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homage of Mr . Hall ! or , perhaps , Mr . Hall offers up the manes of Dr . Priestley 9 to the feelings of orthodox associates 1 But enough of conjecture , Mr . Hall alone knows his own motives of action . However , there are those who regard Dr . Priestley not only as a man of Genius , but as a man of the most solid claims to reverence . Priestley , by nature or habit , or both , was a mail of restless activity ; but he uniformly directed that activity to what seemed to him the public good , seeking neither emolument nor honour
from men . His youth , devoted to labour and spent in the habit of chastity , temperance , and every virtue , was a faultless example to all , and a striking contrast to that of some men who have been called men of Genius . He knew
how to bear poverty without murmuring , and disappointment without fretfulness . He justified the will of his aunt , which deprived him of expectations she had excited . His attainments were various and extensive , yet such was bis true Christian humility , that
when his reputation as a discoverer m physics was higher than that of any man in Europe , he urged men to the pursuit of natural philosophy , alleging that the pursuit demanded nothing more than common powers of mind . So fur was he from demanding iieverkxci : due to genius . When ,
philosophy was in fashion , and he , as one of its great masters , was in fashion , he wrote on religion , to the injury of his reputation , only because he believed it still more important to mankind than any of the pursuits of philosophy . His writings in philosophy , history , theology , criticism , and metaphysics ,
remain monuments of a vigorous , varied and extensive Genius . But leaving his writings out of the case , he was one of the most laborious clergymen who ever lived . His preaching , catechising , and other ministerial labours , would have been beyond the ability of u "y other man . Some men have called him the head of a sect . If he were , no one who ever sustained that
character , is worthy to be compared with hi'u . The JLuthers , Calvins , Knoxes ami Cranmers , for comprehension of "tiud , acutene& ! 3 » of distinction , depth ° f research and varied attainments wtTe all mere children to Priestley . I
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confess I read his writings against the Trinity without interest ; because writings for or against an impossibility , if they display all the acuteness of Scotus himself , are of little value . If there were a fault in the mental character of Priestley , I should be inclined to think it was too conclusive , as he seems to me to be confident
sometimes on subjects which hardly admit of positive decision . But one should hesitate , perhaps , here ; the * fault may be in one ' s own mind . He wrote his life when he was in the zenith of his reputation , and disdains not then to tell us , where he preached in his youth , and with what
acceptance his sermons were received by an unlettered audience . He was , in short , a perfect pattern of Christian simplicity , and such an union of talents and attainments , with so much sanctity of character , I believe never before existed . And shall we regard this
" DEPARTD GENIUS" without REVERENCE ? If Mr . Hall have ceased to praise Priestley , there is little to be lamented in this silence , when we perceive how
liberal he is of his praise to his orthodox associates living or dead . This Tract contains very little " satis eloquentiae , sapiential parum , " and the statesman and moralist will find in it
nothing to direct their conduct . And as to eloquence , ( of which Mr . Hall has an ample share , ) I fear it is seldom subservient to the promotion of religion . The effect of eloquence is to rouse men to some sudden act . To give a vote , or to light a battle , men may be roused by eloquence . But
religion is no sudden impulse . The Christian warfare is constant , persevering , and ends only with life . Eloquence can do nothing here . Who that is bent upon the discharge of Christian duty , does not find in the simple but classic page of William Law , more eflicacious persuasion than
iu all the eloquent declamation ( rich and varied as it is ) of Jeremy Taylor ? Mr . Hall is eloquent ; he is , perhaps , a man of Genius ; but if he be a good man , is on that account only entitled to REVERENCE : sanctity of character , and that alone , is above all Greek , above all Koman praise . homo .
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Hall ' s " Apology for Freedom . " 169
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vol . xvii . z
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1822, page 169, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2510/page/41/
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