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to the latter , he points out in a forcible manner , that it is by no means a matter of trivial importance , whether we guard the avenues of the heart , or indulge the early risings of vice , and hence he infers that persons should eradicate as quickly as possible , the first appearance of evil . — ' * Either /* says he , " we must conquer this , or it will get the mastery of us . If the weeds are not extracted from a
corn field , they will soon overpower and destroy the grain . He that yields to a small temptation , little suspects what mischief and ruin he brings upon himself : that ever y compliance strengthens the force of seduction , and diminishes
the native vigour of the mind ; that habit increases by indulgence , and a three-fold cord is not easily "broken ; that familiarity with sin utterly extinguishes the love of God , zeal iu his service , and delight in his ordinances ; and where
the love of God is extirpated , or devotion sinks into formality , the agency of his holy spirit is withdrawn , and a man is left to struggle t > y himself , amidst the tossing waves of appetite , and the dreadful
rocks of temptation—like a ship torn from her cable . Is it any wonder , that in such a case , we descend to actions the very name of which would formerly have petrified the soul with horror ?"
On the 5 th of November , in the same year , he preached a sermon , to the supporters of the Sun-Jay Evening Lecture at SalteiV Hall , * which was very soon after
* This lecture was carried on several years , by Mr . Worth ngton , in conjunction with the Rev . Dr Rees : and it was customary for the preachers on every alternate 5 th of November , to deliver a discourse on the subject of Popery , On
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published , under the tltie of " Christianity * an easy atvd liberal System ; that of Popery , ab- » surd and burdensome . " The . object of this discourse was intended to excite in Protestants a horror
of the principles of Popery , and it was certainly well calculated to answer the purpose . We be * lieve , however , and , indeed , are very sure , that the principles of the present race of Roman Catholics are very different from those which five-and-thirty years ago ,
the preacher confidently ascribed to them , adding in his animated language , which the writer of this perfectly remembers to have heard , * ' We must be strangely ignorant of Popery , if we do not know that religious persecution is essential to its nature . And could it once
get a footing in this kingdom again , you might read , by the light of Smithfieldjires ^ the truth of what I have asserted . "—We will venture to affirm that , had Mr . Worthington been called to a like office , in the latter years of his life , he would not have so treated the Catholics , nor have imputed to them , as he then did ,
the 5 th of November , 1 779 * I > r . Rees preached an excellent sermon , ** On the Obligation and Importance of searching the Scriptures , as a Preservative from Popery , " which was published , at the request of the Society
When Du Rees resigned his connection "with the lecture , the Rev . Thomas Morgan , and the Rev James ( now Dr . ) Lindsay , -were chosen to carry it on with Mr . Worthington . Mr Morgan , on the 5 th of November , I 799 » preached an interesting sermon , on
" The Predicted Stability and Permanence of Christianity , illustrated by historic testimony . * ' This admirable discourse , which is full of historical information , was published at the deiiie of the supporters of ths lecture .
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5 &i Memoir of the late Ret ) . Hugh WortMngtc ^ U
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1813, page 564, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2432/page/4/
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