On this page
-
Text (1)
-
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
19 absolutely necessary that a general suspension of the usual employments and amusements should take place ; and whatever interferes with the discharge of the duties of such worship , ( unless required by some more immediately urgent duty , ) or naturally tends
to destroy the religious impressions which they produce , must be wrong . And he argues that the principles of Christian duty require that such as do not find that suspension of social intercourse and amusement necessary for religious improvement that others do , should yet be careful , lest in the use
of what they deem lawful and harmless , others should be interrupted in their more strict , yet alike conscientious , observances , or their feelings unnecessarily wounded , or they themselves led to liberties which their consciences would condemn . This is unquestionablv just and Christian , and we have
no doubt that Mr . Belsham would willingly modify his general position so as to admit it all . In connexion with this argument , we find Dr . Carpenter maintaining against Mr . Belsham the power of the Civil Magistrate over the sabbath 1
. This might surprise us , if we did not soon perceive that the difference between these gentlemen is in the statement of the question . Mr . Belsham
only says , that it is unreasonable and unjust 4 < r that the laws of any country should enjoin a sabbatism which God has not required" and this , few will deny ; and Dr . Carpenter , deprecating the interference of the Civil Magistrate
in matters of religion , asserts , that it is a question t > f civil policy , whether one day in seven shall be relinquished from the labours of life , and of civil right , whether such relinquishment shall be enforced by law .
While on this point Dr . Carpenter candidly avows his difference of opinion from Mr . Belsham , if , indeed , there be a difference , he is eager to vindicate hia friend from the Bishop of Raphoe ' s cruel misrepresentations , and the vindication is easy and . complete . The
same may be said of the next point discussed , via * the inspiration and character of our Lord , on which the Bishop , by means of omissions and alterations in Mr . Belsham ' s words , makes him say what is abhorrent to Christian feelings / In what he does fifty in one or two places , Dr . Carpenter
Untitled Article
allows that he finds reasons for dissent . Mr . Belsham states in the Calm Inquiry , ( p . 451 , ) " that when Jesus or his apostles deliver opinions upon subjects unconnected with the objects of their mission , such opinions , and their reasonings upon them , are to be received with the same attention and
caution with those of other persons , in similar circumstances of sknilaar education , and with similar habits of thinking . " Upon this Dr . Carpenter says , < c As far as respects our Lord himself , no other person ever was in precisely
similar circumstances . Believing in the genuineness of the Introduction of St . Luke's Gospel , I have myself no doubt , that , from his earliest childhood , he was impressed with the expectation of being one day called , by the direct appointment of God , to a service of the most extensive
and honourable importance ; and that the natural influence of this impression was aided by the constant pious cares of his Mother : so that , from the first , his views were so guided , and his affections and principles so enlarged and refined , that , even without reference to subsequent
divine communications , he was eminently qualified to see clearly the way of duty , and to trace the dealings of his Heavenly Father . But I must , for obvious reasons , waive this consideration ; and I merely say , that he who , in addition to the expanding and animating influence of
religious principle , had been favoured with the express manifestations of divine approbation , with peculiar intercourse with the Father of spirits , and with direct communications of His wil ! , could hx no respect stand on the same intellectual footing with those who , in other respects , were in * similar circumstances and of
similar education . "'—Pp . 273 , 274 , With this statement we agree , but we see nothing in it inconsistent with Mr . Belsham ' s hypothesis of our Lord and his apostles not being infallible with regard to subjects unconnected with their mission .
The Bishop of Raphoe makes sport of the doctrine of Final Restoration , which , knowing the power of words , he endeavours to render ridiculous in Protestant eyes by calling it ( as it has been again and again called for the
sake of prejudice ) the doctrine of Purgatory . On this topic Dr . Carpenter writes with great feeling , great dignity and great power- He remonstrates with the Bishop for venturing upon " the thoughtless profaneness of hold-
Untitled Article
Review . —I > r . Carpenter ' s Examination of Bishop Htf agee * 3 S > 3
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1821, page 303, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2500/page/47/
-