The Sun.
London, England, 1827-10-24 00:00:00

stroyed by causes opposite to these."

Again—
" Mockery and ridicule, when exercised upon the SCt
tures, or even upon the places, persons, and forms 8014
for the ministration of religion, fall within the miss,
the law which forbids the profanation of God's name; or
dolly as that- law is extended by Christ's interpretatiell'i
They are; moreover, - inconsistent with A religious fro', ew
mind ; for, as no one ever either feels himself disposea
pleasantry, or capable of being diverted with the please:
of of ethers, upon matters in which he is deeply interestetk7
a mind intent upon the acquisition of heaven, rejects 01
indignation every attempt to entertain it with jests, cjieut;
lated to degrade or deride subjects which it never recollec
but with seriousness and anxiety. Nothing but stul'idilel;
or the most frivolous dissipation of thought, can make e-nr
the inconsiderate forget the supreme importance of eve'
thing which relates to the expectation of a future existence'
Whilst the infidel mocks at the superstitions of the vter
insults over their credulous fears, their childish errcribebo
fantastic rites, it does not occur to hint to observer ,e,
the most preposterous device by which the weakest dor!,
ever believed he was securing the happiness of a future
llt
is more rational than unconcern about it. Upon this sA
nothing. is so absurd as indifference—no folly 60 nn
- - - • - .

temptible as thoughtlessness and levity.
e
and
d
m in
q
0:0 ce
4a,ib,olvlnnifielf:deifteic.toat,‘tetio;hjsirilsotrnolu.lll:htetsoee's,
~ltdirtly atsehe
ligion lsr.eobeegicphteacetsa:(ifite:iicitelti,iyieltite,ficteiyieo3.l,t,s rhi):a)knowledgehostjeinlileienbs,ideipi,ia.teehsitiroyireiteioaffiomn.iooirntungieteusliq.ad(atnsinfidlei,uoici,cyllefev,uaeli
fttltahseriii(etdrgtne:avoolynhldite:ffibe:
iniriiielirsae.eulsetes,ilaoblatdE,tiekirnryvgitilciioasikiaerii,r
eesio,srtindmesitttafooeo.usdra,nflianvabsitcipdni,isßies,e f,u,iiiyaq,suoorrituobaaft:ai:li,inusersoteeod:ciib
etraoe
siilvetilvotehio3l.
d
ration
uld
ose of
of
immortality, that its credit be assailed by no other %vette."
than those of sober discussion and legitimate reasoning,`
that the truth or falsehood of Christianity he never nor
a topic of raillery, a theme for the exercise of wit or er'
gnome, or a subject of contention for literary fame anav''
tory—that the cause be tried upon its merits—that all sl':
plications to the fancy, passions, or prejudices of the regir
amlluaitt,tetnjatsutoaprtr,e-inoficcuuenpyce,,eonrsniarnrep,reouriopneTvlbeaxtsobeterre;ti
trinsic to the proper grounds and evidence upon whi
assent ought to proceed, be rejected from a question Whh`
involves in its determination the hopes, the virtue, tinat-e
repose of millions."
Gentlemen, I forbear to pursue any furthe,t
topic of the same • nature, discussed whsle"
same eloquence, abilities, and justice. ta,
it us a sample of my own sentiments, in languwf
better-than I could express, for the purpose of
tiliowing that the rule of law which forbids the
sort Of discussion and attack that this }tee'
rend' Author cultivates, is founded on ress°°'
on morals, and of universal application to all re;
ligion ; and therefore to be valued, cherishe;
and upheld, as it regards our own religion,whic
in our judgment, is that calculated for
out the highest hopes of salvation to mankind
Those gentlemen who employ their intellects e
this respected writer did, to persuade manitiPb;
in the voice of reason and morality, to obey toie
will of God, are benefactors to their race :.th
who attempt to destroy such principles sci
foundations, .on which the best morality is c°l,;
strueted, would do well to consider 'sr'
'Orvsysteni they • have ,to introduce ins
what authority, and what satisfaction
tb°
can 131
give, for the purpose of restoring
•
tranquillity and repose to millions, of which', 0,
their attempts, they are sapping the founclat'°o
Gentlemen, I shall not condescend
you myself the language this defendant ha:
principleci
dared to use, the mockery he has introduces
for the purpose of assailin.,- the
forms, and personages most
considered the most sacred by
will be sufficient that you our religion.
officer whose atici'd
sbouic;;l:earrentcheadt
jaa::
guage once read over by the
you find that the &Ober
has a right to ilse'e
it will be to do so. If
ant (Taylor) has- employed those means of s° if
discussion. every !van
you find he has made use of none of dios
for
weapons insufferable in all countries,
to
God's sake acquit him. Ido not stand liebo
on. behalf of the law of England, or of those `l3l,
cherish:et:3l,lll
ewhitraiitisttaitacikistfaith , to ask that any 1110
should have his conscience forced to give ere i‘
to that which he does believe..tsphooebtefraitsil r
ioofu;snntbi(e)iusi
isstitoatitl state
you
thatsaibi: us
abuse,
propriety, not with ley' j
--not with ridicule—not with mocker,' °lt
do it with
whifr
proves that the man who makes the 3-3
hi
is conscious of what he is about, and tthe
it is far from his intention wantonly (i° froi
language of that beautiful writer) «to
the
-
the tranquillity and repose of millions." ss
It seems, Gentlemen, that Mr. Taylor j
once a Member of the Church of England, 3.114
I understand, by a singular perversity of
that he still boasts of that privilege ! If I am
before me no
mistaken I see that very gentlemanthe Attorner
Mr. Taylor, standing near CO--
General—Yes, Sir. g
pAL continued, taki'l
The ATTORNEY-GEN ds
disgraces. He has hire
a pride in the. robes he
place.once dedicated to public worship,--has
gdt
se
vertised the discussion of opinions there, and
.0
in canonical orders. The mode',
himself up this
which be conducts the proceeding there, i$
ho
—he receives money at the door from those
are deluded in, and there delivers a leetllti
by the hour, which will be read to ials:
You will consider whether it is, or is not, 150
cussion of the evidence of Christianity. fle
bell
pretends, in mockery, to have a fellow with 5 le
after him, who calls out when the lecture is c:00
eluded, " If there be any Church Minister 'let
who wishes to answer our reverend orit°r'
him speak and he shall be' heard." am sitig
it will occur to you, as it has to me, on he3roj,
this, to ask, " Can this be a man whose unde°t'ligo
ing makes him a subject of moral discipline?: Or,
such defence is to be made on the part
Taylor : he has acuteness, intelligence, 9"` 011,g
will hear him to-day ; (for I see him- Tr's It
preparations to vindicate his own conduct.)ool,
his defence, Gentlemen, were put on that gf°, 0i
intelle:t
I should think it rational, but no such Pc of
attempted. Now I will give you a speeit!ello
ejt
the mode in 'which the congregation is infiL tom
hear him : I shall bring this home to hiOl_fiise'
for I will show its recognition, as the ads'eose
went issued under his authority
,for the po r
of inviting a congregation. rest,
(The following advertisement was here fell'
from the Examiner Newspaper, of Sunday'
11th) tidy
" CHRISTIAN EVIDYNCE SOCIETY.—The Ninety
Discussion will be held in the Areopagus, on The'4o,
13th instant, at Seven precisely. Subject--` The