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ings of that body , on the Trinity rian controversy ; and the question was put , " Whether the Assembly shall recommend any can . didate to ordination , who will not declare his faith in the deity o 1 the Son and the Holy Ghost ?" Mr * Kiddel gave his decided
negative against putting the question ** A frank and open opposition to sacerdotal usurpation and power , formed a distinguishing trait in his character . " I am a dissenter , " said he ; u I glory in the nathe ; an d , as such , am attached - to no interest "besides that of virtue and
my redeemer ; and , therefore , shall ne-- ver think myself bound to support , right or wrong , the reputation of -whole bo-• dies of men . I can value a good man wherever I see him : ' I can embrace , truth wherever I find it ; but , by the grace of God , I will never lift a finger to the support of a sacerdotal , faction , nor be fettered with the claims of an
ecclesiastical tyranny . "f In the sariie discburse in which he delivered these sentiments , he displayed his liberality of spirit in the solicitude he expressed , that all men might bifc led to make a
just estirtmte of the true dignity of the ministerial character , which , in his judgment , depended wholly on a careful and diligent examination of the divine records , and a faithful representation of the genuine truths of the sacred
oracles . J u is , " said he , " the universal concern of Christians , of the laity as well a $ of the clergy , to . be well acquainted with the dignity an < JL design of the
ministerial character , with the duties and obligations belonging to it , and with the authority an < J powers annexed to it * because , though this office when rightly discharged has the mo § t friendly influence upon the virtue and happiness of
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mankind , and becomes most extensively useful ; : yet , if abused , it cannot but be attended with the most malignant consequences . It is , therefore , the business of all men to keep tlie strictest eye upon the public teachers of religion ; lest , while by an affected humility they caft themselves the servants- o £ God , of virtue , and of mankind , they exalt themselves above all that is called God , vilify religion , and enslave the world . "j |
These quotations place his conduct and aims , as a Christian minister , in a very respectable point of view . In that character he united great learning , a sound
judgment , a firm integrity , and rational piety . His undisguised , manly , and pplte address , com * manded respect in the inteiXQurses of life . His openness of temper , cordiality and warmth of manner , attached his friends to him . He
secured , by his relative and domestic virtues , oo small share of love and respect ; life passed his life very much in tli < r < fcoii [ fined circle of a country tpiyn , ' and in the retirements <> f his sMdy-and a school : but he wns held in high
estimation beyoiidl . those 'Hants , and amopg his fri ^ nds ^ AVerd to bfe enumerate : d the Rev . Micajak Towgood , of :, Exeter ; TMattlievv Towgood , Esq . his sou ; Dr . Harris ^ the historian ; Dr . Joseph
Jeffries , professotof civil la \ y iat Gresham College ; and others whose partial regards would reflect honour on any man ;
Mr . Kiddt * ) published ase ^ mon cc Qn the Dignity of the Ministerial Character , preached before the Assembly a t Exon , May 6 , 1747 , " from the Preface to which , we have selected some passages
* M onthly Repository , vol . iv . p . as 3-+ Preface to a Sermon before an Assembly of Ministers , p . ui i Sec his Tract on the Inspiration of the Scriptures , p . 71 % I The Preface before quoted , p .
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Memoir of the Rev . John Kidddl * 275
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1810, page 275, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2405/page/3/
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