,transcribed from the #ahag ,j4 ,keymer edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,reasons ,,why ,a ,,churchman ,,may ,,with ,,great ,,justice ,,refuse ,,to ,,subscribe ,,to ,,the ,,british ,,and ,,foreign ,,bible ,,society4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,yarmouth3 ,printed by ,j4 ,keymer1 ,king-,street4 99 99 99 99 99 #ahag4 ,,preface4 ,as this small tract seems destined for a more extended circulation1 than was at first intended1 from the author's being strongly solicited that it might be made more public1 it may in some degree be necessary to explain his motive for its original publication2 lest it should seem to have been solely brought forward1 with a view of entering into the controversy respecting ,bible ,societies4 ,which was certainly far from the case1 because he is of opinion1 that though controversies will1 when conducted in an argumentative1 dispassionate1 and manly manner1 draw out and confirm the truth2 yet1 if conducted otherwise1 they more frequently tend to confuse others1 but very rarely to convince the parties engaged4 ,his motive1 therefore1 was very different4 ,being minister of a populous parish1 and observing1 what he conceived to be1 an unwarrantable interference in it1 to assist and forward the views of the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 though it was contrary to his known and expressed wishes2 he was1 in a manner1 compelled to give his reasons to his parishioners1 who were churchmen1 why he objected to that society2 and to shew that his objection did not arise1 as the general insinuation is1 because the ,bible was circulated1 but because there was a society established1 which1 to churchmen1 afforded greater means of circulating it2 and which1 also1 held forth greater advantages and security to the ,established ,church4 ,his object was to keep the members of the ,established ,church steady in their obedience to it2 and to put them on their guard against the invitations of the ,bible ,society1 which would only distract them4 ,he has concisely told them his reasons for forming this opinion1 and has furnished them with a reasonable excuse for not subscribing4 ,the author will now merely repeat1 that1 had it not been for the solicitations of many of his friends1 this tract would have been confined to the use of his parishes4 ,he wishes1 therefore1 to observe1 that1 as that was his first intention1 and as he has not been in the habit of writing for the press1 he hopes he shall receive indulgence for its imperfections4 ,his desire was1 that it might be useful to those for whom it was at first intended2 and he trusts it will be equally so1 when more widely diffused4 ,,reasons1 c41 c4 ,,from the increased activity which has of late been shewn by the advocates for the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 and the reflections which have been cast upon those who do not choose to join them1 it seems necessary to set this subject in its true light2 and to shew that the refusal to unite with them1 is not1 as they have falsely said1 because those who refuse are against the circulation of the ,bible2 but because they foresee danger likely to be incurred by it2 and because there is another ,bible ,society1 which was established above #ajj years before their's1 and which holds out to its subscribers1 particularly churchmen1 superior advantages2 and1 therefore1 a person may be thoroughly justified in the preference of the one ,society1 and the rejection of the other4 ,before1 however1 the subject is entered upon1 it may be necessary to say1 that these observations are intended to be addressed particularly to churchmen2 and to that class of churchmen1 who have had neither leisure nor opportunity to attend to the consideration of such subjects2 but who yet may be desirous of knowing the merits of them1 if brought forward in a concise manner4 ,they are not intended to cast any reproach on the dissenters1 nor to adopt the arrogant and dogmatical style of the ,bible ,society1 and say1 that because a person thinks differently1 he is therefore deserving of every reproachful epithet1 he is unmindful of the eternal welfare of the poor1 and guilty of a total dereliction of his duty4 ,this style is by no means adapted to the temper or disposition of the writer of these observations1 who wishes to urge what he says1 in a clear and candid manner1 void of all anger1 bitterness1 or clamour4 ,he being well convinced1 that1 if reason and sound argument will not bring conviction to a man's mind1 anger or vehemence of expression will never effect it4 ,for a good cause only requires to be fairly stated to insure approbation2 whilst a bad cause1 being fearful of not obtaining any support1 strives to snatch it by violence and declamation4 ,the chief arguments urged by the advocates of the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 are the general circulation of the ,bible2 and the love and harmony which an union of churchmen with dissenters must1 they say1 naturally inspire4 ,it will not1 however1 be difficult to prove1 that neither the one nor the other can be exclusively claimed by them4 ,that they cannot appropriate the former solely to themselves2 nor has the latter been at all proved by recent occurrences4 ,to prove that the circulation of the ,bible does not exclusively belong to the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 