Current:

Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 1813, Edition 1 of 1, Page 321, Untitled Article

Page 321
Page 37
37 of 72

On this page

  • Text (1)

      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.

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

  • 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

      defection . No Sir , if the object of the Sobtety be popular preachi ng ^ ' &nd the diffusion of geritiitte ,

      rational Christianity among the people - let them employ discreef , viftuous and well-informed rtien , vrhto have a true zeal ; though their studies atfe confined to the

      English language , a vfefy extensive field , and abounding in fell useftil knowledge . The Sotftety , as far as it has fot its tfbjefct the encouraging and

      support ! fc ^ f Unitarian congregations already formed , by presents of b&oks * pecuniary assistance , and tfecsisfkrtta ;! visiting and preaching aiming them , thereby opening a ctjtritttutiici&tibh &hd intercourse

      with them , and Coiinecting them with the Society in London , has my approbation , and in this I earnestly wish them success . But I

      am not prepared to say the same of Iheir sending missionaries to preach in market * , piaffes and carpejnt ^ ^ s' shops ; and sending bellitien With hand-bills about a town

      to Collect together people to hear them . This appears to have a temfcricy to stir tip dissension , and ev ^ ri to endanger the public peace , whJcb it is the magistrate ' s provmfee to preserve * If it be said in answer , that our Lord and his

      apdstfes publicly taught in highways and marketplaces , I answer fcbat they carried With them their credentials in the power of workfaig miracles , which moderti aposttes $ dd nof , I suppose , pretend to * t now proceed to ddnsider ,

      tis fcortneeted with this sort of prfca ^ hihgy thfct declared hostility tothfc ChbrCh 6 f England and all rtUtitonal establi ^ fen ^ ents , so appattrnt-iH All th ^ proceedings of the Socifcly ; tvbich I must condemn , as both dangerous and unwarrant-

      Untitled Article

      ed by reason or scripture * Into this error Dr . Priestley unliaippiiy fell , which was the principal cause of hi * sufferings . I revere the ttte * mory of Dr . Priestley , and have a

      high esteem for the greater part of his various , ingenious , and v&luable writings : but I blame him , inasmuch as I conceive , that had he steered clear of this point , he might , notwithstanding the freedom of his sentiments on other

      subjects , have remained in his country and among his friends to the day of his death unmolested . I hope his example will be ail ad <* monition to Unitarians to avoid

      any direct attack upon the national establishment , any further than is necessary in defending their own tenets , which are not con- * nee ted with any form of public worship or church government :

      and still more , to avoid declara- * tions against establishments in ge « neral , from which it may be inferred , that they do not desire the reformation , but the destruction of the church established . This

      must , in the opinion of a large portion of the community , rank them among the enemies of the state . The destruction of the es * tablishment would probably make

      way for the predominance of a domineering , fanatical sect , whose principles incline them to persecution , of which Unitarians would be the first victims . And let me

      & . sk , while every congregation of Dissenters is left at liberty U > choose their own faith and mode of worship , has not the legislature of the country an equal right to

      adopt that form of worship that appears to their combined wisdom to be the best adapted to the reii * gious and moral instruction of the people committed to their charge ?

      Untitled Article

      Objection fe the Unitarian Fund . 331

  • Citation
    • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1813, page 321, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2428/page/37/