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cliarch is a religious body , with * certain political privileges ; the state is political merely , and is composed by a union of the jctvtI and ecclesiastical an- * thority , for the purposes of government . With respect , then , to matters spiritual , we may spealc of the church by itself as a religious body ; but with regard to matters political , we cannot speak of the state without including the church , which is an essential part of our government . If the church be taken away , that which remains may exercise the functions and receive the name of government , but it will no longer be that which we now glory in calling the British constitution / ' —Pp . 16 , 17 .
The author , however , still leaves altogether untouched the most important branch of the argument on this subject . The " Statement , " though it did not admit ( for Dissenters could not admit ) the expediency or justice of- an . establishment , suggested that there were still several stages in the exclusionist ' s argument which he must make out before he established his theory . If patronage , wealth , and honours , be granted to the church , how is itjshewn that these are not quite enough of odds to throw in her favour ?
Establishments have existed , and do exist , without oppression or exclusion ; nay even as in Scotland , with a government of a different faith , and an enT dowment very small in amount . How , then , do eulogiums on the church , and its protection by and union with the state , make out any necessity fqr { penal laws ? And is not the assumption of such necessity a discredit to ; the church , and an admission of the political objections-which attach to any
system which should thus bring with it a perpetual source of division and , ill-will ? Surely he would be the best friena of the church who should shew that she wants no such aids , and , consequently , that no such objection to the political justice of her constitution exists . To the argument drawn from the want of all cause for apprehension of danger ^ as exhibited for a century and a half , the Churchman observes ,
" But it may , perhaps , be said , that it matters not what are the princi p les of the Dissenters , that it is with their practice we Uave to do ; and since it is admitted that they have for many yea ^ s shewn themselves peaceable and good subjects , the restrictions should cease with the practical cessation of the reason of them . . " To this I answer , that the restrictions have for many years practically ceased to exist . If the Dissenters say , ' Our principles may appear aangerous , but our practice is quite harmless / the reply is , that the Test laws may appear severe , but , by the device of Annual indemnity Acts , they , are in
practice wholly inoperative . " To the principles of the Dissenters we oppose the Test Act ; we meet their practice with the Indemnity Bill . The ' Statement' complains , that 'liberty' is not the rule , and * exclusion' the exception ; which being translated out ofthese high jabstrsici terms , comes to this , —that they think their elig ibility to office ought to be the general rule , and that the Test Act should only be passed as occasion might require , when they became troublesome . " —
Pp . 20 , 21 . " In short , while the Dissenters' practice remains what it is , it would be harsh and almost tyrannous to put the laws in force against them ; but while their principles remain what they are , it would be highly imprudent to do away with them altogether . The , Corporation and Test Acts have been prepared as a shield ready to be caught up for our defence whenever it may appear necessary ; and it would be very weak and incautious policy to give it into the keeping of those who would naturally be the least willing to restore it to us in the time of need . ' —Pf 22 ,
What doe ^ al ) tfrie mean ? same Parliament which should refuse to Ke + enact tfye Tt&fi and Corporation- Acts * if , in the Churchman ' s viewj th « y
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Rediew . ~ Defence of the Corporation and Te / ft 4 cth Vjb
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1828, page 179, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2558/page/35/
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