On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
those who build the fabric of their grandeur on the ruins of human happiness , and to depress , impoverish and humble the people . "—P . 69 . Our truly Christian writer denounces with marked abhorrence the trafficking
with the cure of souls for the purposes of political , i . e . moral corruption . His indignation is the more strongly provoked as he holds the pure parish priest in high respect . He points out instances of ambitious noblemen buying boroughs , and sending their
myrmidons to parliament , and of ministers paying the expense of the purchase , b y conferring the highest ecclesiastical dignities , with stipends of many thou * sands a-year , on the younger brothers , the cousins , the tutors or the agents of these patrician boroughmongers ; and then naturally exclaims ,
But what is this cur a animarum , this office of watching over the spiritual state of populous districts ? Is it not , on the hypothesis that the Christian religion is true , the most important office
that can be undertaken by inan on this side the grave ? Is not the power of appointing to that office a trust most sacred , if there be any tbing sacred here below ? What is sacrilege ? The
stealing of a cushion or silver chalice from a church ? And , is it no sacrilege to steal the church itself , and aU its emoluments , designed to prevent the increase of corruption , in order to reward and to promote corruption ? Is the cura animarum to be the last consideration in the patron ' s
mind , though the first in the eye of reason and religion ? And is all this injustice , sacrilege , impiety and blasphemy to be endured , because the gift of the stipend , the endowment , the tithes , the fees , b . uy an elector , who swears ^ at the time of giving liis vote , that he has not received
n bribe ? Is it to be wondered , if under tfuch abuses , religion should be on the decline ? Po the writings of infidels , or the veual practices of patrons contribute inost to extermipate Christianity ? What
has a similar system in France effected , carried indeed to still greater lepgths , but still similar ? The greedy rapacious ^ - ness of court sycophants in England is 4 oing the work of Antichrist , and destroying civil liberty . "—P . 74 .
The author is a decided reformer in ehurch and state , but he is not wild nor violent . He enters his protest against the doctrine of universal suffrage . He condemns the feeling of revenge by which reformation has been sometimes tarnished : and he solemnly
Untitled Article
warns reformers against the remotest idea of blood-shedding . t € Wisdom is gentle , deliberate , cautious . Nothing violent is durable . I hope the lovers of liberty will shew the sincerity of theitf attachment by the
wisdom of their conduct . Tumultuary proceedings always exhibit some appearance of insanity . A blow struck with blind violence may inflict a wound or a bruise % but it may fall in the wrong place ; it may even injure the hand that gives it , hy its own Undirected force . "—P . 84 .
With philosophic confidence m the power of truth and justice , with pious devotion to the Divine Providence ,, anil with Christian satisfaction in the promises of the New Testament , he pre ^
diets that all will in the end be right with communities , whatever be the fete of the present advocates of the great interests of Humanity ; and , in the mean time , he gives this salutary advice :
" Rut let the reformation be gen-tie , though firm ; wise , though bold ; lenient , to persons erring , though severe against error . Let her not alarm the friend of libert y by sudden violence , but invite all to the cause of truth and justice , by shewing that site is herself guarded , not only by truth and justice , but by mercy .
Let us shew ourselves , in seeking political reformation , what we profess to be , a nation of Christians , if not philosophers ; and let not a groan be heard araid the acclamations of triumphant liberty , nor one drop of Mood sadden tfre glorious victory of philosophy and Christianity over pride . "—P . 85 .
These extracts will shew the reader the value of this publication ; in taking leave of which we cannot refrain from saying , that we think the public are indebted to the present editor for bringing it into light , and for compressing a volume into an eighteenpenny pamphlet .
Untitled Article
Art , II . — The Wisdom and BenevO " lence 0 f the Deity in the Ordination of Death : a Discourse , occasioned hif the Death of' the Rev . Thomas // owe , delivered at Bridport * Nov . 26 , 182 Q . By T . Southwood Smith , M . D . Svo . pp . 50 . Sherwood and Co .
BOTH the argument and the stylo of this sermon are congenial with the occasion . The preacher adopts tUe same train of reasoning , and the
Untitled Article
168 Review . —Dr . T . S . Smith ' s Funeral Sermon fhr Mr . Howe .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1821, page 168, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2498/page/40/
-