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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.
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Q - tm / . " Certainly , I do think you little better than Deists /' jlfrs . K * Ci This is indeed strange ; ' tis passing strange , that
! a nian of such universal reading ' and research , has not thought it atlljyt expedient to look into the cause of dissent of a society so Ion ** established 5 and so conspicuously singular !"
Dr . / . Not I , indeed I I have not read your Barclay ' s Apology ; and for this plain reason—I never thought it worth tny while . You ! are upstart sectaries , perhaps the bestsubduedby a silent contempt /' Mrs . K . u This reminds me
of the language of the rabbis of old , when their hierarchy was alarmed by the increas * I ing influence , force and simplicity I of dawning truth , in their high day of worldly dominion . We meekly trust our principles stand
on the same solid foundation of simple truth ; and we invite the acutest investigation . The reason tbougivest for not having read Barclay ' s Apology , is surely a very improper one for a man whom the
world looks up to as a moral phi-Josopher of the first rank ; a teacher , from whom they think theyhavea nght to expect much information . Tothis expecting inquiring world ; how can Dr . Johnson acquit himsel f , for remaining unacquainted W ] th a book translated into five or
S 1 X different languages , and which has been admitted into the libra . ries of almost every court and diversity in Christendom !»
{ Here the Doctor grew very Wgry , still more so at the space of r the gentlemen allowed his ana gonist wherein to make her de-M ° > ^ ^ ^ * mP&ti ence excited ^ . Boswell himself in a whisper
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to say ^ a I never saw this mighty lion so chafed before ! " ) The Doctor again repeated , that he did not think the Quakers deserved the name of Christians .
Mrs . K . Give me leave then to endeavour to convince thee of thy error , which I will do bj * making before thee ,, and this re * spectable company , a confession of our faith Creeds or confessions
of faith are admitted by all to be the standard whereby we judge of every denomination of professors /' ( To this every one present agreed , and even the Doctor grumbled out his assent . )
Mrs . K . '' Well then , I take upon me to declare , that the pco . pie called Quakers do veril y believe in the Holy Scriptures , and rejoice with the most full and
reverential acceptance of the divine history of facts as recorded in the New Testament . That we , con - sequently , fully believe those historical articles summed up in what is called the Apostles * Creed ,
with these two exceptions only , to wit , our Saviour ' s descent into hell , and the resurrection of the body . These mysteries we humbly leave just as they stand in the
holy text ; there being , from that ground , no authority for such assertion as is drawn up in , the creed ! And now , Doctor , canst thou still deny to us the honourable title of Christians 1 "
Dr . J . " Well !—I must own I did not at all suppose you had so much to say for yourselves . However , I cannot forgive that little sljjt , for presuming to take upon heirselfas she has done . "
Mrs . K . I hope , Doctor , thou wilt not remain unforgiving ; and that you will renew your friend-
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Dr . Johnson ' s Dispute with Mrs . Knowles . 523
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1811, page 523, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2420/page/11/
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