: Observations on an Anonymous Pamphlet Which Has Been Distributed in Lowestoft and Its Neighbourhood Entitled Reasons Why a Churchman May with Great Justice Refuse to Subscribe to the British and Foreign Bible Society by Cunningham Francis - British and For

@FreeBooks

Posted in: #FreeBooks #FreeBooksIndia #FreeBooksApp #gg

Vote Up Vote Down   0 Reactions

Login to give Reaction!

OBSERVATIONS ON AN ANONYMOUS PAMPHLET,

YARMOUTH: Printed and Sold by J. Keymer, King-Street;

SOLD ALSO BY GOWING, LOWESTOFT; PARSONS, NORWICH; HATCHARD, AND SEELEY, LONDON.

The author of this pamphlet has, in the first page of his work, reprobated the "arrogant and dogmatical style" of his opponents; and, in the conclusion of it, he has called their measures "wicked, cruel, and unchristian." It is my hope, that I shall not fall into the same error. I desire "nothing to extenuate, nor set down aught in malice;" to state facts, not from the mere authority of the parties concerned in this controversy, but upon that of the most authentic documents; and, should I fail to convince my readers, it is my confident intention not at once to conclude their opinions "unchristian" and "cruel," because they differ from my own; hard words, I may venture to say, ought not to be the weapons of our warfare, and I trust they never will be of mine. I desire to remember the declaration of our Lord, "they that take the sword, shall perish by the sword."

I may be permitted also to add, that in entering upon the consideration of this question, I consider myself as approaching a subject of the highest importance. When I am canvassing the merits of an instrument for circulating the Word of God over every part of the world, I tremble lest the ark should suffer in my hands; and I desire to go out to the warfare, not so much with a "sword and a shield" of human fabrication, as, "in the name of the Lord," for the circulation of whose Word I wish to contend.

As the Society whose cause the author exclusively advocates, is a society of churchmen, he maintains that, by its extension and prevalence, no variety of interpretation in essential points would prevail, and therefore no confusion be introduced amongst the unlearned. All churchmen would, he conceives, teach the same truths in the same manner. But, is this accurate? Is there such a perfect accordance of opinion amongst churchmen? If, for instance, Dr. Marat and Mr. Scott, each of them churchmen, each of them members of the Old Society, and each of them men of respectability, were to circulate Bibles, with their own interpretations, would an exact conformity of opinion be produced? Assuredly not. What, then, is the conclusion from this? That of churchmen, it can only be said as of churchmen and dissenters, they agree in the authority of the Bible; but there is no complete agreement as to the interpretations of the Bible. If churchmen, who are members of the Old Society, widely disagree upon essential points in the interpretation of the Bible, even the Old Society is no guarantee for unity. A person, to be quite right, on the principle of the author, should subscribe exclusively to a Society, where each person would agree to promulgate only the same interpretation of scripture; and where, it may be asked, would such a Society be found?

Now it may be observed, that this argument does not very happily square with the last. First, says our author, the Bibles of the Old Society are better, because they are cheaper; next, they are better, because they have a commentary costing fifty shillings. One of these two arguments must be surrendered. The Bibles cannot be at once cheaper, and cost a price which excludes them from general circulation. But, further, it may be said, that every argument which assumes the importance of the commentary to the Society, assumes the accuracy and value of the commentary itself.--Are all commentaries then valuable?--Are there none which might be very dear at fifty shillings?

But a fourth reason, it is said, for the superiority of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, is, that it provides Prayer Books and Religious Tracts. The friends of the Bible Society are charged with saying, "that the Bible, and the Bible alone, is the religion of Protestants;" and our author affirms, that, but for the exertions of Dr. Marsh, the Prayer Book would not have been circulated.

Of Tracts it may be said as of a commentary that the connection of these with any Society must exceedingly limit its extension, even amongst churchmen. Accordingly, these Tracts have been stated in print by churchmen to be completely inconsistent with one another; some have been called "heretical;" some have been charged with involving "the worst errors of Popery." And, whatever may be the merit of these Tracts, to call them, with our author, "sure and certain guides," is to affirm of them what can be affirmed only of the Revelation of God. Indeed, if there were no other objection to our author's statement, there is this, that these infallible guides are in the unfortunate habit of flatly contradicting each other. In this case, who is to arbitrate between them? I know not what arbitrator our author will propose. I should say the Bible? and I should go on to draw this inference--subscribe than to the Bible Society--and transmit the doctrine of infallible "guides'" in the first vessel from Lowestoft to Rome.

I am sorry that I should have felt any obligation to draw up what may bear even the semblance of a charge against the Society, at Bartlett's Buildings, of which I am a member. That Society has many merits, and in its own sphere is capable of doing much good. But, when an attempt is made to canonize this Society; to apply it to objects which it can never reach; and to erect it on the ruins of a Society of wider basis and far more extensive capabilities, it is difficult to be entirely silent. It was heartily to be wished, that these two Societies should never have been brought into invidious comparison, for, in a comparison, one of them must fail; and, which ever suffers, Christianity suffers with it, because the promotion of Christianity is the object of both. As, however, these two Societies have been brought into comparison, by the author of these "Reasons," it seems requisite now to show, that the New Society has certain peculiar and exclusive advantages, which justify churchmen in supporting it.

But what is the inference from this? That when, from the introduction of schools at home, an additional demand was created for the Scriptures, and when abroad the multiplication of missionaries created a new demand for the Bible, in all the languages of the earth, it was not sufficient that a Society existed which had proved itself insufficient for the supply of the Scriptures, even under less trying circumstances. It was necessary that something more should be attempted, and, accordingly, the New Society was constructed--a Society, erected on the widest possible basis, and comprehending all the means and energies of all the worshippers of Christ. The Old Society was left to pursue its domestic career; and the New Society, beginning at home, extended itself over the whole world. The one, as it has been said, is like the lamp at a particular sanctuary; the other, "the pillar which preceded the march of the whole people of God."

But the author is not satisfied with this gratuitous assertion. He goes on, in the same strain of independent and courageous affirmation, to maintain, that a feeling of love and harmony is not produced by the meeting of various denominations of christians in this Society; and, in proof of this, he appeals to certain recent occurrences. But what are these recent occurrences he leaves us to divine. If, indeed, he were to refer to certain recent occurrences in another quarter, as evidences of "bitter and unseemly contention," and of the "degradation" of a meeting assembled for grave deliberation into "a British Forum, or a Bear Garden," probably every churchman would understand the hint, however obliquely conveyed. But, as to the meeting of the Bible Society, I have attended both those of the Parent Institution, and in various parts of this and the neighbouring county, and I can truly say, that I have never seen any feeling predominate, but that of christian love. I have never known any offensive peculiarity obtruded upon the assembly; and although it might have been sometimes wished, that, in points of taste and expression, some of the speeches had been amended, yet, in point of temper and spirit, and sober adherence to the main objects of the meeting, they have admitted of no improvement.

Free books android app tbrJar TBR JAR Read Free books online gutenberg

(0)

Login to post a comment!