Page 100. “I must confess for myself that, after reading with all the attention in my power Mr. Newman’s _Lectures on Justification_, I consider them the greatest insult—not intentionally, of course, but in fact, the greatest insult ever offered to our Church and the whole body of our Reformers, by any divine of talent and reputation for orthodoxy since the 16th Century.”
Page 108. “The substantial disagreement of these divines with Holy Scripture, and their substantial agreement with the Romanists, are as clear as the day. To speak of their disagreement with our Articles and Homilies after the incredible sophistry of Tract No. 90, would be useless.”
“Give me the principles of interpretation by which justification is thus, as by a magic wand, enchanted away, and I will prove or disprove anything. Let me apply such a process to the word sanctification or glorification, or faith or law, and I will disprove all the doctrines of the Gospel.”
“Nay, give me these principles—I speak it with awe—and I will defend the Arian, the Socinian, the Antinomian, the Neological, the Rationalist heresies.”
In any other profession such opinions as these could not be published without compelling the individuals thus censured to take some steps to vindicate their character. Laudable endeavours are on foot to prevent duelling. The only profession clear of that practice ought to be foremost in showing that means can be provided for guarding the reputation of its members. At this time no clergyman knows how to meet such a reproach as that conveyed in the above Charge. There is no individual or body of men to whom he can appeal as possessing, in public estimation, authority to clear him from the reproach, or to direct his conduct. Thus, language is continually used amongst clergymen which, if it became common in all professions, would lower the standard of English manners, and, thus far, degrade the national character.
If only _for the credit of the clergy_, and to check the injury of a bad example in a quarter where it should be especially guarded against, some authoritative decision ought to be pronounced on the meaning of Subscription.
NORWICH: PRINTED BY CHARLES MUSKETT, OLD HAYMARKET.
{ 33} In proposing this test, it is assumed that the view of the late Professor of Divinity, Bishop Marsh, with regard to the condemnatory clauses attached to the Athanasian Creed, would be thenceforward considered as established in our Church. His words are, “I do not mean to defend those anathemas. They are no part of the Creed itself.”