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    as they are often employed to support error and suppress truth , and thus fettering the human mind in its progress of knowledge and improvement , they make men ignorant bigots or pretending hypocrites . Such laws are seeming proofs of the weakness of religion , and make

    inquiring men suspect it is imperfect and unable to support itself . That if the Christian religion is a divine revelation no discussion can injure it , nor any human efforts overturn it ; if it is founded on truth , free discussion will exhibit that

    truth , and consequently strengthen every rational mind in the belief of it ; but if it is founded on errors , severe laws may harass individuals who criticise it , and may prop it up for a time , but cannot permanently support it against truth and reason .

    " That the laws of Scotland , made for the support of the Church , and the punishment of what is called blasphemy , were so severe and oppressive that they suppressed all inquiry into the foundation of Christianity , or the truth of its

    doctrines , and compelled every one to submit to the established opinion whether right or wrong . That though two of the statutes which awarded the punishment of death for what is called

    blasphemy were repealed by the Unitarian Act , passed in 1813 , yet as free discussion on religious subjects is still considered by every one to be very dangerous ^ your petitioners apprehend that there are other laws yet in force for the protection of established religion , which are far too severe for the enlightened and inquiring spirit of the present time .

    u That your petitioners , though peaceable members of society , and strongly attached to their country , regard these laws as still allowed to exist for their oppression ; and even if these laws should be considered in desuetude ( which is

    doubtful ) , the uncertainty of that matter , and the apprehension lest they should be prosecuted for the open expression of their opinion , keeps their minds in a state of great uneasiness , and creates a dislike to the laws of their country , instead of a respect for them .

    " That your petitioners conscientiously differ in opinion from the Established Religion of their country , but have no wish whatever to disturb it ; they conceive that Deists and Christians , if they

    act according to their professions , and are not knaves and hypocrites , may carry on their discussions with temper and moderation , and live together in peace , vying with each other in good works , and not striving for each other ' s destruction . 44 That your petitioners are not anx-

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    ious to engage in theological controversy ,, but as they are weekly consigned '" to * eternal perdition from the pulpit , and daily by many of the people , they have surely the strongest reasons to examine the truth of these doctrines , and the

    merit of these books , from which they are threatened with such unrelenting severity . That your petitioners being consigned to eternal misery in a life tocome , and also unfairly dealt with in this , they are not allowed by the law to answer the arguments and examine the doctrines of those Christians who attack

    their opinion-, abuse their character and motives , and use every exertion to make them detested by their fellow-men . * ' That , as your petitioners- are compelled to pay their full proportion of the Established Clergymen ' s stipends , they consider that these Reverend Gentlemen

    would act more consistent with their professions , if they were to visit those who , they think , have gone astray , and endeavour to instruct them , rather than so rashly to pronounce their

    condemnation . That , by the prosecutions instituted against all those who arc known to print or sell their books , your petitioners are prevented from obtaining those books which defend or advocate

    their own opinions , and are thus deprived of the benefit of the press , and excluded from the same privileges which are enjoyed by every other sect , however extravagant . u That your petitioners being liable to be punished if tney meet together for public discussions or instruction , are

    convinced that it is through the forbearance of the civil authorities , and not under protection of the laws , that they can meet for that purpose ; consequently , in their present state , they have as little interest in the stability of the laws asid institutions of their country , as Jews or Aliens .

    ' That your petitioners , in publishing their opinions concerning revealed religion , and in defending their opinions , conceive that they are no more guilty of blasphemy than the Jews , who openly dispute and ridicule the doctrines of Christianity , and even reproach the character of its founder ; yet are protected by law .

    i € That your petitioners have no motive but the love of truth in questioning the divine origin of Christianity , aud can have no interest in following error when it is so dangerous ; they have as deep an interest in discovering and supporting true religion as any other men : they question the divine origin of Christianity from the sincere conviction of their minds , which their inquiries into its ovi-

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    444 Intelligence . — Parliamentary : Edinburgh Freethinkers ;

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1824, page 444, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2526/page/60/