Church Reform: The Only Means to That End, Stated in a Letter to Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of the TreasuryCarlile, Richard
Religion
Church Reform: The Only Means to That End, Stated in a Letter to Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of the Treasury
Carlile, Richard
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.; Church and state -- Church of England; Rationalism
We may carry the idea farther; and as in the present state of
mind, millions in Europe and America are attached to an idea of the
superiority of the Church authorities at Rome, through ignorance and
custom I grant, but not less attached,--I would, to humour that conceit
and turn it to good, consent to make the Pope of Rome the centre of
communication from all parts of the earth for discovered knowledge, as
it would be desirable to have such a central recipient and fountain to
give it forth again in the best possible manner. This would accelerate
the reconciliation of the dissenting race, without an idea of
dishonourable submission on the part of an individual. Indeed, the
perfection of my proposition is, that no man can feel injury or
degradation in the change. It is an overthrow of nothing, but simply
the development and better understanding of the mystery that has
existed since the world of human intellect began: the revelation of that
mystery; and, consequently, the completion or carrying out of the true
Christian scheme.
It is not to be expected, that, in a pamphlet letter, I can do more than
briefly notice a few leading points of this important subject; but I am
quite prepared to extend it through volumes, and shall go on so to do. I
am quite prepared to meet or be one of any commission on the subject.
I would willingly put my life upon the hazard of verifying my present
views of original Christianity. It would have been done in former ages,
had the printing press existed. Its doing now is consequent on the
gradual power of criticism which the Press has brought with it into
existence. It is the truth, and must prevail. It is the God in man.
It is the Church of Christ, against which the gates of Hell shall not
prevail. They have certainly prevailed against every other existing
Church, and the whole of the past is a wreck.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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