and that the persons most nearly interested in the maintenance of religious establishments would fain persuade us that the Church of Christ demands it as an incumbent duty of civil magistrates to patronise and endow her ministers. But probably the civil magistrate, (whatever he may pretend,) is little moved by such arguments; and would leave Christianity to take care of itself, if he did not think that some private ends of his own might be gained by undertaking the task proposed, and that the men whom he patronised and rewarded would act a useful part in supporting him against any opposition that might be attempted in regard to his less justifiable proceedings. And in this respect he has not been disappointed; for the selfish and ambitious views of civil governments have invariably found support from an established clergy. And this forms so serious an objection in a civil point of view, that it would require the strongest proofs of the advantages derived to religion, to counterbalance it. Few will undertake to shew that an institution decidedly unfavourable to the interests of freedom and just government is requisite to the influence and success of true religion for freedom and truth go hand in hand; and whatever impairs the one must impair the other. But who can have so poor an opinion of the power of religion, as to imagine that its progress and success depend upon the patronage of the civil power? Must truth stand waiting at the great man's door, meanly stoop for his donations, and crouch before the civil governor for the boon of his puny favour and patronage? No! Let her urge a bold claim for a simple, undoubted right, the right of being protected from lawless violence and oppression. This it is the duty of the magistrate to extend to every peaceful citizen; and let the professor of religion who pursues truth by the legitimate methods of reason and argument, boldly claim this, and refuse to be beholden to him for any thing more. : The alliance so often talked of between Church and State, is to be regarded as no better than a selfish contract, in which, under a solemn and hypocritical pretence of advancing the success of religion, two interested parties bargain for mutual assistance in carrying on a conspiracy against the rights and liberties of mankind. The precedent of the Jewish Church, so much relied on in support of the divine right of the church to a civil establishment, may easily be disposed of by an examination of the two cases. The Jewish form of government was a theocracy; and its civil forms were in strict subordination to certain important objects connected with religion. Every thing was made to bend to one particular design of Providence, for the maintenance, during a certain limited period, of just views of the Divine nature and essence. The Christian dispensation was in its elements totally different, and every thing belonging to Judaism, not expressly perpetuated, is to be considered as ipso facto" abrogated by Christianity. And it seems evidently to be of the very essence of Christianity to be completely unembarrassed by any connexion with temporary and limited institutions. It was designed to be a religion for the whole world, and represents the whole world as composing one family; it cannot, therefore, recognise any partial and national institutions, so far as to combine itself with them, and admit of the authoritative imposition of corresponding forins. Christianity establishes the paramount authority of God in the conscience of every individual; it acquired its influence by this address of truth to reason, and it admits of no other establishment. Every other is merely nominal, and although this nominal establishment may have a temporary use, (as in the case of Constantine, when religion was already become greatly corrupt, and was under the necessity of waiting until a more favourable state of society should arise, for purifying itself,) yet, as a general principle, it appears capable of complete proof that the kingdom of Christ neither is nor can be of this world. H.T. A List of STUDENTS educated at the ACADEMY at DAVENTRY under the Patronage of Mr. COWARD'S Trustees, and under the successive superintendence of the Rev. CALEB ASHWORTH, D. D., the Rev. THOMAS ROBINS, and the Rev. THOMAS BELSHAM. Communicated by Mr. BELSHAM. Remarks. 