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his own mind by the investigation , and we confess that nearly the same is made upon ours , is— " that the use of Free Prayer in social worship is sanctioned by the general tenor of scripture examples ; that it best comports with the nature and designs of
public worship ; that it doe 3 in fact embrace most of the advantages which are represented as peculiar to liturgical forms ; that its inconveniences are contingent and remediable ; and that it is recommended by many considerations of great importance , in relation to that which is the end of all
ecclesiastical institutions , the advancement of personal religion : so that , on a careful review of all that has been presented to us , it does appear that the exercise of Free Prayer in Public Worship is preferable to the use of Prescribed Forms "—P . 43 .
In just argument , the question is distinct from that of the imposition of forms and ceremonies by secular authority ; though in treating it , a writer can scarcely avoid touching on that deplorable cause " of offences and injuries , oppressions and distress ,
domestic ruin and national misery . " ( P . 21 . ) We applaud Dr . Smith for his manly language upon this topic . Is he quite correct , however , in ascribing the rigorous imposition of the prayer-book , under heavy penalties , to € e the Episcopal churches of British America and of the United States" ?
Liturgies are convenient instruments for magistrates to handle ; and whether in the hands of the state or of independent churches , they become in course of time hindrances to ecclesiastical reformation ^
We agree with Dr . Smith in opinion . that our Lord gave the Prayer , known by his name , " with an especial reference to the time and circumstances then existing ; " but the reasons which he adduces for this opinion are not in our judgment satisfactory : they are
in fact drawn from his own peculiar -theological system , which he thus virtually confesses that the Lord ' s Prayer does not support : — € s In this prayer there is no mention made of any doctrine , privilege , expectation or duty , peculiar to the dispensation of the gospel : no mention is made of the
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grace and love of God in the redemption of the world , nor of the great Christian doctrine of forgiveness of our 3 ins through the blood of Christ , nor of justification by his righteousness , nor of the gifts and work of his Spirit . " ( P . 11 . )
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Art . V . Vindicite Bntannicce . Christianity Interested in the Dismissal of Ministers . A Vindication of the People from the Charge of blasphemy , and a Defence of the Freedom of the Press . In SitV Letters addressed to JV .
Wilberforce , Esq . M . P ., and the Religious Public . By Christophilus . 8 vo . pp . 192 . Simpkin and Marshall . 1821 . I ^ HRISTOPHILUS is a spirited \^ J writer . His mind has been formed
by a study of the Great English authors , who have pleaded the cause of civil liberty and ecclesiastical reformation , and he < c pours out all his soul" in this " Vindication of the People . " He is one of the few authors who
would write better if they knew less . He cannot take a step without the authority of an eminent name . There is thus an appearance of patch-work in the pamphlet ; though it must be confessed that the passages incorporated in the " Letters , " are for the most part excellent , and some of them little known .
The author treats Mr . Wilberforce with sufficient respect . This gentleman was pronounced by a distinguished female foreigner to be t € the most popular man in England / 1 In no sense is this true . But he is certainly a distinguished man , deriving a weight in the country which few possess , from his talents or rather his character . He
would be more respected if it were not for a strange habit that he has of speaking in one way and voting in another . 1 he country has his intellect , the minister his vote . But those that
know him best say that he is conscientious ; and his past services in the cause of humanity entitle him to universal gratitude : Christophilus has done well , therefore , in addressing hi " in a courteous manner and with respectful language .
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174 Review . — Vindicice Britannic ^
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1821, page 174, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2498/page/46/
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