CHAPTER VI.

MR. NEWMAN'S DISCOURSE ON NONCONFORMITY-RECEIVES HIS DIPLOMA—REV. R. HALL'S LETTER IN RELATION TO IT-ADDITIONAL PUBLICATION-PERSONAL AFFLICTION -REMOVES TO BOW-DIARY.

ELABORATE and standard works on the subject of nonconformity, have been found to keep pace, generally, with the memorable events which occasioned their appearance. Certainly intolerance can advance no valid claim to participate in the admiration excited by the triumphant refutations of the absurd positions, and legalized oppressions, which induced their publication. In adjusting the balance, however, between the good and the evil, connected with such protracted, and, not seldom, intemperate discussion, the able and magnanimous defence of freedom, whether civil or sacred, against unprincipled invasion, is an item in the account of considerable importance, and should be ever regarded as a valuable contribution to the most deserving of all objects, in procuring which its least scrupulous adversaries have been rendered principally instrumental. Happily, too, besides the more enlarged and systematic works to which reference has been made, summaries of the history and principles of

nonconformity, adapted to the many whose means and opportunities are least extensive, have been judiciously supplied; and it may be added, that to this class of publications, present appearances indicate no inconsiderable augmentation. The com

petency of Mr. Newman to exhibit this subject in a clear and comprehensive form, may be easily determined by referring to a discourse entitled "The Principles of Nonconformity sanctioned by the New Testament," delivered March 20th, 1817, at the monthly meeting of ministers and messengers, and, at their request, afterwards published. In the introduction to this admirable sermon, the preacher, with his uniform candour, says,

'My object is not to pour out invectives on national churches. The late Mr. Ryland used to say frequently, with his characteristic warmth of manner, Set up the ark, set up the ark, and we shall see whether Dagon will fall or not.' To the angels above us, the different parties of christians must often appear a collection of Babel-builders in confusion. The churchman expatiates on the awful and aggravated sin of schism. The dissenter exclaims, 'What a popish liturgy they have.' The baptist is astonished that any protestant can plead for infant baptism. The pædobaptist denounces his baptist brother for casting out the seed of believers from the covenant! Thus most men are very busy in pulling down their neighbours' houses

instead of building up their own. As to our own national establishment, I most readily great that there are now living (not to speak of the mighty dead) many individuals, whose piety and learning, whose zeal and good works, would do honour to any denomination. All such good men I love and

honour, not for the church of England's sake, but for the truth's sake which dwelleth in them, and shall be with them for ever."-p. 8.

He then proceeds to lay down the principles upon which alone the noble fabric of christian belief and worship can be safely constructed. These are, "THE

SUPREMACY OF CHRIST THE SPIRITUALITY OF HIS KINGDOM-THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES

THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE JUDGMENT and the RIGHT OF PUBLIC PROFESSION AND WORSHIP." Having explained and illustrated these impregnable positions, he concludes thus :-" It must be confessed, and I confess it with shame, that many of our fellowworshippers are ignorant; that many are indolent, and never apply their minds to these subjects; that many pursue a line of conduct extremely inconsistent with their avowed principles as dissenters; and that many are infected with prejudice against those principles for which their ancestors died the glorious death of martyrdom. Let none of these reproaches fasten upon you, my respected hearers, but, on the contrary, let it be seen that you are alive and awake to every question that necessarily

involves the highest glory of your Redeemer, as the King of Zion, and the dearest interests of his church on earth.

"To stimulate your zeal in these inquiries, let me entreat you to look for a moment into Europe, the fairest proportion of the whole globe. Look at all the southern states, including Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Turkey,

From Hercules' Pillars to fam'd Palestine,'

a line of coast extending along the Mediterranean, nearly two thousand miles. Alas! what do the inhabitants of those countries, even now, in the nineteenth century, know of the supremacy of Christ-of the spirituality of his kingdom-of the sufficiency of the scriptures of the right of private judgment, or of the right of public profession and worship!

Truth is ad

"But let no man's heart fail him. vancing. In this great cause no effort is lost. Those who have shaken off their fetters will not suffer them to be put on again; nor can they possibly unlearn what they have at length learnt, respecting the truth so interesting to them in all that belongs to this world and the world to come. The British and Foreign Bible Society, and all other Bible Societies, are powerfully contributing to weaken the ties of superstition and implicit faith; to draw christians, of all denominations, into closer union; to promote amicable discussion of those points in

which they differ; and to bring them all back to the charter, to the constitution, to the original, unadulterated revelation of God. If the last age was this will be the age

the age of battles, let us hope

of bibles.

"I rejoice to think that the protestant dissenters, generally, have taken their full share in the labour, and must be entitled to a full share in honour of promoting this divine emancipation. And in our own denomination we have still living some very distinguished men, particularly at Serampore, whose praise is in all the churches of the old world and the new, for the skill, the zeal, the perseverance, and the unwearied assiduity, with which they devote themselves to this great work. May they, and all others who have the same object in view, be crowned with the abundant benediction of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen!"-pp. 32—34.

A copy of this discourse was presented to Dr. Lindsay, whose sentiments concerning it, in a note to the preacher, are thus expressed :

"Grove Hall, Bow, Nov. 15.

"Dear Sir, I have read the sermon which you were kind enough to send me, with great pleasure; and I wish, sincerely, it were read and studied with attention by every dissenter of every denomination in the three kingdoms. Churchmen and catholics