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    priety to your work . It was , therefore , my wish and intention to drop the subject for the present , to finish the remarks at my leisure , and , in my own time and way , to submit them to the public . It is natural , Sir , that you should wish to begin the new year with new subjects , and that your Correspondents should look for them . At the same time , as the case now stands , I am

    obliged to leave off in the midst of my argument , or rather at the precise point , where , I conceive , its principal strength lies . The communication now in your hands , with what I proposed still to add , went to shew , that Mr . Robinson ' translations , with the

    exception of typographical errors , * is , in the main , right , and as " to recriminate is just / ' that Mr . Belsham ' grammatically and essentially wrong ; and that several other matters ,

    advanced by that gentleman , relating to Tertullian , both in your Repository and his own publication , is incorrect , either directly or by implication . It was , further , intended to examine Mr . Belsham ' Greek translations , and quotations from Dr . Wall , by the language of the New Testament , and of the

    first Greek Fathers . I have already alluded to these matters , and gone over the ground in my own mind , and by a course of honest inquiry . Now , Sir , it would not be agreeable to my feelings to leave Mr . Robinson under misconceptions and misrepresentations , and I should reckon it dishonourable

    to have made insinuations which I cannot substantiate . Something , therefore , is still left for future discussion . But , perhaps , Sir , it was kind in some of your Correspondents , for the

    present , to put the check-string on my aberrations : and certain of my friends , wish they had done it sooner , for they knew I was seriously engaged , and had brought myself into great responsibility . As the matter now stands , I

    * That the errata and omissions in Mr . Robinson ' s quotations from Tertullian are merely typographical , his translation proves ; Mr . Bejsham ' s translation is itself wrong , as is all that he says , or

    would imply , with respect to Tertullian , as well in reference to the subject and mode of baptism , as to the time and place . It is not historically true , according to truly primitive faith and practice .

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    shall dismiss the subject from my thoughts , and not resume it till I havfe finished my proper business . I beg leave to add , that my observations on Mr . Robinson ' History will extend no further than Tertullian is concerned ^ for there the charge was brought ; and that an examination of Mr . Belsham s

    Greek authorities , though arising out of the subject , will be a work of supererogation . These , with a few previous questions , are the points , ( and I shall keep to them , ) which I propose to consider somewhat at large , and critically , as leisiVre and opportunity are offered , which cannot be till my present engagements are fulfilled . Personal religion ( that is , what arises from real feeling and conscientious conviction , producing a corresponding practice ) is not subject to man s estimate ; it is as little within

    his reach , as it ought to be beyond his coritroul , and , whether a man concientiously believes , in * what concerns a ceremony , that it may be practised with a few drops of water , or should be practised with much water ; and whether he holds it should be administered

    to babes , or only on adults , or , if he conscientiously sets all water , and all ceremonies aside - y in either case a truly conscientious man is equally religious . But points , as they are made the matter of theological controversy , like other literary subjects , may be

    properl y estimated , and brought under the laws of criticism . On these principles no opposition could have been intended , nor can hereafter be , against personal religion , and in any course of future inquiry that I may enter on , I may , perhaps , think it my duty to move as independent of Mr . Robinson as Mr . Belsham .

    In the mean time , I re-affirm , that Mr . B . has himself mistranslated and misrepresented Tertullian , as my papers suppressed would have more fully shewn . I wish certain of your readers

    to be informed , that the remarks contained in them , together with the preceding Letters , I propose to submit to their consideration , in a more public and correct form , when I am at leisure , which , however , is not likely to be for a considerable time to come .

    G . D . P . S . As , I perceive , your Correspondent pays great deference to the authorities of Dr . Wall and Dr . Priest-

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    20 G . D ? s parting' Letter on his late Letters on Baptism .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1820, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2484/page/20/