related to natural philosophy) was so wild and absurd, that I could not treat it with much respect, and they went away much disappointed, leaving me a note, which I shall take some opportunity of sending you, and various books on the subject of Swedenborgianism, than which nothing can well be more absurd. These people increase in this town, and have built an elegant place of worship. With the principal of them I am well acquainted. They call themselves Unitarians, and preach much against the Trinity.* One of them told me, that what taught him to think on the subject of religion was my Appeal. As they court my acquaintance very much, I have some thoughts of writing an Address to them. We have just printed the last sheet of Collins. Has Mr. Frend sent you, as I desired he would, the tract that he thought would properly accompany it ?+ FROM MR. ALEXANDER SPARKES. REV. SIR, Quebec, Oct. 18, 1790. A FEW days ago I was favoured with a very friendly letter from Mr. Lindsey, of London, with a parcel of books, including a copy of your Ecclesiastical History, for which, he informs me, I am obliged to you. I should judge myself not only deficient in duty, but should also do violence to the feelings of my heart, did I not testify the sincerest gratitude for such an obliging attention from a person whose character and merits I so highly esteem. Had I thought myself entitled to seek a more intimate acquaintance than I hitherto could boast, with a person of your eminence in the world of letters, I should certainly have endeavoured to make myself known to you before this time. From the acquaintance I have been endeavouring to cultivate with your valuable writings for a few years past, I conceived a very great desire (if Providence should ever put it into my power) of seeing the man to whom I felt myself so much in↑ Orig. MS. * See W. XXI. 48-51. debted, or, if that could not be, of at least testifying my obligations in some other way. I would, in consequence, have requested the honour of exchanging a few letters with you, had it not appeared to me a request too selfish on my own part, and only calculated to call off your attention from more important objects, and give you trouble, without any profit or entertainment. But, as your goodness and obliging condescension, of which I am still more and more convinced, may perhaps incline you to take so much trouble, in order to gratify a desire which your writings have excited, should you be so good as hereafter to rank me in the number of your friends, and favour me with your countenance and advice, I shall reckon the circumstance, which first made my name known to you, as one of the most fortunate circumstances of my life. I will not trouble you farther at present; but if you give me leave, I shall be happy at some future period to open to you my situation and sentiments, in hopes of improving by your instruction and advice.* TO REV. T. LINDSEY.† DEAR FRIEND, Birmingham, Oct. 18, 1790. THE parcel about which you express some concern arrived very safe, presently after I had dispatched my last, and much am I obliged by the contents, which shall all be disposed of according to your directions. I hope you will make a still more liberal use of my two Histories. Now is the time to make an impression, and nothing should be spared that tends to confirm it. Your last work cannot but do the greatest good; it contains so masterly and scholar-like a proof of Justin Martyr being the very first who started the idea of Christ being the Logos, which is the corner-stone of the Trinitarian system. I had only surmised it; but you have proved it.‡ Yesterday we did, at a full meeting of the subscribers to our * Orig. MS. + Essex Street. See supra, pp. 75, 76. Sunday-school, what may surprise, but, I hope, will please you. We gave a hearty and unanimous invitation to Mr. Berington to preach our annual sermon on the subject. I was directed to write to him, in the most respectful manner, expressing our approbation of his liberal treatise on the subject, and the pleasure it would give us to set an example of persons of different persuasions meeting on the common ground of Christianity and benevolence. I expect this will make some noise, but I hope it will have a good effect. It is a thing that I had talked of rather lightly some time ago, and was surprised when Mr. Russell proposed it to me, quite seriously, as the real wish of all that he had conversed with on the subject. Mr. Blythe expressed his most hearty concurrence. Since Mr. Magellan's death, I am at a loss for a person to take up and transmit to me the volume of the Philosophical Transactions. I wish you would get Mr. Johnson, or any body else, to call (as the volume has been published some time) and take it of the librarian, signing the book in my name. I have told Mr. Belsham that I now, since I have been acquainted with Mr. Wakefield, feel a little awkwardly to leave See I. 198. I find "Hyacintho de