Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

to differ from the opinion stated above, he is at perfect liberty so to do: I make it no article of faith, nor of Christian communion; I crave the same liberty to judge for myself that I give to others, to which every man has an indispu

table right, and I hope no man will call me a heretic, for departing in this respect from the common opinion, which appears to me to be so embarrassed as to be altogether unintelligible.

MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

Design of the History of the Fall.
SIR,

Lincoln.

It is possible I may be repeating sentiments which have been published before, but as I do not recollect to have seen them any where, you will if think you per give the following a place in your Repository.

pro

suade that upright man to take leave of the God of his worship, when he found he would not come to his succour.

The first caution that the Al

mighty would give to an intelligent being, if he gave him any, would certainly be not to suffer his attention to be arrested by the second causes of his happiness, but to carry them forward to the great First Cause, and let him be the object of his admiration and worship.

On reading a critique on Dr. Clarke's hypothesis of the fall, it appeared to me not improbable that, although the account of the fall has been in general justly considered in the light of an alleIn the state in which the first gory, yet there has been an error pair are described as being placed, in imagining that it refers to sin in I see scarcely a possibility of their general. Upon this supposition it being guilty of sin, of a moral has been found extremely difficult kind; they were exposed to no to account for the introduction of temptation, nor could they well the leading characters of it, as the fall into any sin, except that of serpent, the woman and the for- paying a reverential homage to the bidden fruit. May not the distin. heavenly hosts, those splendid guishing part they act in this creatures of God, who by their drama, be fully explained, by the imposing appearances and useful supposition that the forbidden agency might seem to call for their ruit was idolatry; that the ser. adoration. We are assured that pent is brought in as the tempter, the first species of idolatry which because it was the earliest emblem sprang up in the world, was the of a false God; that the woman worship of the heavenly bodies, tempted Adam, in the same way and it was undoubtedly the most as the Israelites were tempted and natural. Next to them, the serdrawn into idolatry, by having pent was one of the first images of intermarried among their heathen Deity that were employed by neighbours, and as we read that man. Not that the serpent was the wife of Job also employed all deified; for this I am persuaded the flippancy of her tongue to per. was not originally intended, what

ever corruptions may have after- Egyptians, a wise and a learned wardssprung up amongst idolaters. people; therefore, perhaps, the But the serpent, for some reason fruit was said to be of the tree of or other, perhaps for that sagacity knowledge, and among the Egypfor which he has been so much tians it was that the serpent was celebrated by Mr. Bryant in his held in the highest esteem. It was Ophion, and by others before him, the design of the author of this aland for having" wisdom and in- legory to intimate that amongst telligence no way inferior to the evils which followed in the man," was preferred by the ear. train of this greatest of crimes, the ly Pagans as the proper represen- disrobing man of his innocence and tative of Deity in their temples. his immortality were the first and The serpent is therefore made the the greatest. first moving instrument of mischief.

The unwillingness of the man and his wife to meet the Lord in the garden after they had been guilty of so great a sin is now become a proper and a beautiful part of the history, and the sewing of fig-leaves together to cover their nakedness, strongly marks the weak and in sufficient arguments by which the Israelites were disposed to justify their departure from the worship of the God of their fathers.

The history informs us that he tempted Eve. The Jews, and all the eastern nations, considered the tender sex as much inferior in understanding to the males: and, as the running into idolatry was a strong mark of weakness, the writer supposes that the woman would be first disposed to this weakness, and would be a proper instrument to lead her husband Without pursuing these thoughts into it. Or, may it represent a farther, or attempting to explain weaker and more ignorant race of the less important features of the mankind, who first abandoned themselves to the worship of idols, and whose example was danger. ous to the Israelites ?

story,

I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
J. W..

