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darkness" ttf the middle agea a to , retard the * Rcforiaatlou ,. to clog > the Ivbeeis of science , and thereby to arrest the progress of civilisation . The fact cannot be concealed ; the uniformity of Catholicity has spread darkness over Spain and Italy ; and the noxious weeds of Atheism and Infidelity have sprang up under its shadow in the fair and fertile regions of
France , This , however , in my mind , would have been the effect , though probably in a less degree , of any other system of faith which had attained equal power and extension ; for it seems to be an ingredient in the nature of all churches to delight in the exercise of authority where they have power ; and to follow as a natural consequence of uniformity of faith , that inquiry should
cease , and the independence of the mind be annihilated . The truth is , controversies and discussions , which can only arise from diversity of opinions , seem to be as necessary to preserve the know ^ ledge and energy of religion , as the motion of the waves to purify the waters of the ocean ; but the misfortune is , that in «* the strife of words" the spirit of the Gospel is too frequently lost .
I put \ % then to the Synod of Ulster , whether , in the pursuit of a shadow , a visionary uniformity , they wiil trample upon the right of private judgment , the very foundation of their church , and wilfully " lay a snare for the feet of weak brethren . " A curse lies upon him " who cause th a brother to offend ; " and
I ask , is there a man in this house who does not believe , that if this Declaration be passed , some will assent to it with the ilips , but not with the heart or with the , mind ? I beseech you to pause before you commit an act whivh must li cauee some to-fall . " * ' Lay uot the flattering unction to your souls , " that the siu will lie solely at the door of him
who shall make an insincere declaration . Every man who is concerned in passing it will be " a partaker in his sin . " I can readily conceive what a struggle of nature there may be in many a heart , where the best feelings of humanity will be dragging the unhappy victim different wap . If fee assent to a creed which he belimies not , he is for ever degraded in
1119 oww estimation ; he shudders in the presence of his God . But he is a hugr baud ami a father , and if he resolve to out on the high , unbending port of a martyr , and to utter that which will make a bigoted multitude expel him from hh congregation , what must be the conflict of his apirit ! Unqualified for any other profession , perhaps in the
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wane of life ^ t » dig unable , and to beg ashamed , ' * lie sees , in prospect , his comfortable Home made desolate , the partner of his bosom in tears , the children of his affection crying to him for that bread which he can no longer give ! I ask any person , that has in his bosom " a heart of flesh , " can he wonder if the most powerful feelings of nature should overcome the stern commands of
conscience ? Can it create surprise if the unhappy man should say , " I will not leave her desolate , whom in the fond fidelity of my heart I solemnly swore to protect ; I will not leave the pledges of our love without the sustenance of nature , without the means of education . No : I will make this hateful
Declaration ; I will cast myself upon the mercy of Him who knows the pangs of my heart ; I will wear my knees in secret prayer ; I will wet my pillow with tears Of penitence ; and if all be too little to procure pardon for my offence , I may die without hope , but not without the consolation that F have sacrificed myself for objects dearer to me than life !" Oh ! let m not call such a man a wretch , or a hypocrite ; he is a husband and a father ! Let us rather make the case
our own , arid not " cast a stumblingblock in his way . * ' Let us not send him into that place from which nothing but the voice of sincerity and troth snouffl ever be heard , with a heavy conscience and a falsehood upon his soul ! If we do , his blood may be required of the authors of his crime .
But it may be alleged , that I underrate the firmness and virtue of Qur ministers . Possibly I may . And what is the reward proposed for those that will maintain their integrity ? Why , you will kindly cast all the odium you can upon them in these fanatical times ; you will distract their congregations , turn
them adrift , if you can , and give them the charity of the world for their portion . But you will not have many thus to endow . Those may be courageous who are free from danger , and very upright , who have nothing to forfeit by their integrity . But I shall recall to your minds a passage in the history of a man with whom no individual here would
dare to put himself in competition . I allude to the virtuous and illustrious Cranmer , the father of the Reformation in England . In the awful reign of Mary his love of life prevailed over his integrity , and he was induced to sign a paper condemning the Reformation . Tins sacrifice , however , did not save him ; for , having degraded , they resolved to de-
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Jnt&fligenea > rr + Synod of Uhter . 777
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vol . I . 3 e
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1827, page 777, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1801/page/65/
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