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Under this view &f thte case there * i& but one way of proving trie ^ er ^ s ^ ii--tion , and that is by shewing , that opinions even when declared are not objects of legislative or judicial interference , but action ^ only .
I can perceive , thoiigh your Correspondent cannot , a clear distinctibn between reprobating an opinion and persecuting the person that holds it , Hylas will pardon me for saying that
I look upon his scheme of right , with sentiments very remote from complacency ; but I hope he will believe me when I affirm , which I do with equal sincerity , that I respect his understanding , and that I have no doubt that if I knew him I should esteem his
character . Infidelity has as few attractions t 6 me as to him ; and yet I know Unbelievers whose conduct in social life wins my warm approbation , and whom , even while 1 sometimes endeavour to expose the evil of their opinions , I cannot but regard as friends .
With your Reviewer , I agree fully that the conduct of prophets in the exercise of a miraculous prophetic cormnissidn cannot be safely drawn into precedent by common men . The
magistrate ' s authority is from man and not from God , or only from God as . the source of all good , the source , for example , of those feelings that lead the patriot to resist the magistrate
when he trespasses on the natural right 3 of mankind . If he asserts divine authority , let him prove it by the only sanction of the revealed todll of God , except reason , that is miracles . But if he claims his power from human ordinances and agreements , tacit or express , it is evident that he cannot rightfully use it for any purpose that
is riot consistent with the powers , the ^ Cvarits and the interests of mankind : that is to say , he cannot rightfully use it for the suppression of opinions , because he is not infallible , and infallibility , though not necessary to distinguish bet weed vice a'hd virtue , is neto
ce ^ siry distinguish authoritatively betvveeh truth and error ; because opiriltina eatahot be put down by force , iinless tKfe holders of thern be actually Exterminated , arid an utisttcc ^ ssM attempt to crtish dpiniions gives ih ^ rtt grfeatef buoytthcjf and iiotorffcty !; afcd because , dn every principle of refefeOh
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atid religfor * , it must foe concluded tftat the result of inquiry aftd discussion will be the' Anal establishment < rf tfruth , v ^ hicli it is for every " man ' s mterfest to obtain , arid the general acquisition of which will be a blessing to society .
In short , I am persuaded equally that f £ ie prosecution of Unbelievers stopping shortr as it . does of capital punishments , promotes infidelity , and that the Christians whcr defend such prosecutions forgfet the apostolic rule , that in meekness Vve should instruct
those that oppose themselves , and symbolize rather with the disciples who would have punished the scornful Samaritans , than with the great Master who rebuked their zeal , while he extenuated their fault on the ground of of their not knowing what manner of spirit they were of . AMICUS .
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290 Protester * t dgaztiM RtBgidft * Frosectittom .
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Sir , OB SERVE with pain a disposition I in some writers to charge such as protest against the employment of pains and penalties to silence Unbelievers , with an indifference to the
Christian religion . This is most unfair , since the protesters found their disapprobation upon the moral precepts of the New Testament , which , as they conceive , forbid the returning of evil for evil , at least m the Church and in all that relates to godliness , and since also they endeavour , however
unsuccessfully , to shew that vindictive proceedings against revilers do harm , instead of good , to Christianity , by exciting enmity towards it in them that are punished , and by countenancing a suspicion in very many spectators that force is resorted to for want of
reason . They further point to the fact , that bringing Unbelievers into Courts of Justice serves as an advertisement of their unbelief , and causes infidel arguments and scoffs to be
inserted in newspapers arid other popular publication and thus brought in the way of" thousands , whose minds would never , but for this imprudent measure , have been unsettled by doubts
or contaminated by impure associations of ideas . The question must be set at rest by argument and hot by authority : but Whilfe the opposers of religipu 3 prose-
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1820, page 290, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2488/page/34/
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