An ancient New Year's Gift.
Islington, Jan. 1st, 1812.
SIR,

This supposition on the account of the fall, is much corroborated by the consideration of the time when, and the person by whom it I lately met with an old book, was written. It has been sup. entitled "Priestcraft in Perfection, posed to have been written by or a Detection of the Fraud of inMoses; and at a period when the serting and continuing this Clause subject of idolatry seems to have The Church hath power to deoccupied all the thoughts of both cree Rites and Ceremonies and leaders and people among the Authority in Controversies of Jews. The former using all their Faith, in the Twentieth Article of energies to deter the congregation the Articles of the Church of Engfrom idolatry, and the latter exhibiting the strongest predilection for that vice. They had taken their love of false gods from the

Believe this who will.

land. London. 1710." In running my eye over its contents, I found the following curious note, which I transcribe without any remarks for the use of your Mis

[blocks in formation]

D. Wherein is the idolatry, may it please your majesty ?

Q. In the cuts resembling angels aud saints, nay grosser absurdities-pictures resembling the BLESSED TRINITY!

I

D. I meant no harm, nor did think it would offend your majesty when I intended it for a New Year's Gift.

"Dr. Nowell, Dean of St. Paul's, having gotten several fine cuts and pictures representing the stories and passions of the saints and martyrs, caused them to be Q. You must needs be ignorant bound up in a Common Prayer then. Book and laid it for the Queen's clamation against images, pictures Have you forgot our prouse in the place where she com- and Romish relics in the churches? monly sat, intending it for a New Was it not read in your Deanery? Year's Gift to her Majesty and D. It was read. But be your

no

Q. You must needs be very ignorant to do this after our prohibition of them.

majesty may the better pardon me. D. It being my ignorance, your

thinking to have pleased her fancy majesty assured. I meant therewith. But it had not that harm when I caused the cuts to effect but the contrary, for she be bound up with the service considered how this varied from book. her late injunctions and proclamations against the superstitious use of images in churches, and taking away all such relics of popery. When she came to her place at St. Paul's, she opened the book and perused it and saw the pictures, but frowned and blushed and then shut it, and calling the verger bad him bring her the old book wherein she was formerly wont to read. After sermon in stead of taking horse, &c. she im. mediately went into the vestry and applied herself to the Dean thus:

Q. Mr. Dean how came it to pass, that a new service book was placed on my cushion?

D. May it please your majesty,
I caused it to be placed there.
Q. Wherefore did you so?
D. To present your majesty
with a New Year's Gift.

Q. You could never present me with a worse.

D. Why so, Madam?

Q. You know I have an aversion to idolatry, to images and pictures of this kind.

hear it was your ignorance rather Q. I am sorry for it, yet glad to than your opinion.

D. Be your majesty assured it was my ignorance.

Q. If so, Mr. Dean, God grant you his spirit, and more wisdom for the future.

D. Amen. I pray. God.

Q. I pray Mr. Dean how came you by these pictures? Who engraved them?"

D. I know not who engraved them, I bought them.

Q. From whom bought you them?

D. From a German.

Q. It is well it was from a stranger, had it been any of our subjects we should have questioned the matter. Pray let no more of these mistakes or of this kind be committed within the churches of this realm for the future.

D. There shall not.

among the learned, whether the This matter occasioned all the sacred writers of the Old Testaclergy in and about London, and ment had any expectation of sur the churchwardens of each parish viving the stroke of death. There to search the churches and cha- are undoubtedly many passages, pels, and caused them to wash out particularly in the Psalms and in of the walls all paintings that the prophets, which seem to intiseemed Romish and idolatrous, and mate that they had this hope, but in lieu thereof suitable texts taken if, after all, their original import out of the holy scriptures to be is so doubtful as to admit of a difwritten. Strype's Annals of Q. ferent construction on principles of Eliz. pages 238, 239." just criticism, it must be allowed that no great stress can fairly be laid upon them.

Unitarianism in Wales.
Hackney,
Dec. 23, 1811.

