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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 1817, Edition 1 of 1, Page 387, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      Two Letters from Mr . Emlyn to Mr . William Manning . 387

      Untitled Article

      Second was distinguished by the prosecution of an unbeliever of the name of Woolston , for having written a book against the miracles of Jesus . Of all the books which have been written against Christianity , this is the most

      futile , the most utterly devoid of any reasoning , which can impose for a moment even on the weakest understanding . It is therefore a great pity that , by his prosecution and imprisonment , an opportunity was afforded to unbelievers to say , that they have stronger arguments than any that are published , but that they dare not print them for

      fear of being prosecuted . Such an assertion must indeed appear , a « it really is , very absurd , when we consider that such men as Hume and Gibbon have written against Christianity without being molested > but it is a pity that any pretence should have been given for such an assertion ,

      by the prosecution of any unbelievers . The words of Dr . JLardner , the most able and learned defender of the truth of Christianity that has ever appeared , in his answer to Mr . Woolston , are very deserving of consideration : — " If men should be permitted among us to go on delivering their sentiments freely in matters of religion , and to propose their objections to Christianity itself ,

      I apprehend we have no reason to be in pain for the event . On the side of Christianity I expect , to see , as hitherto , the greatest share of learning , good sense and fairness of disputation , which things , I hope , will be superior to low ridicule , false argument and misrepresentation . And suppose the contest should last for some time , its effect will be that we shall all better understand our Bibles . Possibly some errors

      may be mixed with our faith , which by this means may be separated , and our faith become more pure . Being more confirmed in the truth of our religion , we shall be more perfect in the duties of it . Instead of being unthinking and i i —¦¦¦ !¦ ¦¦ ¦

      Untitled Article

      Two Letters from Mr . Emlyn to Mr . William Manning . ( Communicated by Mr John Taylor , of Norwich . )

      Sir , May 2 O , 181 7-IN consequence of the inquiry concerning the Rev . William Manning ,

      Untitled Article

      nominal , we shall become more'generally serious and real Christians . Each of which advantages will be a large step towards a complete and final victory . " These arguments of Dr . \ . ardner fully prove , that it is a great

      disadvantage to Christianity for any one , either of any Christian sect or of the opposers of Christianity , to be either prevented from publishing his opinions , or punished for doing so , nnd that the fullest and freest discussion possible must be most favourable to the real truths of the gospel . In the year 1736 , an ineffectual attempt was made in Parliament for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts . The minister , ^ ir Robert Walnole , not

      wish-M . ing- this attempt to be repeated , sent for some of the principal of the London ministers , and in order to induce them not to renew their application to Parliament , promised them an annual grant of 2000 pounds , which they might distribute as they pleased among

      their brethren . I his grant has been continued ever since , under the title of the Regium Donum . It is given to such of the London ministers as the government choose , and they distribute it according to their own pleasure . A great number , however , of the Dissenters decline receiving any thingfrom

      it , considering : t , as it certainly is , an abandonment of their principles to receive such a bribe . Very few , i believe , of the Unitarians have disgraced themselves by accepting it- In Ireland this Regium Donum is much greater than in England , and has had a great effect in keeping up the Presbyterian

      form of church government , and in suppressing free religious inquiry among the Dissenters in that country , where even yet , a zealous Unitarian minister would probably be disowned by every Presbytery in the island , and consequently be excluded from all the chapels which at present exist there . i

      Untitled Article

      in the Mon . Repos . for December , [ XL 725 , ] I applied to my worth y and venerable friend , William Manning , Esq . of Ormsby , in this county ,

      for information concerning his greatgrandfather , the friend of Emlyn ; and through his kindness , I am enabled to

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  • Citation
    • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1817, page 387, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2466/page/11/