On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
? orn £ d my attention , which I did very early in life , to the examination and consideration of the arti - cles of the church , I found them
to contain astonishing and incredible doctrines , and that these floctrines were carefully interwoven into its liturgy , so as to form a test not only for the
clergy , but the laity also , who cannot constantly or habitually attend the public worship without assenting to them , or joining in the most solemn addresses to the
divinity , in expressions which they Utterly disapprove and condemn * As soon , therefore ^ as I had made this inquiry , and compared these doctrines with , the Scriptures , from which they were said to detive their authority , though at first with much diffidence and
distrust of myself , I began to dis « tent from the church of England , and to separate myself from
assemblies in which I thought I could not join without sin . Further study and inquisition into th-e foundation of these doctrines
confirmed me more and more in my dissent : I became and have now -continued for above thirty years a confirmed and declared Unitarian . But with regard to the maxim
before laid down , and which seems to be considered by most of your correspondents as an axiom not to be disputed ; I find , that if I am not a ichurchman , I am , nevertheless , Bo dissenter ; and thus being an outcast of both these great bodies , I am at a loss what name to as $ ume : for however opposite my sentiments may be and are to the Trinitarian and Calvinistic creed
of the churchy I have no objection to its government by ministers of different ranks , because I think all societies are best governed by
Untitled Article
a- subordination of ranks * * t * & such parts of the existing establish . * ment as tend not to-promote , but to corrupt true religion , I profess myself an enemy ; but T am u friend to establishments when
judiciously formed , with an honest design to promote decency , order and peace . And my earnest drsire is to see the established church
reformed , but not destroyed . I would have every man left a , t liberty to profess what religion he thinks true , and to have the free liberty to believe and worship God in the manner he thinks best ; and
his profession of any system should not be any legal bar to his promotion to any office in the state * , civil or military . But I , notwithstanding , think , that an established and endowed church , an esta
blished liturgy , and a government by archbishops , bishops and parochial ministers ,, are most desira - ble and expedient . This public leading in religion I hold to be most wholesome and conducive to
the good both of the community and the Christian religion ; but requiring subscription to articles of religion seems to be unjust and pernicious ; and all that ought to be required of ministers is a pro * , mise of conformity to the rites ami
forms of the church while they continue to perform its offices and to receive its emoluments . And the liturgy ought to be composed in such a manner , as not to give offence to any sincere Christians ^ by avoiding all allusion to dis- >
puted dogmas ; and to be founded on those principles only in which Christians of every age and nation have agreed ;—the divine mission and authority of our' blessed saviour , the forgiveness of sins upon true repentance and amendment ^
Untitled Article
S 44 * Atgumcnts in Fdvour of a Nationat Church *
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1810, page 344, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2406/page/24/
-