it needs only be said1 that there is another ,society for that purpose1 called the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge4 ,it is asserted by some1 that these two ,societies will not interfere with1 nor oppose1 each other4 ,but how can this be proved1 when1 by the strong recommendation of the one1 and the total silence as to the other1 subscriptions are drawn to the one1 which might very materially assist and increase the powers of the other1 seems inexplicable4 ,if merely the distribution of the ,bible were the sole effect to be produced1 and no other consequence to be apprehended1 there could be no possible objection to either1 and it might not signify through which channel it was carried4 ,for the ,bible is the work of men divinely inspired1 and contains every thing which a ,christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health2 and therefore1 no book can be more proper1 nor more useful1 nor deserve to be more freely nor more widely circulated4 ,but though it is a book which is so proper1 so useful1 and deserves to be as freely and as widely circulated as possible1 and though it contains every thing necessary for a ,christian's salvation1 yet there are in it some parts which are not so easy to be understood2 but require the assistance of fit and proper persons to point out to the unlearned the proper meaning of those passages4 ,the explanation1 however1 of these difficult passages will vary1 according to the religious notions of the person1 to whom the application for assistance is made4 ,and as it is well known1 that the ,socinian1 the ,independent1 the ,anabaptist1 the ,methodist1 and other sects1 all think they derive the tenets of their respective religions from the ,bible1 it is surely of importance1 notwithstanding the ostensible object of the two ,societies is the same1 for a churchman to consider whom he assists in the explanation of the ,bible1 and what channel he authorizes for its distribution2 lest1 whilst the letter of the ,gospel is distributed1 the spirit of it should be completely altered4 ,the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge certainly1 holds forth superior advantages to a churchman3 ,first1 ,because it is a ,society which consists entirely of churchmen2 ,secondly1 ,because ,bibles can there be procured at a cheaper rate2 ,thirdly1 ,because those ,bibles are more useful2 and1 ,fourthly1 ,because it furnishes ,prayer ,books and ,religious ,tracts4 ,first1 ,it is a ,society which consists entirely of churchmen4 ,a ,society formed of persons professing the same system of religion1 can have no other view than the promotion of that religion4 ,there will be no variety of interpretations in essential points1 no confusion occasioned among the unlearned by different comments4 ,the churchman will explain the difficult and doubtful parts1 if applied to for an explanation of them1 in the way prescribed by the best church commentators4 ,but1 if not applied to for that specific purpose1 will rather recommend an attention to those parts of ,scripture1 which point out the way to salvation1 and which are so clear and plain1 that he who runs may read his duty4 ,he will circulate the ,bible1 because he firmly believes it will best promote his religion1 and that his religion prescribes the best mode of obtaining eternal salvation4 ,there can1 therefore1 be no danger in a churchman subscribing to this ,society1 because the views of all the members of it must be the same4 ,on this account1 then1 this ,society must be considered as the most proper channel through which a churchman should distribute the ,bible3 and it does seem surprising1 when the ,church of ,england is more effectually served by an union of churchmen with churchmen1 how any one of that persuasion can hesitate to prefer it4 ,secondly1 ,it is the best1 because it procures ,bibles at a cheaper rate4 ,the comparative advantage of the two ,societies in this respect1 have been so clearly brought forward by ,mr4 ,norris1 in his ,appendix to the ,practical ,exposition of the ,bible ,society1 that this shall be taken from it4 ,a #abmo nonpareil ,bible is allowed to the ,subscribers for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge for #cs4 #c;d41 #e;a but the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society expects from its subscribers #ds4 #f;d4 #e;b for the same edition4 ,in purchasing1 therefore1 six ,bibles1 a subscriber to the former would give #ais4 #f;d41 but a subscriber to the latter would give #a4 #gs4 ,if a parochial subscription should be made1 the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge offers superior advantages4 ,because it offers two-thirds of the collection to be returned in books1 valued at the reduced prices2 whereas1 the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society only offers one half2 and therefore1 if the collection amounted to #ah1 the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge1 selling their ,bibles for #cs4 #c;d41 and allowing two-thirds of it to be returned in books1 which would be #ab1 would furnish #gc and nearly #gd ,bibles2 whilst the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 selling their ,bibles for #ds4 #f;d41 and only allowing one half to be returned in books1 would1 for the collection of #ah1 only furnish #dj ,bibles4 ,the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge would