The National Register.
London, England, 1811-10-06 00:00:00

Cbe lOU'pit.

No. XLVIII.

What poor Evangelists prescrib'd of old,
.And studious priests to their docks unfold,
Was, till of late, by pious crowds adinied,—
Their tales authentic, as their minds inspir'd ;
Now stainu'il, as pain and low, though mystic all,
Truth must before the Dagon nonsense fall! MI LBO CANE.

Rev. THOMAS CLARE, M. A.
VICAR OF ST. BRIDE'S, NEAR FLEET-STREET.

Theologians have now their old and their new school, much
in the same way as with politicians. The twins strive in the
womb,—high-church with low-church,—but strive to no good
end. AU is thus change, and strife, and full of change. Evan-
gelicism is opposed to episcopacy; high church wages war against
low-church ; orthodoxy is threatened by unitarianism. Ought
things to be in this state ?

" The union of Church and State in this country having in-
timately connected the two subjects of Theology and civil Poli-
tics," observes one writer, " it is impossible to explain, in a
satisfactory way. many subjects of religion and morals, without,
at the sante time, adverting to such political questions as have
more or less affected the interests of the church." Occurrences
but recently confirmed this observation. During the discussions
which arose out of the Bill Explanatory of the Toleration Acts,
there was discovered enough of that spirit which still agitates
our 4 theo-political parties.' Here was not so much a questlofl
of truth, strictly christian, as a question of church and state. 1
Religion was even attempted to be made subservient to the de-
signs of politicians. Patriots were not wanting, who " recom-
mended" the public " to imitate the conduct of the Dissenters;
who, by their union, vigour, and temperate firmness, had se-
cured their object*." Perhaps this hint was intended to sti-
mulate the DiKsenters to further exertions; since these had de•
dared, exactly two days before, that they could not "but antici-
pate the speedy approach of that fortunate period when the Legis-
lature shall expunge from that Statute Book which they now dis-
grace, all Penalties, Restrictions, and Dis-abilities on ac-
count of Religion ; and," at the same time, they " earnestly
hope that nothing will occur to defeat these expectations, or, by
exciting a hostile spirit, ever! to postpone a consummation on
every account so devoutly to be wished t." Now these are the
theo-puLtical aspirations of which we speak. This spirit is evi-
dently opposed to that in which, during the years 1787, 1789,
and 1790, when the Dissenters applied to the Legislature for a
Repeal of die Corporation and 'lest Acts, they, notwithstand-
ing their dis-appointment, yet forbore, 46 since that period, to
renew their application ; unwilling uselessly to revive animosi-
ties, and preferring to wait till time and reason should have
overcome prejudice and fear. And much longer might this state
of things have lasted," continues the Address, " but for the
recent proposal of Lord Sidmouth ; which indeed excited a
very great and general alarm, the reasons for which will appear
when we advert to the previous situation of the Dissenters,
and examine the Provisions of his Bill as offered to the House
of Lords." The die, however, seems cast. Negotiation has
terminated ; hostilities are declared ; pacification seems unat-
tainable. Even of mere truce, the hope is little.
Persons there still are who cannot, happily for themselves,
perceive these things to their extent. Should light force with

• Report of Mr. Waithtnan's Speech at Guildhall, afterwards
published in the Morning Chronicle, May 30,1811.
See the Address of the Deputies appointed for Protecting
the Civil Rights of Protestant Dissenters, voted the 28th of May,
1811, William Smith, Esq. M. P. in the Chair ; accompanied
by Congratulatory Resolutions on the Rejection of Lord Sid-
inouth's Bill. .