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    giiilt $% are partly chargeable on the manner of the age : even his rude contemporaries appear to have been sensible that violence often defeated its

    own purpose ; for when the contending parlies were really desirous of accommodating their differences , they were careful to intrust their respective claims to men eminent for mildness and

    moderation . Although a Dissenter , both from education and principle , I would far rather than commit the defence of our dodtrines to any fiery zealot , see them maintained by men of equal

    liberality with an anonymous writer , who after paying a just tribute of respect to some eminent prelates of the Church of England , thus concludes his observations : " Were it consistent with the

    plan of Divine Providence , that men o # such character and station should be made to see the expediency , and undertake the work of widening the foundation of the National Church ,

    and removing the obvious nuisances that encumber it , how many well-intentioned and enlightened men would join in the devout wish , ' Esto Per-PKTUA ! ' " *

    In what I have here advanced , I trust I shall be supported by the Reviewer of an Inquirer ' s Four Letters to Mr . Fox , who , while he admits that controversy cannot be excluded from the pulpit , asserts , that where his Unitarian brethren " feel bound by conscience to maintain a truth , or

    oppose an error , they endeavour to contend lawfully , and to preserve in every argument and remonstrance the spirit of peace and charity . " Your Norwich Correspondent appears to be * ' otherwise minded ; " and if he is not

    left to " dear his own judgment , " we must infer that the same things are not accounted charitable in the pulpit and out of it . Before I conclude , allow me to make a few pacific observations on a

    subject which too many of your Correspondents are apt to regard as a cry of battle . I mean the corruptions of Christianity . If Christian ministers , of all denominations , could be per-8 ua < led to imitate the conduct of the excellent Dr . Lardner , who is said never to have meddled in his discourses

    * See a Layman ' s Second Letter to Dr . Goddard .

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    u with any of the disputable points that divide and alienate Protestants , and to have treated even Popery itself in such a manner as shewed him to be indeed an imitator of the meekness and gentleness of Christ , " * it is evident that the fire of contention must

    soon go out for want of , fuel . Old things would then pass away and be forgotten , and opportunities arise for unfolding , to an unprejudiced generation , simpler and purer views of Christianity ; views founded on its practical influence . Do you call this an Utopian idea ? I trust it is not . While we are

    continually crying , " I am of Paul and I of Apollos , " how can Christ be our Master ? And what is the effect of

    controversy , but to increase the irritation and strengthen the prejudices of the contending parties ? Would it not be most worthy of those who profess themselves rational Christians , to

    set the example of forgetting the errors and animosities of the dark night of apostacy , and while they " avoid foolish questions , " be content to prove that " " thev have believed in God . " " bv that they have believed in God by

    , their carefulness " to maintain good works" ? Then , though there might still be many members , they would feel that they constituted only one body , and the eye would no longer say to the hand , cx I have no need of thee . "

    But even were this bond of union perfected among Christians , I apprehend , they would still feel the necessity of preventing the Infidel from " doing his tcorst . " In Christian countries , moral and social obligation is founded on the implied admission of Christian

    principles - > Mr . Belsham , in the Number of your Repository for June , even contends that the civil power should interpose to encourage the promulgation of these principles ; but nt the same time he asserts that " nothing

    can promote the cause of Infidelity so much as visiting the impugners , or even the blasphemers of the Christian religion , with the penalties of law . " In this paradoxical statement he perceives not " the shadow of

    contradiction" I Surely we have fallen on evil tunes , when " the wisdom of wise men shall perish , and the understanding of prudent men shall be hid "! Dr .

    * Kippis ' s Life of Lardner , p . xliii .

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    6 &O On the Controversy relating to the Punishment of Unbelievers .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1820, page 660, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2494/page/32/