Magallaens," with three other priests, indicted, in 1768, and "brought to trial in the Court of King's Bench," under the infamous "Statute 11 and 12 William III," at the suit of a common trading informer. To impede the vexatious progress of this Protestant persecution," the twelve judges consulted," and " Lord Mansfield" delivered, on the Bench, "June 25, 1768," their unanimous " opinion that, in order to convict a man upon those statutes, it is necessary that he be proved to be a priest, and that he has said mass." This sensible and humane judicial decision, alone appears to have procured the acquittal of Magallaens and his companions in tribulation. Just before, the same worthy Protestant prosecutor had indicted " Mr. John Baptist Malony, who was brought to his trial at Croydon, in Surry, and being convicted of having exercised the functions of a priest of the Church of Rome, was sentenced to perpetual imprisonment in the New Gaol, Southwark, but, upon his petition, removed to the King's Bench," while "the informer received from the sherriff of the county 100%., as the reward assigned by law for his information." Quis, talia fando, temperet à lacrymis? See "Life of Bishop Chaloner," (1784,) pp. 162, 165–168. him out of the number of translators. See what I have written to him, and give us your opinion.* TO THE SAME. DEAR FRIEND, Birmingham, Oct. 27, 1790. MR. BERINGTON was not applied to to preach the annual charity sermon, but only a Sunday-school sermon, at our place. He has sent a handsome refusal, a copy of which, as well as of my letter to him, I will send you. He hopes, he tells me, it may be prudent for him to do it some time hence, though not at present. Mr. Russell said that his friends in London, particularly the bankers, depended upon a peace; but all appearances, as well as your accounts, are for war. The final issue of all things must be good. This is our consolation in all things.† To MR. FREND.‡ DEAR SIR, Birmingham, Nov. 2, 1790. You say not a word, in your last, about what required the speediest notice, in mine to you, from Leeds, viz. the tract that you said might properly accompany the new edition of Collins on Liberty.§ The press is set for the last sheet, and has continued so this month, waiting for your answer. I hope, therefore, you will delay no longer, but by Mr. Lindsey send it to me as soon as possible, unless you be clearly of opinion, that, on maturely considering the subject, it will not answer. In that case we shall soon finish here. I cannot help smiling at all you say, of the difficulties in your province of the translation. I would very thankfully exchange with you. I am sure I might complain with as much eloquence, and as much truth as you do, on the subject of my insufficiency; but consider that all we profess is an improved and an improvable version; and with the helps that we all have, or may procure, a little plain good sense, with a * Orig. MS. Post Office, Canterbury. ↑ Orig. MS. § See supra, p. 82. general knowledge of the subject, is of more consequence than all the rest. As to making few changes in the present translation, the fewer the better, if they be not really wanted, which, in your part, will not be often. I hope you have Calasio, by Romaine; at least, you can have it from your libraries in Cambridge. It is an inestimable work. As to Mr. Nesbitt,* you may, if you please, give my compliments to him, and tell him I think myself obliged by his candid notice of what I have written on the subject of the Miraculous Conception; but I have no thoughts at present of writing any more on the subject, at least till he has considered more of my arguments than as yet he appears to have done. I shall be most glad to encourage him all in my power, with respect to his reply to Dr. Edwards, whom I may perhaps briefly notice; but I wish to have the subject considered more at large, than I shall be disposed to do it. Now is the time to bring forward the evidences of Christianity, in every point of view; and I wish it to appear, that the greatest enemies of the corruptions of Christianity stand forth the most strenuous and the ablest defenders of Christianity itself, that the objection to us as Deists, or lukewarm Christians, may be no longer made.t TO REV. T. LINDSEY. DEAR FRIEND, Birmingham, Nov. 2, 1790. I INCLOSE a parcel of letters, with my answers, which I beg you to forward. I also send my Resurrection sermon,§ with respect to which I request your freest opinion. It must, however, be returned in a few days, as I have promised to preach it at Dudley on Sunday sennight, Mr. Wood preaching our Sunday-school sermon. I meant to give it to your congregation, and shall keep it for that purpose, if you please. I am so much urged to print it, that I hope it will do some good; but be not you biassed by this. I am reading Peter Annet, and others, on the subject. I send a parcel of sermons, &c. Send them to whom you ↑ Orig. MS., communicated by Mr. Frend. |