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
more usefully active , and wore desirous of information , we can have nd ^ hesitation in concluding that the cause of Protestantism in France has every . thing to hope from the progress of time , and but little to fear from the secret arts , or the more open attacks , of its enemies . They who from long habit , and the unwillingness to change , cannot bring themselves to renounce the religion of their fathers , while they yet exclaim , " How happy you English are to be born of Protestant parents I" will be succeeded by another generation , who will not be restrained by the same scruples—by a generation who will not only be excited by the light and knowledge and improvement , which are beaming around them , to read and think for themselves on the most important of all subjects , but who will proclaim the result of their inquiries by throwing off the yoke of superstition , and betaking themselves to the bosom of a free and rational church . Nor is it of small importance to add , that one of the chief barriers which opposes the profession and consequently the progress of liberal opinions in England , has here but little influence , or rather scarcely exists : for the Established Church ( if indeed anv
church can be called established , where the ministers of the Dissenting body are paid by the Government ) has no golden prebends in its gift to tempt men away from the ranks of truth and freedom , or to retain within its pale enlightened but interested individuals who " cannot afford to keep a conscience . " It was only the other day , that the Government salaries of the second class of Cures was raised to the same sum as the lowest which is given to a Protestant pastor ; and those of the Bishops are only from 12 , 000 to 15 , 000 francs , i . e from £ 480 to £ 600 a year . What the casuel ,
u e . the fees or perquisites , may amount to , it is difficult to say ; but , if I am rightly informed , in the case of the Bishop of this town , it is not suffix cient to defray the outgoings which are attached to the possession of his office , so that his salary of 12 , 000 francs is not , in fact , a clear income . I cannot conclude this letter without observing , that if the Protestants are sincerely desirous of increasing their numbers , they will introduce some very necessary reforms into their public service . In the first place , the reading of the Scriptures ought not to be intrusted ( as it has been in every instance , ex-, cept one , which has come under my notice ) to the clerk , or to a young minister , whose manner is any thing else than just and impressive . It is really degrading the word of God to let it be read , as it always is , precisely as a man would read a list of things at an auction , without emphasis , wither out intonation , without meaning ; and there is the less excuse for this , as there are generally two pastors attached to each church . In the second
the Revue Protestante for July , 1825 , p . 11 . The writer has been speaking of a book written by a Catholic , and goes on to observe , ( i Our readers cannot fail to be gratified by the progress of free inquiry , a progress which nothing can stop . After a whole age of incredulity and levity , we see the most distinguished writers of our day , of all parties , making a slow but perceptible approach towards the gospel . A new light beams upon their opened eyes . It is pleasing to be able to point out this change ; nor less so , to add , that the reprinting of so many books , in which false views arc given of Christianity , no longer
makes men either unbelievers or impious . People are tired of that wretched wit of Voltaire , which , however brilliant it mvght b » in the gilded drawing-rooms of Ferney , is a bitter draught in the comfortless cottage of the widow and the orphan . It serves to amuse , and that is all . Graver subjects occupy men ' s thoughts ; they acquire more and more the habit of going to church ; and the spirit with which they are filled is in unison with the simplicity of the worship arid the sanctity of the place . Philosophy , becoming religious , extends , if we may so express it , her > vings over the human race , and the fulfilment of the times is at baud . "
Untitled Article
68 Jwitfiatofa Tour in * the South of France .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1828, page 88, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2557/page/16/
-