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    674 Correspondence * ~~-0n Mr. Bennett's...

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    Mri.Bennfttt X On The Indecency Of His "...

    sentence in dispute is in connexion with the world and not with my hearers . Thes « are my words : < c At the individual request of many of you , and of sevcraf others who heard the discourse , and with my _earnest desire that it may-do good , I have sent ic into the ivortd _* I do not see why any one should he alarmed at the idea of _iose ph being the father of Jesus . " The phrase " any oney" in this connexion must e understood as _referring to , at least , every christian professor , and in this sense I certainly used it . Will Mr . Marten undertake to say , that the subject of my

    sermon causes no alarm to the professors of Christianity ? W 14 I ne undertake to say that no alarm was taken at Worship-Street Meeting-House ? O ! how I wish he could not only say both these things , hut prove such a saying to be true ! Then , I think , I _should not have had to hear that goodly portion of disgrace and slander , which has been industriously poured upon me , for the pains I took to rescue _Christianity from one of the principal objections of Jews and Infidels . However , I would not be understood as enough I were repenting what I have done , and writing with the tears of sorrow . I thank God , who I hope approves of my integrity , that what I said in my offending sermon , 1 really find to be true : « c The testimony of a good conscience is a sufficient fortification . "

    Mr . fylarten informs me , that the impropriety of the subject for such an occasion was what gave such general dissatisfaction . c < The brethren , '* he says , " were not assembled at that time to settle points of speculative and controversial _theology . ' Are there any subjects of theology but what are speculative and controversial ? I know of none . Are there any directions in the minute-book of the General Baptists , guiding the man who is to preach before the Assembly to what sort of subjects he is to discuss ? I lLno _; v of none . Did I not accept of the proposal to preach on the occasion without restriction ? I certainly did . Jf I had known that I was

    in the least degree restricted , they would never have heard me . I believe that , in the Assembly * s appointment of persons to preach before them , restrictions are never thought of . What Mr . M . therefore may mean , by telling us that the discourse -was improper for such an occasion , I cannot tell ; and therefore I shall leave it to others to find out . To open a subject , which I am persuaded is not much known among Christian professors , before the preachers and heads of the General Baptist

    connexion , in rny opinion , was the only proper method . And were it do again , I certainly should , if possible , choose a similar opportunity . As to settling points of speculative and controversial theology , I knew , as well as Mr . M . that the General Baptist Assembly did not profess to be either a council , or a synod ; and the thought of having the theological point , of J esus being the Son of _Joseph , settled by it , never entered my mind till I saw it expressed in his letter .

    I now proceed to the principal part of the charge , viz . impropriety of language . Mr . Marten gives me to under . tand that it was not the subject itself 9 nor the liberty of inquiry exhibited in its discussion ; that it gave no-very great alarm , for several persons were ot my opinion ; he acknowledges that the discussion o _& th ' e subject leads to the repetition of the expressions of which such loud complaint has been made , and of which Mr . Marten gives us a second edition ; and yet he , and a few others , think that my language upon this theological point is so abominably indecent , _that , I violated female modesty in its use ! I hope that I am as great a friend to , and

    protector of female modesty , as Mr . M . And if I were convinced that the charge were just , I should be solicitous for an opportunity publicly to dcprecatej : hc displeasure of the female part of my audience . And I have so good an opinion of the female disposition that I am persuaded 1 should not pray in vain . But let not my friend 3 Vlartcn be too hasty . I Xtjoiv that all the ladies are not or ? his side . I have heard / _im / _k _* treat the charge with the contempt it deserves . JLadies not unknown to Jtfr . Marten , have declared to me , that , they think the charge frivolous . When

    this charge of indecency was brought against me at the Assembly , in which about six or eight persons joined , a vote ot censure was proposed ; but the Assembly would not carry it , no not in any _shape . If they acquitted me , believing at the same time that I was guilty of the charge , they themselves arc censurable ; but if they thought , that my innocency demanded my acquittal , then is my friend Marten _censurable for _violating the rules of justice in charging me again with the same crime . When die A _^ _cinbly had finished their _business and had broten up ,

    674 Correspondence * ~~-0n Mr. Bennett's...

    674 _Correspondence _* _~~ -0 n Mr . Bennett ' s Sermon .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1807, page 674, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/mrp_02121807/page/54/