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    century , were the tnost unprincipled and desperate marauders , were , in the next , examples of sobriety and peace . It is not meant to defend the intolerance with which the Presbyterians , as well as other sects , were chargeable . Peace be to their errors ! The

    austerity too of the Presbyterians may seem to throw an unnecessary gloom over human life , and it cannot be denied , that they formerly carried their hatred of pleasure to an unwarrantable

    excess ; but the open profligacy of their opponents , the keen struggle they had so long maintained , and their almost unparalleled sufferings , could hardly fail to throw them into the extreme of self-denial To these times .

    . succeeded others of a different complexion , in which nature asserted her dominion over the Presbyterians ; and their austerity has long ceased to pass the bounds of propriety /'

    At present , as it exists in a great part of this country , Presbyterianism is to be considered , not as implying belief in any particular controverted opinions , but rather as a religious association of various and ( as to faith and

    worship ) Independent Christian Societies , represented in annual Synods by their Elders and Ministers , and thus forming , as I mentioned ipi my former communication , tribunals for the preservation of temporal funds

    and property ; for the settlement of such differences as may unhappily arise betweeji pastors and their congregations , and for examining into the characters and qualifications , not the religious opinions , of candidates for the ministerial office . No creed

    xs imposed ; no authority is assumed over conscience , no absolute power of decision , but simply the Christian right and duty of exhorting , of admonishing , of warning . The greater part , I believe I may say all , of the ministers of the Synods of Minister and

    Antrim , and many of the ministers of the fur more numerous Synod of Ulster , hold the doctrine of the pure unity of God , and pay religious adoration to the Father only . This

    Presbyterianism ( as I have already stated ) claims no command over religious opinions or religious worship ; to what claims , therefore , " No Presbyterian " refers , when ho expresses his conviction , " that as ignorance and bigotry

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    shall give way to the farther advances of knowledge , reflection and intelligence , the Presbyterian claims will recede more and more , " I know not . And as it does not arrogate power derived from the Holy Ghost by the

    imposition of the hands of the Presb ytery ; nor attempt to infringe , in any respect , the rights of conscience , but , as I conceive , is productive of many salutary effects , I cannot join in the wish , that the very name of Presb yterianism should be banished from the earth . SENIOR .

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    168 HalVs " Apology for Freedom . '

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    Sir , MR . HALL of Leicester , in the last edition of his " Apology

    for the Liberty of the Press , " has very properly omitted some acrimonious passages concerning Dr . Horsley , of which he has given notice to the reader in his Advertisement , and one reason

    he assigns for the omission of these passages is , that they were scarcely consistent with the " reverence due TO DEPARTED GENIUS . " Now with whatever feelings we contemplate what is called Genius , that of reverence surely ought not to be one of them .

    I reverence only moral excellence . In all the writings of the early Christians , I find no reverence attached to Genius , living or departed . The Author of the Christian dispensation expresses no reverence for men of Genius . If Christians were to become

    like little children , they were not permitted to value themselves or others as men of Genius . Indeed , this term Genius , as it is now used , inspires nothing but disgust . Now every poetastic and flippant witling is a man of

    Genius , and may think himself , for aught I know , entitled to revkrknce ! If Dr . IJorsley in the privacy of his own heart , sacrificed either passion or interest to a sense of duty , I will not "II deny him reverence , and he wiJl have his reward .

    But Mr . Hall , in his reverence for departjeo Genjus , has omitted in this edition of his tract his elaborate eulogium on Dr . Priestley , without giving to the reader the slig htest intimation of such omission . Perl % ap& Dr . Priestley , when departed , was not to be regarded as a man of Genius * though whilst living , he received the

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1822, page 168, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2510/page/40/