therefore allow for the same collection #cc or nearly one half more ,bibles than the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society2 as1 therefore1 this ,society affords ,bibles at a cheaper rate1 and as the distribution of them is the main object of both ,societies1 that ,society must clearly be the best1 which affords the largest opportunities of doing it4 ,thirdly1 ,it is the best1 because it provides ,bibles which are more useful4 ,it has been before observed1 that there are passages in the ,bible which may admit of doubtful and different interpretations4 ,surely1 then1 that ,society is to be esteemed the best1 which affords the best comments on those difficult passages4 ,the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge furnishes ,bibles with these notes and comments4 ,and there is now publishing by that ,society1 a most useful and explanatory ,family ,bible1 under the management of ,dr4 ,mant and ,mr4 ,d',oyley1 which is furnished to the subscribers at a very cheap rate2 and which1 if it were possible1 it would be desirable so far still to be reduced in price1 as to allow it to be in general circulation4 ,for1 the more the ,bible is explained by fit and able commentators1 the more useful it is rendered4 ,bibles1 therefore1 with notes and comments1 are the most useful2 and as that ,society provides them1 it is clearly the best channel through which a churchman would wish to distribute a ,bible4 ,fourthly1 ,it is the best1 because it provides ,prayer ,books and ,religious ,tracts4 ,when we consider that there is at present hardly a town1 or even a village1 which is not visited by illiterate teachers1 who expound the ,bible with more confidence than the most able theologian1 it surely becomes doubly necessary1 if we would preserve the poor of the ,establishment in the religion of their fathers1 to provide them with a safeguard against false interpretations4 ,at one time it was argued by the advocates of the ,bible ,society1 that the ,bible alone was the religion of the ,protestant1 and ought to be alone distributed4 ,but those persons who were desirous of preserving the present ,church ,establishment1 and amongst those1 particularly ,dr4 ,marsh1 made every effort to increase the distribution of the ,prayer ,book4 ,and when we consider that it contains devotional exercises in the true spirit of the ,scripture2 that it is heard constantly at church2 that it is designed equally for the closet2 and that no churchman can join in the service of the church without it2 surely it must be confessed that the ,society which provides these is the best4 ,it may be said1 that there is a ,society formed for the distribution of ,prayer ,books and ,homilies1 and that a churchman1 subscribing to the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 may procure ,prayer ,books to accompany his ,bibles from that2 but surely the ,society which unites both in one must be preferable to that which provides only one4 ,great benefit is also to be derived from ,religious ,tracts4 ,they are useful helps1 and sure and certain guides4 ,that is1 certain as far as human intellect can guarantee them1 as to the doctrine of the ,church of ,england4 ,for no ,tract is allowed to be issued by this ,society1 without undergoing the strictest examination of the most learned and orthodox men4 ,which must undoubtedly be1 to those churchmen who do not pretend to be wise above what is written1 nor wiser than any that have gone before1 nor above being guided1 a very great recommendation4 ,from what has been observed1 it will1 it is to be hoped1 be allowed1 that the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge holds forth superior advantages to the churchman2 when it is considered1 that it is composed of churchmen only2 that it furnishes ,bibles with notes and comments2 that it sells those ,bibles at a much cheaper rate2 and that it provides ,prayer ,books and ,religious ,tracts4 ,the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society is composed of churchmen and dissenters4 ,the dissenter of every denomination is admitted into it1 and allowed to have at his disposal an equal number of ,bibles with the churchman4 ,and if there be1 as every dissenting minister must acknowledge1 some parts of the ,holy ,scriptures1 which the poor and unlearned cannot understand without assistance1 and the ,bible be distributed by such a variety of persons1 professing different religions1 and consequently affording very different explanations1 what confusion must be occasioned6 ,how must the poor be tossed about by such various and strange doctrines6 ,the ,british ,critic for ,november1 #ahae1 in the remarks upon ,mr4 ,gisborne's letter to the ,bishop of ,gloucester1 says1 8,as the most absurd and fatal errors which ever disgraced the ,christian ,church1 have every one of them been deduced from a perverted interpretation of the ,holy ,scriptures2 to place ,bibles for distribution in the hands of those who preach such doctrines1 and who can prove to the satisfaction of their deluded hearers1 that such doctrines are derived from ,scripture1 is to increase the progress of error2 and every such ,bible becomes a curse and not a blessing to its possessors4 ,most dangerous1 therefore1 is it to the souls of the lower orders1 by an union of churchmen with such men as hold forth these fatal perversions1 to supply them with arms for