Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-01-18
FROM /" PROTESTANIsaE' BY JOHN
.a.:."% GORDON; LONDON. .."-...-

4 ~5.. ~. GOESDOcS LONDON. .::--.=.. 3d..
Protestanism, whether it be considered
historical o. phiIosophicaIIy, is an appeal
against the authority of the church. 1t
will be my object to state the principles on
which think that appeal may be justif-
ed. All | shall say will converge to the
one point of individual freedom in the mat.
ter of relig ION ard design nv failure
lectures to be merely illustrative Of tina,
point. -" .........". -. ..
+ The Claim of church authority is gen,
orally supported by Statements relative to
1.-The difficulty connected with the forma-
ton OF individual opinion, aud the Deces-
| sitv Of preserving unity of faith. 49,.
| enter not now upon the consideration
of the theological truth ofthese statements
That may come under our review hereaf
ter, when the difficulty and the necessity
may both be disputed, as far as they bear
upon the question. | put On one side al
so, at least for the present, the fact that
this difficulty is not met, and this necessity
lis no: answered, by any church system
whatever. | content myself, Oh this occa
SIGN, with making such remarks on these
two positions as may be amply confirmed
by the argument directly bearing upon
individual liberty, which it is my main
purpose 10 conduct. :.-:=.... 49,. :
| As 20 the difficulty connected with the
formation of individual religious opinion
I it has nothing to do with the real question
in controversy. That question is-Wheth
er there ought to be individual opinion
It is question of right, not question as
10 the manner in which that chit may b.
exercised The church claims authority
: which is Intended 10 set aside individual
investigation. The validity of that claim
must be first decided upon. Has tn,
church right 10 the authority ? Or ha
the man: on the contrary, right to pur
sue the Investigation Let Us clear uE
that point, and then, if i: be needfuI, w
may proceed TO examine the dificuttie
which may be connected with the use 0
the power which we grant to the man
ID entertain the question Of difficulty frs,
: would be only to prejudice the subject
e the essen ial truth of which it canno
? touch. T.. . ....". -. - =.
: Then, again, as to The necessity of pre-
: serving unity Of faith. | have aImos
the same remark 10 make upon that pos
= ton as have jast made upon the forme
;! one. 1t does not bear upon the matter i
dispute. That matter is-Whelher iher
Eshould~be any faith at alI2 | deny tn
application Of the term faith, in any reliE
lous accePtation OF it, to mere reiteratio
y OF opinions which have not commende
- themselves to the individual Judgment
} him who repeats them after others. III
10 grounds on which that denial rests mu
= De first examined. 1t must be shown ih
j. implicit submission 10 priestiy authors
IS faith; or. at least such faith as reli
d. ion sanctions and require. Till that
&c shown, the objection about preserving Il
re unity of the faith is an assumption of Il
D. point in contest say that such submit
eS SIGN is not the filth which the subject d
60 mands. Faith can only exist when I
d. personal right attaching to human natu
is possessed and experienced. When Ii
ar question is settled, and not till then, w
en- be the time, if needfal, to enter upon 4