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sheltering it from public notice and consequent danger , by dwelling-houses fronting the street : they removed thither in the year 1701 ; antl it has been occupied ever since by a congregation , to say the least of it , as respectable for the number , character , rank , ami opulence
of its members , as any one in the city of London . Of its ministers I shall only mention Mr , Simon Brown , whose singular case is well known , and Dr . Samuel Chandler , one of the most learned men of the period in which he lived , whose services in the cause of Christianity and of Christian liberty commanded great attention and respect , and can never be forgotten .
At length it became necessary , on account of occurrences , unsought for and unavoidable , and well known to those who hear me , to relinquish that situation , much as it was wished to retain it , and notwithstanding renewed eu ° orts for this purpose ; and to seek for another , in which we might erect an edifice , under the direction of a skilful architect , without fear of further dispossession .
It greatly redounds to the honour of the present congregation , and it will be recorded in future times with gratitude and respect , that it did not shrink from the expence which must unavoidably attend a removal . Wishing to continue united , and determined to subsist , and under the favour of Providence to
subsist with reputation , even in a period of lamented indifference and declension , they have , by an exercise of laudable liberality , prepared for the charges which must attend their removal to this place— -a place , all circuinstances considered , not much less central and convenient than that which they have been
under a necessity of abandoning . 1 trust they will never have occasion to repent of the resolution they have adopted . At all events they deserve and they will rect . ' ve the plaudits of their contemporaries and of posterity ; and they will have the satisfaction in their own minds of having made a
generous and laudable effort for presei v ng and perpetuating the cause of truth , religion , and liberty , to which they are zealously devoted . They have the encouragement to think , that this cause , chough some may debert it , and however languid others may he in the support of it , can never fail . It is under the protection of the God of nature and Providence : it i * subservient to the honour of the Redeemer of mankind , and to the
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influence of the gospel of our salvation s it is connected with the best interests of mankind , personal and social , temporal and eternal ^ and we are assured by the word of divine truth , that the gates of Hades or the unseen state shall not provail against it .
The history of our congregation , and of other similar societies , presents to our recollection and view ^ a number of revolutions and changes . " Our fathers , where are they ? and the prophets , do they Jive for ever ?'* Individuals however , may rest from their labours , and their works shall accompany them , int
grateful remembrance blended with great humility and diffidence , to a period of retribution ; nor then I am persuaded , will this gopd work be forgotten . In the mean while , Providence will raise in this place , and in other places of a similar kind , a succession of those , who will retain and avouch their principles ; and by their example and influence
contribute tQ disseminate and extend them , and to renderthem permanent and illustrious . When the building that is now about to be erected , and which we are assured , will last during the age 6 n which we have entered , yields to decay ; another I am confident , will not be wanting ta answer the important and useful purpose to which this is devoted .
Having taken a retrospect of times that were unfavourable to the principles which we conscientiously maintain and profess , we oughjt to reflect with gratitude that we live in a happiejr periodj :
under a government , that protects our religion and liberty , and that guards our persons and property , in the exercise of our religious profession , from the assaults and depredations of misguided zeal and unrestrained violence .
We live at a period , when the spirit of the times , and when the general illumination that prevails ; and when a strict regard to the respective rights of those who live together in society , however they may differ iu their articles of faith and modes of worship , will not urge to acts of wanton violence , as was the case in
former times when a different , spirit was predominant ; when they will not permit such deeds , as history records to be perpetrated ; when they will inflict due
chastisement on those who would incut the ignomy and guilt of being congerived in them ; and when they will , induce persons , who adapt different sentimen ^ and different modes of expressing them , to live together in peace and love .
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62 O Intelligence * —Dr .- Recs ' s Jldebes * .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1808, page 620, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2398/page/44/
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