their own destruction1 and to give them influence sufficient to use them with success4 ,we do not say that all dissenters are thus inclined2 many1 especially of the older sort1 are good and worthy men2 but the daily increasing numbers of furious fanatics are unhappily more than sufficient to warrant our assertions40 ,a churchman must believe1 that1 in the ,established ,church1 ,christianity is to be found1 both as to its doctrine and discipline1 in its purest form3 and he must also believe1 that the further the doctrine of any sect recedes from this standard1 the further must it degenerate into error4 ,and the more the sectaries are increased1 the more will the ,established ,church be endangered4 ,it may be said1 that if the doctrine and discipline of the ,church be founded on the ,bible1 why should it be alarmed at the extended distribution of that ,bible on which it is founded8 ,that the doctrines and discipline of the ,church are founded on the ,bible we are proud to acknowledge1 and ready to demonstrate2 but that ,independency1 ,quakerism1 ,antinomianism1 and ,unitarianism are also referred to by their several teachers to the same source1 no one would attempt to deny4 ,when1 therefore1 by our co-operation1 we enable these sectaries to distribute the ,holy ,scriptures to a vast extent1 we enable them to undermine the ,established ,church1 by the means of those very ,scriptures on which it is founded4 ,the sectary gains an influence over the poor1 by the opportunities afforded him by this ,society4 ,and every churchman who subscribes his guinea to it1 must suffer his subscription to go to promote the views of the dissenter1 whatever they may be1 as well as his own3 it must go towards the furtherance of whatever plan that ,society may suggest4 ,some persons have attempted to apologize for their belonging to this ,society1 by saying1 that their object was to watch over and prevent any bad consequences which might otherwise happen from it4 ,but surely this is a most senseless notion2 that1 because it is a ,society which may be productive of much mischief1 they will add to the means which will promote it4 ,nature will be nature2 and a man1 conscientiously attached to his religion1 will1 if means are afforded him1 find opportunities of employing them towards the accomplishment of his purpose1 though ever so much watched4 ,it therefore plainly appears1 that the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge is far preferable to churchmen for the distribution of the ,bible than the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society2 not only from the great advantages before mentioned1 but because much danger to the ,church ,establishment may be incurred by the latter1 but cannot by the former4 ,with regard to the other argument urged by the advocates for the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society2 viz4 ,the love and harmony which1 by such an union of churchmen with dissenters1 will be inspired4 ,this may be proved to be as unfounded as the other4 ,did this love and harmony only refer to social acts1 to kindness between man and man1 it would certainly be a most desirable object4 ,for1 as far as the calls of society demand1 or humanity can claim1 so far should such an union be strongly recommended4 ,distress ought to mark the object1 and not the sect4 ,and if that object be worthy1 or in real distress1 whether churchman or dissenter1 he ought to be comforted and relieved4 ,but surely1 with regard to every religious transaction1 each ought to be perfectly distinct4 ,let the dissenter have as free and complete a toleration as possible1 and an undisturbed opportunity of observing and obeying the rites and precepts of his religion2 but let not the churchman contribute his means to assist the dissenter in the extension of his religion1 at the hazard of supplanting his own4 ,whatever ideas may be afloat in the world1 that all religions are to be equally encouraged1 and that there are no safeguards1 no protection to be granted to any one in particular1 let not a churchman harbour such4 ,it may be wise and prudent for a dissenter to adopt such sentiments1 but perfectly unwise and imprudent in a churchman4 ,the union of all sects and denominations of ,christians to distribute the ,word of ,god1 has an imposing sound1 and is well calculated to seduce the unwary1 and to deceive the good4 ,but1 to form a complete and safe union in any scheme1 it is absolutely necessary that all the consequences of such an act should certainly tend to the promotion of mutual intention and interest3 and such can certainly not be said of the union here mentioned1 because the purposes and interests of the various parts of it totally differ4 ,so far then from the ,bible ,society producing any union1 it sows widely the seeds of discord4 ,it has already divided the national ,church2 and what is the spirit which animates it1 may be seen by the variety of pamphlets circulated by its abettors1 and by the variety of speeches made at every ,auxiliary ,meeting4 ,whatever conciliation it may have effected amongst dissenters1 it assuredly has had a contrary effect amongst churchmen4 ,for there has not been1 for a considerable time1 a measure brought forward which has created such a division amongst them4 ,a division1 which1 if continued1 may1 and most likely will1 be productive of the most fatal consequences to the ,established ,church4 ,a ,society1 which will instigate and cause such violent and unbecoming animadversions1 as are made not only from churchmen to churchmen1 but from the clergy of a certain diocese to their diocesan1 #ab must hold forth and threaten the most alarming and dangerous consequences4 ,it has already had the effect of creating a division amongst the members of the ,established ,church1 but has not diminished the number of the dissenters4 ,it therefore may with truth be said1 that the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society cannot with justice appropriate to itself the merit of either exclusively distributing the ,bible1 or of inspiring universal love and harmony4 ,a churchman may1 therefore1 fairly refuse to subscribe to it1 without deserving to be reproached as an enemy to the distribution of the ,bible1 as being a bigot1 or being regardless of the spiritual welfare of the poor4 ,he may say1 8,i love and revere the ,bible as much as any person can do1 and am as ready to associate for its distribution2 but ,i wish1 whilst ,i am promoting this laudable work1 to perform at the same time my duties as a churchman4 ,and1 therefore1 as the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge consists entirely of churchmen2 will provide me with ,bibles at a cheaper rate3 such as are more useful1 from their notes and comments2 and will also provide me with ,prayer ,books and ,religious ,tracts1 ,i shall prefer that2 because no harm can thereby happen to the ,established ,church2 and because ,i shall thus be enabled to do my duty as a ,christian1 and at the same time my duty as a churchman4 ,whilst1 by uniting in the distribution of the ,bible1 through the hands of sectaries of every description1 ,i should consider myself1 by promoting their means of conversion1 in every convert who was made1 or in every intention formed by them for drawing persons from the ,established ,church1 not only an assistant1 but an accessary40 ,these are certainly very fair and reasonable objections to a churchman's subscribing to the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society4 ,if there were no other ,society formed for the distribution of the ,bible1 the case would be different4 ,but since there is one1 which offers superior advantages1 and which affords him an opportunity of performing the duties of a churchman1 at the same time that he is performing the duties of a ,christian1 there is abundant reason for his rejection of the one ,society1 and his adoption of the other4 ,there is one other plan proposed by the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 which requires to be shortly noticed2 viz4 ,the pennies collected from the poor4 ,if the representations of ,mr4 ,gisborne are correct1 as to the flourishing state of the ,auxiliary ,bible ,society1 that their revenue amounted in #ahae to #abd1jai4 #gs4 #g;d42 that #bf1fhg4 #afs4 #e;d4 was expended for the foreign department2 that there was left for home consumption annually the sum of #ig1cca4 #aas2 #b;d42 that1 in addition to this income1 there are exchequer bills to the amount of #cc1hbb4 #cs4 #h;d41 besides funded property to the amount of #aj1jjj more3 with such an immense sum1 an unappropriated surplus of #dc1jjj and upwards1 and an income for home consumption of #ij1jjj and upwards1 it may be fairly asked1 for what ,christian purpose are the poor to be taxed a penny a week1 in support of a ,society whose income exceeds it expenditure8 ,what reason can there be to tax the paupers of this kingdom to supply foreign nations with ,bibles8 ,there is no poor family in the kingdom1 to whom #ds4 #f;d4 is not1 at the end of the year1 a real object1 in the purchase of clothing for children1 payment of rent1 or procuring food and fuel4 ,to deduct such a sum1 therefore1 from a poor family1 is a cruel1 a wicked1 and an unchristian act4 ,if the poor cannot claim a ,bible gratuitously1 for what reason is #ij1jjj taken every year from the pockets of the rich8 ,it is greatly to be feared1 that the real purport of this vexatious impost has a more mischievous tendency2 and though there are some who have united in this scheme1 more from error in judgment1 than from badness of intention1 yet there are others1 whose aim and ambition it is to puritanize the whole community1 and to raise the fabric of enthusiasm upon the ruins of ,church and ,state4 #ae 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,finis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,printed by ,j4 ,keymer1 ,king-,street1 ,yarmouth4 ,,footnotes4 #e;a ,that edition of the ,bible is now sold by the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge for #cs42 and therefore1 the advantage is still greater than here represented4 #e;b ,it has been asserted1 that the ,bible ,society affords to its subscribers these ,bibles at #cs4 #i;d42 but as the poor do not receive them till they have paid one penny weekly for a whole year1 to them it is not allowed at less than #ds4 #d;d42 and there are instances1 where they have not received them even for that4 ,whatever indulgence1 therefore1 the rich subscribers may receive1 the poor are not in the least benefited4 ,and the price is far above that allowed by the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge1 as may be seen by the note above4 #ab ,the ,bishop of ,lincoln4 #ae ,see ,british ,critic1 ,november1 #ahae4