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able , in 1770 , to commence a distinguished literary career which terminated only with his life . To explain in some degree his marvellous industry and the versatility of his powers , it must be remarked that his health was always ' firm , and that he enjoyed an almost boyish lightness and alacrity of spirits
till the last year or two of his life , when his constitution gave way , in consequence of excessive exertions , and his confining himself too much to merely intellectual pursuits . Like other strong men , he was too confident in his strength . *« I have but one nerve / ' he used to say , " and that comes from my breeches pocket . " In 1770 , he commenced his well-known translation of Saurin ' s Sermons
the first volume of which was published in 1775 . The several volumes contain valuable preliminary matter on different subjects . In 1774 , he published his " Arcana ; or the Principles of the late Petitioners to Parliament in the Matter of Subscription . " It has the reputation of being one of the most able works which have appeared on the subject . Its immediate
occasion was this . In 1772 , a petition was presented to Parliament by members of the Church of England , principally clergymen , but including , likewise , members of the professions of civil law and physic , praying for relief in the matter of subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles . It failed of its object , by a great majority in the House of Commons ; as did a motion to the same effect the following year . In 1772 , likewise , a bill was
introduced for the relief of the Dissenters , whose clergymen and schoolmasters were , and we believe are , legally exposed to heavy penalties if they undertake their offices , without subscribing all the doctrinal articles of the Church of England . Though it passed the House of Commons , by a great majority , it was thrown out in the House of Lords ; all the bishops , with one honourable exception , Green , Bishop of Lincoln , who was never afterwards translated , voting against it . The same was the fate of a similar bill the
following year . These subjects excited great attention . Among the members of the Church of England who interested themselves in the cause of religious freedom , the most distinguished were Lindsey , Robert Tyrwhitt , then Fellow of Jesus College , Dr . John Jebb , Bishop Law , and , we regret to add , Paley . The Defence which he published about this time of the Considerations of his patron , Bishop Law , only increases the sorrow with which an honest man must read the poor sophistry in respect to subscription with which he afterward paltered with his own conscience , and taught others ( a
do the same . We happen to be writing with the " Arcana" on the table before us j and in taking it up , the first passage on which we open is so characteristic of Robinson's style as to be worth quoting . The book is written in the form of letters . Addressing his correspondent , he says , " You know the story of father Fulgentio , preaching at Venice on Pilate ' s question , What is truth ? He told his hearers that at last , after many searches , he had
found it out , and held out a New Testament , and said that there it was in . his hand ; but then he put it in his pocket , and coldly said , Bat the book i » prohibited . Now what great difference would there have been , if he had said , You may read the book , but its true meaning is prohibited ? Yet this is what all the Arminian clergy in England must say , if they speak consistently with themselves ; for in the opinion of all impartial judges , the established religion is Calvinism . " Robinson was a thoroughly catholic Christian , and an enemy of intolerance in all its forms . He regarded in the true spirit of our religion all attempts of sects and churches , of Episcopalians or Baptists , to impose the
Untitled Article
Memoir of Robert Robinsofi . 517
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1828, page 517, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2563/page/5/
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