SIR,

So far at least is certain, that the hopes and tears of a future life, made no part of the Mosaic As an instance of the progress code, the sanctions of which were of Unitarianism in Wales, I beg all temporal: yet the law, in the leave to relate a circumstance language of an Apostle, was "the which was mentioned to me a few school-master to bring men to months since by a respectable Christ." By this introductory clergyman of the established dispensation they were taught the church on the spot. One of his knowledge of the one living and parishioners, and formerly his very true God-the theopathetic affec constant hearer, was induced to join a Baptist congregation in the neighbourhood, with whom he continued two or three years and then returned to his parish church. On being questioned by the clergyman as to the cause of this change, he assured him his sentiments remained the same as when he joined the Baptists, and had their's continued the same also, he would never have left them, but that latterly the whole congregatition had (to use his own expression) "run Unitarians."

If this should be deemed worthy a corner of your valuable Repository, its insertion will oblige,

Yours respectfully,

S. C.

Hebrews' Hope of a Future State.

SIR, Sep. 22, 1811.
It has been much disputed

tions were excited and cultivated; a purer morality was enforced, and the great duties of justice and humanity were called into exercise. But, if the various texts, already alluded to as seeming to point towards a future state, are capable of being interpreted on different principles, it will follow, that no sufficient evidence appears from their writings that the Jewish worthies had any definite expectation respecting it.

Here then a great difficulty occurs, for how can it have happened that whilst the philosophers in the Heathen world express such extreme anxiety on this momentous subject, that these eminent Jews, who in common with them, had their allotted share of afflicti. ons and trials in this life; were alike subject to sickness and sorrow, and eventually to death,

[ocr errors]

should remain so entirely silent? irradiate the mind and cheer the When the author of that affecting desponding heart of the philosophic composition which in strains so sage; but by what doubts and pathetic, on the banks of the Eu- difficulties was he not frequently phrates, describes the anguish of assailed? How often would the his own mind and that of his com- perplexing inquiry occur-'Who is panions in captivity, driven from this great Being and what is his their country, despoiled of their name? Does he indeed govern property, and bereft of every thing the world? Are men, feeble, they held most dear-in circum- weak, imperfect, worthy of notice? stances so afflicting, was it nothing Does his power extend beyond to them, whether this fleeting life the grave?' Has he given any were the whole of their existence? intimation that it does, or entered How then shall we account for this into any engagement how he will extraordinary phenomenon? In use it? Well might solicitude and my own opinion, Mr. Editor, it fear take possession of mens' hearts ⚫ admits but of one solution: these in such circumstances-" They eminent persons, Isaiah, Jeremiah looked for help but there was no and others," of whom the world man, neither found they any to was not worthy," had such just comfort them.” conceptions of the Supreme Being, were so habituated to look up to Him in all circumstances, "who alone liveth and reigneth" "from everlasting to everlasting," to put their whole trust in God, whom they knew to be "abundant in mercy and truth;" were so constantly in the habit of devoting themselves entirely and with such filial confidence to his service, that even in respect to their future destiny, although no promise had been vouchsafed, "perfect love had cast out fear." Does the dutiful child, who has full and intire confidence in the wisdom,

I should be glad, Mr. Editor, if some of your numerous correspondents would favour us with their sentiments on this curious and interesting subject, which cannot fail, whatever may be the result, to shew in a very striking light the unspeakable value of the pious and devout affections, and of those divine dispensations, the Jewish and the Christian, on which they principally rest for their support. I remain Sir, your constant Reader and well-wisher, AN INQUIRER.

the goodness, the affection of a be- Adult Baptism in connection with

loved parent,

fear to follow

wherever he may lead? Neither

did they fear" though they should

Church Discipline.

Maidstone.

Is it probable that a more oli.

walk through the valley of the gible mode can be devised, of disshadow of death." Contrast with tinguishing between the serious this, the wretched state of mind of professor of christianity and the the forlorn wanderer in polytheis- wavering and unthinking, than tic darkness. Some faint traces in the use of that rite, which was deed of the footsteps of infinite wis- instituted by Christ himself, as the dom, goodness and power did occa- instrument of setting apart his dissionally break through the gloom, to ciples?

« AnteriorContinua »