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In this work he ably supports the following propositions : — " 1 . Every man pretending to religion , and having rational powers , is bound to inquire into its principal doctrines and rules . —2 . It is impossible , from men ' s different talents , opportunities and influences , that all men should think alike . —
3 , It is the undoubted right of Christians , not only to think for themselves ( which they cannot help ) j but also to believe , profess and practise , according to their own convictions . —4 , Christians , notwithstanding the variety of their opinions , are bound to avoid animosities , and to maintain unity and peace . — 5 . The only passible way of doing this is by charity and mutual forbearance / ' This
piece is not mentioned by Mr . Worthington ; and the only copy of it which I have met with is in Sands' library , No . 6929 . The whole of it is well worthy of
perusal ; but particularly from the 18 th to the 26 th page , where theimpos - sibility of believing without ideas is clearly proved . ( M . R . 155—159 . ) But the work by which he is best and
mo ^ t usefully known to practical Christians of all denominations , is his Christian Oratory ; by which title is not meant , as it has often
been understood to do , the art of illustrating and publicly enforcing the principles , duties , and hopes of the gospel : but it is grounded
upon a custom in our Saviour ' s time , as is shewn by Mede , Pri - deaux , and others , of building
TTQosevxotij or oratories , in remote and desert places , to which the sh < pherds , and other solitary persons , might retire , far private piayer and meditation . This book , therefore , is intended as a Companion and Directory to
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the Christian in his Oratory •" and accordingly consists of devo ut meditations on various subjects prayers , &c- for tlxe use of pious persons in their hours of retire . ment . It has passed through many editions ; and is , upon the whole , a very excellent and useful
book ; though it is sometimes tedious , and some fanciful subjects are occasionally treated of in it . About the year 1720 a considerable number of Mr . Bennett ' s prin . cipal hearers purchased a large field within the walls , which had
formerly belonged to the convent of the White Friars ; and , havino laid out a plot of grcmnd in the middle for the scite of a new chapel , they presented it to the congregation , intending to build round it a square of houses far tbeir several places of residence , to
be called , in testimony of their attachment to the reigning family , and the principles of the Re volution , Hanover-Square . The new chapel wasbuilt by voluntary subscription ; and a commencement was made
of dwelling-houses upon the plan originally proposed : Mr . Bennett himself built that which now be * longs to Mr , Anderson ; and Mr < Bernardeau ( a French Refugee ) that which was lately purchased by Mr . Sanderson . But a part of the property requisite to comp lete the scheme having got into the
hands of persons who chose to apply their shares to purposes entirely different , the design was 110 further proceeded in ; and the nair . » i remains , though the S quarcMvhich it was intended to deiion » maH :
had never any existence . And ^ liable to disappointment are all the purposes of man , that tl ^ very day before the new chap ^ was to have been opened ; th ^
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5 i ( S History of the Hanover Square Congregation , Newcastle .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1811, page 516, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2420/page/4/
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