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    tetry aod mad-worship , " ttoua profanely to " take into the fellowship of power , " and admit to the exercising of " the high and holy function of law-giving , " men who only make " a verbal profession \ of their belief in the Word of God , and verbal declarations of their views and

    experience of its truths , " is without con- < troversy to " break down her bulwarks , " and expose herself to " the utmost indignation and the severest judgment of God ; to constitute another monstrous form of power , which is power derived from the people , and not from Christ , and holden for the people , and not for Christ . " Notwithstanding , however ,

    even the impertinent interference of this Scotch quack , one of the most important measures which has for many years marked the history of our country , has passed into a law . It is doubly valuable as the concession of a Tory administration , whose testimony it bears to the necessity of meeting and conciliating an

    extended spirit of toleration and liberality . A contemporary well observes , that the pertinacious denial of the pro * gress and power of opinion can no Ion * ger be maintained . " The long-denied power is making itself too obviously palpable to the grosser seuses to allow of further delusion . The set of the wind

    may be disputed , even while the stoutest oaks bend to it ; but when the vane at the church steeple points to liberality , the case hardly admits of doubt . When Bishops are seen arrayed on the side of toleration , the signs of the times are traced in characters top broad for misapprehension . It will no longer do for

    Buus and Blackwoods and Quarterly * to tie the weathercock , and then endeavour to make their readers comfortable , by assuring them that the gale of opinion blows steadily and- strong their way ; those who are navigating the State vessel convincingly give the lie to the story by the trim of their sails and the slant of their course . "

    It is most gratifying that such a result should have been produced on the first attempt ; that no- exasperating controversies , no personal or party irritation * should have been- excitedv The first division , ( unexpected aa it was , no doubt , to both parties ) was decisive , and it

    became the interest of the opponents of the measure to prevent irritation ^ to si * lence as much as possible all conflicting discussion , and to smooth its progress to maturity . In all this , it is a tribute of justice due to the administration to state , that their conduct was throughout candid , fair ) open , and straight-forward ;

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    that they met the exigencies of the case with a sincere disposition to deal with it in good faith , and on a sound , healthy basis . They saw what must be done ta > give satisfaction ; they promised their assistance ; and kept their promise in a friendly , ungrudging spirit , which has gained them respect and couftdence .

    We shall not be expected to speak with unmixed approbation of an act which so . far yields to remaining prejudice as to bear the marks , however in * distinct or modified , of attachment to religious tests and distinctions ; hot we * do say that the Dissenting body ought ; to receive it , and we have no doubt will do so , as a concession of infinite value to them , and one which the most sanguine expectation could , a few years or months

    ago , have hardly ventured to picture to itself as probable . We may express out * disapprobation that a religions profession should still be required from the candidates for civil authority ; yet who , but a few months ago , would have thought that the Dissenters would feel themselves , much aggrieved at finding that the only profession required on that head was one implying that the party was " a Christian" ?

    In former numbers we have traced the progress of the bill from the time when it became manifest that the addition of some oath or declaration was necessary to ensure the success of the measure , and that such an addition would have that effect . The one proposed by Mr . Pee ) >

    which has passed unaltered , except as to its proem , pledges the subscriber not to use the power , authority , or influence of his office , to the prejudice of the church ; and by the mode of its imposition , no distinction ia produced between Churchmen and Dissenters , each class making the same profession *

    Such a declaration was of course viewed with jealousy . Many think thai it wo , uld have been wiser on the part of the chuich to waive it altogether , especially as it is clear that Acts of Indemnity must continue to pass , which will in a year or two make it a dead letter . The church , however , thought differently , and it was obviously difficult fo * ijfts * leaders to bear the bvunt of the attacks *

    levelled against them for surrendering ' . '< the bulwark , " without being' able to say that they had made some stipulation . It was , in short , necessary for them toask , and politic for the Dissenter * toconcede , something to the point of honour , and to smooth the way by making * the concession one of terms . If there wa » to he a declaration , we

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    Intelligence ^ Corporation and T&fActs . 427

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1828, page 427, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2561/page/67/