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fast in the liberty wherewith he has made us free . From my childhood I have beetf most fortunate . * My lines have been cast in pleasant places . ' At every step of my journey , favours have been showered upon me . I know that I have been charged with thinking too highly of human nature ; but' I do maintain that one who has been loaded with so much
kindness , can hardTy think too highly of his species . My earliest infancy was blest with a parent , now , I trust , removed to a happier world , who instilled into my youthful mind the lessons of universal love . I have been placed to minister in holy things amongst a people in whom liberality is a feeling as well as a duty ; and never have I proposed to them one
siugle measure calculated to advance the cause of freedom , or the welfare of mankind , in which I have not been outrun by their philanthropic zeal . Where , then , Sir , lies my merit ? My interest and my duty are the same ; and , iu doing right , I but promote my temporal as well as everlasting welfare . But there are others who have made a real sacrifice ; men
whom no bribe could purchase , ho threats deter . When danger frowned upon them , and ruin hung over their earthly prospects , they made light of all , and clung to their integrity . It is to them , through me , this compliment is paid . Oh , how they will be x : heered by the voice which will reach them from this assembly ! They will learn the sentiments cherished
towards themselves ; they will feel that you are met to ( Jo honour , not to an individual , but to a cause . Our church is now in a melancholy condition . Political and reli gious t ) igotry have been mingled together ; and thpse who foment the persecutions amongst us , have made it thejr policy so to conjoin the two principles , that scarce an individual is iiow held
orthodox who ia not also an enemy to the civil , or religious rights of his fellow-men . Shame upon Presbyterians ! the men who make it their peculiar boast that they are free ; wfoo pride themselves on being not merely Protestaiits , but Presbyterian Protestants . The Synod of Ulster had long continued liberal . Our young men received the best education which we cuuld
bestow , and were permitted to minister wherever they met the wishes of the people , on the simple engagement of diligently studying the word of God , and diligently teaching its precepts . Our body became thence respected , and we looted , in fond confidence , for a continuance , nay , even an improvement , in " our liberality and zeal . But , alas ! the scene lias become changed . Political intolerance
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has warped our passion s , apd engendered r& \ g \ 6 M'pere ? mtipxL ?{> r thl&y dtjte ^ chuVch&i might ifefMps Hitfe tfprne $$ { —\ vhefte shall we % \ x # ohe'fbf a body wh ' osfe distinctive character" ought tol ? 4 iudepenrfence ? Uniformity of faith ft the pretended object ; tut how uj ' teaX uniformity to be pi dchiced ? ' Not , Sir , by loading the mind witti ' trammels , or teach
ing it to writhe tfrider tlie weight of its shackles , Imt by giving full play to' icj powers , by allowing \ i fair and free discussion , By comparing eur sentiments with' those of our neighbours , we maV perhaps l&trn ' to agree in opinion ; if not , we shall at least learn -the second besi lesson—we shall agree to differ . The attempt to controul opinion is vain . It
is not a subject for human legislation . But what is this faith whose value is thus set over all things ? Sir , "it is the simple conviction of the mind , arising from ' the force of evidence . It is not formed hy us . We must "believe according to the weight of evidence submitted to our consideration . It is in religion as in tTie records of history , or the relations bf . a traveller—our opinions , our belief , o ' ur
faith , are not in bur power ; they do not depend on us . We are like a jury inclosed in their box : the formation of our opinion depends eutirely on the evidence . We may ,, deserve credit for giving ou * r verdict honestly , but we deserve none fp > forming the opinion contained in that verdict . The only influence which we can exercise over our faith , is in the
ijidustrywith which we seek for proofs , and' the candour with which we apply , to their consideration . We cannot cpangju it at Will ; we cannot change It at all , bit by finding new evidence . Our iucfusiry must arise from sincerity , and t \ ii » is tjiu quality which . we are taughttoi"beJi £ vje that God valuer . A pure and honest heart is precious in his sight ; and I do
believe that every sincere , worshiper , whatever tjhe complexion bf his creed , as as acceptable as the mau .. whose sentiments coincide more peculiarl y w ^ h mine . For nVy own part , I am , not accustomed to stand forward as art accuser of the brethren ; au 4 1 , ^ p gjuspec ^ tl ^ e Ijonesty of those who are too ready , 'to
charge others with treachery and insincerity . By interfering witih the faith and minds of our neighbours , by passing . jfcjnal enactments , mtiri oversteps hta-copimissiou , and assumes the prerogative of the Almighty . If either penalty or ' rewacd be attached to the holding of a partrcdtir creed , then must trutli and pure religion be injured . Such a mode ot coercion may alter our profession—docs itia ) tih-
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Intelligence . —Dinner to the Rev . H . Montgomery * 144
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1829, page 141, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2569/page/69/
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