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whether the measures which they propose are likely to be successful . 1 hat vice and disorder prevail in an alarming degree , and much consequent distress and misery , all must admit ; and , I trust , that ihere is no person who will
imi t you tins evening , more desirous than I am fo check , and , it possible , to suppress those evils . But I would prefer preventive to corrective remedies . For this purpose 1 should be happy to see sock lies forme' ) , who should cnga ^ e with each oiher , and with
the world at large , * to walk each i >< fore his house with a perfect heart , to train up his children , and also to instruct his other donusrics , in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord ; with regard to the latter more particularly , to sutler rionu that woiketh deceit to dwell Within his house , but to encourage with his countenance the righteous of the land ; and to endeavour to lead all the members
of his family to become so , by \ vise instructions and a good example , by encouraging a regard to religious duties , both public and Djivatc ' and hv . aivin * r ihr > m and privateand b iving them
, y g no opportunity of observing any deficiency in , or any thing improper or revoltingin the discharge ol , the jcli « Mous exercises
conducted by himself as the head of a fitmily : '—with regard to others , 4 choose for his intimate associates those onl y who are observant ofihe precepts * and rules of the
Gospel , ' and to discountenance , by declining the intimate society of all persons who * 'glaringly violate them : ' that the continuance
ol such violations may be prevented in future , 4 to contribute , each man according to his ability and opportunity , to encourage and promote the religious education of
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the children of those , particular ly , who from their circumstances cannot easily procure it for their offspring , and to diffuse the
knowledge of the Hol y Scriptures among all classes of his fellow , men . ' With these views , his cordial co-operation in such truly Christian and patriotic schemes as the Improved British System of Education , the British and Fo
reign Bible Society , and the se , veral Religious Tract Societies , the Society for the Relief of the Friendless Poor , or the Benevolent Association for the same pur . pose * , ( in both of which it is the
practice to accompany relief with reli gious and moral instruction ) , or if an association was formed for the protection , instruction , and ultimate restoration to society , of the unfortunate victims of lawless
pleasure , —in any or all of these , his exertions would be strictly in the character of one sincerely concerned for the temporal and eternal welfare of his brethren of mankind .
" But when he proceeds to force men to be religious , he attempts that which is beyond his power . Religion is a personal , and must be a voluntary thing , and cannot be promoted by pains and
penalties , Jf a man is prevented from swearing by the fear of a fine , is he on that account the less profane ; or is the drunkard cured of his intemperance , or of any thing but the exposure of it , by the threat of the stocks ? The utmost
that is accomplished in this way , is the prevention of the disgust excited in the minds of sober Christians , and the effect of their disgrace ks a warning to the young , and these , it is acknowledged , are * Charitable institutions in the town referred to .
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4 2 2 On Societies for the Suppression of Vice .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1811, page 412, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2418/page/28/
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