The Preaching of the Regular Clergy and Defended in a Visitation Sermon and Further Vindicated in an Appendix

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1817. Excerpt: ... indeed I am not more unqualified than indisposed. Far be it from me to volunteer so unnecessary a responsibility. Let each individual among us stand or fall by his own deeds. In matters of conduct I can but hope by my utmost endeavours, through the Grace of God, to deliver my own Soul. Yet even in regard to practical duties, I may disbelieve, 1 must disbelieve, and I claim a right of expressing my disbelief of the sweeping indiscriminate charges which are too frequently brought, and chiefly I suspect by the enemies of the Establishment, against the morality of the Clergy, and which are too frequently credited by those who begrudge the expence of an endowed Priesthood, and hate the restraints of that Gospel which it k appointed to teach, and to enforce. On any other occasion I might deem it expedient to endeavour to counteract some of the evil which is done to the sacred interests of morals and religion, by persons who represent the errors, the faults, the vices of Individuals among us, as the errors, faults, and vices of the whole Order. At present I will only beg leave to remind our accusers, or rather those who, from whatever motives, listen with too perceptible a satisfaction to the insinuation of our demerits; that the Clergy of this Kingdom, with comparatively few exceptions, lead in retirement and humility, though of like passions with their Lay Brethren, irreproachable and useful lives. Observed by the ever-waking eye of infidelity; their every action watched with malignant scrutiny by the dissolute; their very words weighed with scrupulous accuracy, even in the hour of mental relaxation, and amid the accustomed levities of easy conversation; how seldom do they afford any scandal to the holy character of their profession! Putting the political usef...