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The proposal was seconded by a clamorotjs concurrence of voices . When ( after some time ) silence was restored , several respectable ministers expressed their wishes that the expediency of ^ so
singular a proceeding should be calmly discussed ; but no ! it had been before determined that the stamp of heresy , of infamy , should be affixed to the obnoxious advocates of civil and
religious liberty , and , in consequence , a noisome tumult drowned the reasonable suggestion . Moderation , candour and charity were here successless advocates . Mr . John Walrond then asked permission to read letters he had received
from Mr . William Long and Mr . Benjamin Robinson , of London , * on the subject of the spreading errors ; upon which Mr . Peirce proposed that
the representations which had caused the now produced letters , should first be laid before the assembly . This reasonable suggestion obtained no attention ; though , after-inquiries made it obvious that the statements sent
to London were most unfair and exaggerated , not a detail of facts , but a string : of eulogiums on the candour , forbearance and tenderness of the orthodox party , and of equally wellindited accusations against the heterodox . A number of silly stories were introduced respecting the " new
notions , " and the whole combined was admirably calculated fo alarm the timid , and to inflame the intolerant . The London letters were read , and it was immediately determined that all present should declare their faith . It was asked , " if the wordsof Scripture could be accepted as sufficiently orthodox ? " " No ! no ! " was the
immediate decision , they are not express enough for such an occasion as this . Mr . Joseph Ballett ( the senior minister ) then read his declaration , arid * The conduct of these London divines was scarcely less illiberal than that of their western co-adjutors . When Mr . Walrond ' s letter reached town , and had
been read at a meeting * of ministers , it was proposed , that before any proceeding-s were grounded on his statements , further inquiry should be made , and Mr . Peirce , in particular , lie written to : but this proposition was immediately negatived , they 4 < would not question Mr W . ' s veracity !" and they hurried off their anathema without delay .
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concluded by saying , that one of the great plagues of the church had been the composing , and then imposing creeds upon others in language of our own . He wished men would have more manners ancl more humility than to accuse the word of God of imperfection and obscurity , and more wisdom than to endeavour to mend it by their uncharitableness *
Various were the declarations made . Mr . Peirce openly avowed his belief in the inferiority of the Son . t Some refused to make any confessions of faith whatever ; and one said , " I deny , any authority that any man or body of men , or this assembly hath to demand my opinion . " However , the scribe recorded , as the general sense
of the nssembly , " lhat there is but one living and true God , and that the Father , Son and Holy Ghost are the true God . " During the discussions , the wildest extravagancies of ultraorthodoxy were defended , and one of the high party , when the absurdity of his creed was urged upon him , said , "I leave God to reconcile his own
contradictions /' The friends of free inquiry exerted themselves as far as they were able in behalf of truth and charity . Mr . Matthew Huddy preached a sermon t
to the assembly , earnestly contending for the right of private judgment , recommending the use of reason in matters of religion , and condemning the spirit of intolerance which had been exerted so banefully and so
exten-* Tins language is borrowed from the Preface to Part II . of Baxter ' s Saint ' s Rest ; and I may be excused , I hope , in introducing * a passage from the same author—Preface to Church- History : " If you
know not what to call me , I will tell you . I am a Christian , a mere Christian , of no other religion ; and the church that I am of is the Christian church . But you must know of what sect or party I am ? I am against all sects and dividing * parties .
* . * * * = *• * u I , and such as I , call ourselves mere Christians , or Catholic Christians against all sects and sectarian names , and haters both of true heresy and schism , and proud , unrighteous hereticating- and analhematrzing ' . "
-f It was a subject of after-regret to Mr . P . that he bad not manfully resisted the usurping- pretensions of the assembly to question him concerning- his faith . 1 September 9 . 1718 .
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582 Trinitarian Controversy at Exeter ' .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1817, page 582, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2469/page/10/
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