anathematized . The latter had been denominated nominal Christians , as ignorant as Heathens , requiring as complete a change of heart and life , and denounced as the children of hell . It had been said that they pay no respect to the Bible , that Professors in their Chairs had ridiculed the
doctrines of the gospel , and that the religious pastors were the determined opponents of the doctrines of Christianity . These were hard expressions , scarcely consistent with the professions of charity which we had heard from lips denouncing the claims of the Catholic Church to infallibility . But , in fact ,
those who had been preaching liberality had this day virtually assumed exemption from error , and dogmatically insisted on their own opinions as the only true and saving faith . He had never attended a meeting characterized by more
charitable professions , and more illiberal denunciations and greater misstatements . ' The Continent was not so deplorably ignorant and depraved as it had been represented to be . Many of the statements carried their own refutation . That a Professor of Divinity should from his Chair ridicule the doctrines of the
gospel , was too palpable a misstatement to be credited . Had he no other means of detecting the misrepresentations respecting the religious state of the Continent , a knowledge of the gross misstatements of the religious and moral condition , of Geneva would induce suspicion as to their correctness . Of the state of
Geneva he spoke from accurate information , and he could say , that there were few , if any , cities in Great Britain more distinguished for genuine piety and virtue . The pastors were exemplary in the discharge of their duties , and paid partiticular attention to the religious instruc - tion of the young . They were not , indeed , Calviiiists , but they were in Ins opinion sincere Christians , and he believed that their faith contained all the
essential doctrines of Christianity . They believed in God , in the divine mission of Jesus . They received him as their Master and exemplar , and the Scriptures as their only rule of faith and life . Much holy indignation had been expressed " their desecration of the Sabbath . " They were not , indeed , Sabbatarians . They did not believe , that the Lord ' s-day should be observed with all the
strictness of the Jewish Sabbath . In this opinion they agreed with Calvin , whose peculiar notions of dogmatic theology they rejected . Indeed , all the Continental nations disapproved of a Jewish manner of observing the day on which
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Intelligence . ' - ^ Edinburgh "Continental Society . 38 $
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solved in all the darkness of Paganism , nay , were in a still more lamentable , as they were in a more hopeless , condition , being led by the pride of a false philosophy to imagine that they were iu a state of peace and safety , whilst they rejected all the truths which were essential to
ensure salvation . The state of Geneva was particularly deplorable . The Genevese Pastors were the determined opponents of the gospel , and their people were des - titute of all religion and godliness . The Sabbath was shockingly desecrated . A small remnant , however , was left , and they had good hopes of imparting the divine light which Scotland had received from Geneva , once the Zion of truth and holiness . Scotland owed a debt of gratitude which she should endeavour to repay .
Rev . Mr . Mejanel , from Paris , lamented the defections from the true faith , and represented the eminent success which had attended his ministerial labours in the South of France . Hundreds implored him with tears in their eyes to
preach longer to them , and he preached to large assemblies in the open air and in drenching rain . The fields were white to harvest , and labourers only were wanted . The Edinburgh Continental Society had been chiefly instrumental in turning many to righteousness .
Dr . Jamieson denounced in strong terms the Roman Catholics , and was sure that religion never would flourish till their debasing system was annihilated . Mr . Haldane in bitter terms condemned the Catholics , and , amongst other railing accusations , stated that they had excluded from the Decalogue the second commandment . He severly condemned
Socinians and Arians , and represented them as the children of hell , the allies of Satan . The pastors and people of Geneva were the objects of the most violent invective . They trampled the gospel under their feet , desecrated the Sabbath , and practised iniquity with greediness . At Strasburgh , Haffuer had in his Professor ' s Chair openly ridiculed Christianity .
The Rev . W . J . Bakewell said , that he had no intention of speaking when he entered the room , and did not rise for the sake of disturbing the harmony of the meeting . Statements , however , had been made which he knew to be
erroneous , and some of which a sense of duty urged him to refute . The Continent of Europe had been represented to be in the most deplorable state of ignorance and error on subjects of religion , and of moral depravity , the consequence of a deadly faith . Catholics and Protes-
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1827, page 385, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1796/page/73/
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