1760, d. Thomas Scrivenor, minister, Wigston; after a few years he quitted the ministry, and entered into trade at Leicester, Conformed, and became curate of Daventry. Horwich. St. Neots-Wigston. Hereford-Worcester-Ilminster. d. Edward Dewhurst, m. 1769, d. R. Taylor, Esq. Remarks. Woodhall, Essex-Hackney-Kensington. ston. Oldbury; left off preaching, and became a Rotherham Fairford-Elland; left off preach- of Birmingham. did not finish his studies. Worcester; died of the gaol fever, which he caught by visiting the felons. the celebrated preacher at Salters' Hall, who maintained his popularity undiminished upwards of forty years. Narborough-Beminster; declined preaching as a settled minister; now lives at Yeovil. Bloxham-West Bromwich-Stourbridge Clapham-Bromsgrove-Stourbridge. Oswestry-Cottingham. Framlingham. Manchester. William Smith, Esq. M. P. for Sudbury-for Camelford-for Norwich: John Cooke, M. D. d. Joseph Bowden, m. Nicholas Hurst, Esq. d. Philip Ashworth, d. T. Davis, introduced into Parliament the Trinity Doc rine Bill, which received the Royal assent settled for a few years as a minister at Roch- Hinckley. quitted on account of ill health. died in consequence of an accidental injury of the spine; an amiable youth. Llanbrinmair. 1771, d. Thomas Northcote Toller, m. Kettering, upwards of forty years; his con Thomas Thomas, m. gregation, a few years before his death, as a testimony of their respect and gratitude for his long and faithful services, made him a present of a thousand pounds. Wellingborough-Enfield-Wareham. declined the ministry on account of ill health; holds a good place in the Excise. d. Nathaniel Bogle French, Esq. d. Thomas Hamilton, Esq. d. Walter Beattie, Esq. Thomas Rawlins, m. d. Samuel Skey, Esq. 1773, d. T. Withers, m, d. George Watson, m. d. John Cox, Esq. Edward Johnstone, M. D. T. Davies, m. 1774, d. Timothy Kenrick, m. Joseph Jevans, m. d. Joseph Bealey, m. d. William Tattersall, M. D. d. Samuel Girle, m. d. John Kings, m. d. Astley Mcanley, m. Horwich-Carter Lane-Daventry. son of the celebrated Museum Cox; he died at Canton, in China, where he was sent to dispose of his father's curious pieces of mechanism and clock-work. a celebrated physician at Edgbaston near Birmingham; brother to Dr. James Johnstone. Assistant Tutor in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy; settled at Exeter; became an enlightened and firm Unitarian; opened a respectable academy in conjunction with Mr. Bretland; died suddenly at Wrexham, in the midst of life; three volumes of Exposition of the Historical Books of the New Testament, and two volumes of Sermons have been published since his death, which are highly creditable to his memory: he left two sons, ministers; the eldest, John, the learned Classical Professor of the College at York; the younger, George, settled some time at Hull. settled at Bloxham; highly respectable; be- Narborough-Cockey Moor-Warrington— Stannington. Thomas Lee, Esq. Dr. ASHWORTH died in July, 1775. 1776, 1777, Thomas Burkitt, m. d. Benjamin Davis, m. d. Benjamin Fawcett, d. d. Remarks. Walthamstow-Old Jewry Lecture; a most admired orator: gave up the ministry, and died in obscurity. succeeded his father as schoolmaster at Ware; died at Paris. solicitor at Birmingham. Those who entered the Institution subsequently nephew of the Rev. Job Orton, who was very Assistant Tutor at Carmarthen-Evesham. died before he had finished his studies. Abraham Wilkinson, M. D. Kidderminster-Enfield-Russell Square. Richards, m. Chadwick, m. Slater, m. d. Richard Smalley, m. d.. William Hawkes, m. d. George Osborne, m. Robert Wainewright, Esq. d. Thomas Wainewright, Esq. 1778, d. W. Browne, m. d. Edward Gibson, m. d. Samuel Catlow, m. William Jacob, Esq. 1779, d. John Howard, Esq. John Lord, m. J. Geary, m. South Petherton. Congleton. Darwen died suddenly. removed to Warrington-settled at Manchester. brother of Dr. W. R. Highmore; a midshipman; took deacon's orders; practised as a physician at Huntingdon and Odiham with great success; he took his degree of LL.D. intending to practise in the Ecclesiastical Court, but was not permitted because he had taken orders. was unfortunately killed on his return from the West Indies by a broadside from an English ship of war, mistaking the ship in which he was for an enemy. removed to Hoxton: now the respectable Unitarian minister of Portsmouth, 1822. Assistant Tutor in the Mathematics and Philosophy removed with the Academy to Northampton; settled at Warrington, where he became decidedly Unitarian, and eminently zealous and successful; being supported in his exertions to promote the interest of Christian truth by the active cooperation of the most respectable members of his congregation. intended for the ministry, but preferred a civil employment a highly orthodox Baptist; West BromwichWorcester. Clerk in Court, in the Court of Chancery. Wrexham. Stannington-Stockport. merchant, Alderman of London, M. P. Kingswood, near Birmingham-Carter Lane; Beaconsfield. (To be continued.) |