terpretation, to render this expansion of these his plans, if not the more complete, at any rate the more clearly, and readily, and extensively intelligible. 66 "On this ground," (then says he)" let us man fully take our stand; in the fixed resolution, "neither to swerve from the example of our fa"thers," [add whether Protestant or Popish,]" nor "disregard the admonitions of scripture" [add, where they condemn that same example]. "The "diffusion of knowledge," (continues he) the diffusion of knowledge "disjoined from religious in"struction," [add, viz. as you will see presently, in that profession, and that alone, in which under the name of the profession of our ancestors, we Bishops and those under us administer it]-this diffusion of knowledge "stands in the same relation to igno"rance, as positive evil to the absence of good. "It is an enormous encrease of power, without any adequate check or controul; injurious to "the individual, injurious to the community, and "thus destructive of happiness, the only reasonable "end of all attempts at improvement." [Add, and herein we adopt, and in and by our adoption strengthen, as well as purify, the doctrine of that successor of Mahomet, by whom the library of Alexandria was purified of its contents. Either they are the same, says he, with those of the Koran, or they are different:-if the same, they are useless, if different, worse than useless.] "And here" (continues his Lordship) "we should carefully guard against the "dangerous maxims, too often recommended, by "the specious names of liberality, charity, and love " of peace. INDIFFERENCE TO FORMS OF "FAITH IS INDIFFERENCE TO TRUTH " OR FALSEHOOD. The Gospel we receive "with reverential acquiescence as the word of "God. But the doctrine which rests on erroneous interpretation," [add, and every interpretation but our own is of course erroneous,] "or perverse ex"position, of the sacred text," [add, and every exposition but our own is perverse,]" is the vain ima"gination of man, usurping the authority of scrip"ture, and extruding divine truth. From our " ancestors," [add, viz. from those among them who stood up in opposition to those principles of immutability, which I am inculcating,]" we have inherited the "profession" [add, in opposition to the practice] " of primitive and genuine Christianity; and in "neglecting to secure its transmission, in unabated "purity, to after-ages, we should be guilty of the "most unprincipled injustice to our children, the "most criminal disregard to the interests of pos"terity. A definite system of doctrines" [add, viz. presented by us]" is of equal necessity, to "maintain the integrity of revelation,” [add, revelation being unable to maintain its own integrity,] " and to prevent the introduction of dangerous and "corrupt novelties. Nor can we have rational "assurance, that any succeeding generation will be "trained in the genuine principles of Christianity, "but in the indissoluble connexion of National "Education with our National Faith:" [add, viz. of an Education which forces children to say they believe, without knowing what it is, every thing which we Bishops are paid, from 2,500l. to 25,000l. a year, for professing to believe] Bravo, Lord of London!" Disjoined from re ligious instruction"-viz. instruction in "the re"ligion of our ancestors"-Protestant and Popishnot to mention Heathen-and to the exclusion of all other instruction,-knowledge is then, according to your Lordship, so much" positive evil."-Annihilate, oh Lord, all human learning!-This is Baker out-Bakered.* Annihilate all human learning?— and for what?-Only to save from the melting-pot a few hundreds of antichristian and vice-engendering Sinecures.-Ye Gods, annihilate but space and time, and make two lovers happy!-Compared with the inward Episcopal prayer included in the above doctrine, this amorous one was a rational one. But why speak of such a wish as if it were peculiar to lovers? The miracle which the amorous religionist only prayed for, his Lordship's friend the * Under some such title as Reflexions upon Human Learning, an Svo. written by a Reverend Mr. Baker, to shew the uselessness of any other knowledge than that of things which are above knowledge, is still to be seen now and then in Catalogues. Archbishop, we have seen-if not atchieving, at least labouring at. In his way we have been seeing both time and place-if not annihilated, suppressed. Suppressed?-and for what? Only to save from the light of day the work of his hands-the exclusionary system the mind-extinguishing systemthat sanctified and so well-elaborated production of the modern den of CACUS. § X. Authors, &c. continued. Dr. Manners Sutton, Archbishop of Canterbury. II. Next, as to the Archbishop of Canterbury. In the tract so often referred to by the title of Report I, year of date 1812,-after a page occupied by the words "Account of the Proceedings for the "Formation of the National Society," the five next succeeding pages are occupied by a paper bearing at the top of the page in the form of a title, (p. 5,) the words-Education in the Principles of the Established Church. Upon examination, what this paper is found to contain, is an Account of so much of those same proceedings, as was antecedent to those spoken of in the Report by which by the several titles of "Report of the General Committee of the National Society," in a preceding page,-and Report of the General Committee, at the head of the commencing page,-it is immediately followed. For the authentication of this Account no name is visible. True it is, that at the end of it may be seen, though without day or place, the words " H. "H. Norris, Acting Secretary:" but what is thus authenticated, if by it any thing can be said to be authenticated, is-not on account of those same proceedings, but of some other proceedings subsequent to them: viz. the laying them (at no time) before the Prince Regent,* who (at no time) has been pleased to signify his entire approbation of the same, and (at the same or some other such no time,) "has condescended to offer to become the Patron "of the Society:" nor, such as it is, does the authentication, thus given by this Mr. Norris, whoever he is, and supposing a person at that time in existence to have written that word, as and for his name, appear to have been given at any time or place. In the Account, given as above of the Society in its Pre-Adamitic state,-in this Account, such as it is (viz. in p. 6,) the first fact that presents itself is-that, for the purpose therein previously described," a number of persons, friends to the Esta"blishment at a meeting holden on the 16th day "of October, 1811," (persons and place kept concealed) "His Grace the Archbishop of Canter bury, in the Chair, Resolved, That such a So"ciety be now constituted, and that measures be "taken for carrying the same into effect. That "for this purpose the Archbishop of Canterbury * Page 9. |