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under persecutions . * The number of rational Christians , who , rejecting all human additions to divine revelation , adhere faithfully to the simplicity of truth , was never so great as at present . And it is still a progressive cause . JVlay it never be impeded in ita course by the injudicious support of civil authority ! For I acknowledge , that my idea of a civil establishment of the
Christian religion is diametrically opposite to that of Mr . W . The system which he calls Christianity , may indeed be c embodied in an establishment which is intimately blended , and hath a common interest , with civil institutions . * But the kingdom of Christ c is not of this world / and his doctrine shall reign triumphant when all human systems , with the authorities which support them , shall vanish * like the baseless fabric of a vision . '
* ' The immediate tendency of a civil establishment of religion is to obstruct the progress of Christian principles , and of sound morals . When a system , whether true or false , is once established , and the profession of it is paid for out of the public purse , all inquiry is at an end . Integrity , and the love of truth , yield to indolence , pride , and bitter zeal , against those who attack , not the doctrinos of religion , but those of the public creed . An established priesthood is , in its very nature , a persecuting order . There has been no
exception to this rule . Heathen and Christian , Jew and Mahometan , Papist and Protestant , Episcopalian and Presbyterian , when in power , have all breathed the same fiery , intemperate spirit ; a few enlightened individuals only excepted . Men who are engaged to defend an established system are , from that very circumstance , engaged to discourage inquiry , and to oppose truth , unless ( which is not often the case ) truth should happen to be the established doctrine . "—Pp . 153 , 154 .
We cannot help wishing that Mr . Belsham had remained of this mind to the last . That he did not , was owing to no unworthy motive ; he gained no popularity with any party by the change , but was censured by many ; and his scheme of a modified Establishment was accompanied by a noble and well-timed protest against the visiting of Unbelief , in any case whatever , with the infliction of pains and penalties .
The influence of Mr . Belsham ' s ministry was largely enhanced by two practices , which he pursued through many years , viz . the Exposition of the Scriptures , and the delivery of Systematic Lectures to Young Persons . To the first we are indebted for his gTeat work on Paul's Epistles . Had there been no such result , the immediate effect upon his hearers' minds , in giving them a clear and connected view of the meaning of the sacred writers , and in imparting information , removing difficulties , and introducing remarks , to an extent which the structure of a sermon will not allow , would have
amply recompensed his labours , and been a sufficient eulogy upon his proceed ure . His lectures always excited a strong interest , and are spoken of by those who attended them as affording delight and instruction of the highest order . Many of his publications first existed in this form . An enumeration of the
subjects of the courses which he delivered at Essex Street , in the order of their delivery , will shew that they constituted a complete system of divinity , and embraced every thing connected with pulpit instruction which could come within his duty to teach , or be desirable for his hearers to learn . The courses * as delivered in successive seasons , were as follows :
1 . The Evidences , External and Internal , of the Jewish and the Christian Revelation . The substance of these lectures w&s published . 2 . Inspirartion ; the Claims of Jesus and his Apostles to it ; the Degree and Limits in which it may be attributed to the Writings of the New Testament . 3 . The Text of the New Testament ; its Corruptions ; means of its Restoration . Published , in substance , in the Introduction to the Improved Version . 4 .
Untitled Article
Chi the Character and Writings of the Rev . T . BeUham . 171
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1830, page 171, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2582/page/27/
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