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
I have no objection to the religion of the Jew or the Christian, that is
founded on the spiritual reading of the Bible. Mahometanism is superior
to both, while founded on the reading of the letter. The restoration of
the Jews to original character and the millennium of the Christians is
only to be brought about by the spiritual reading, which will lead to
a devotion to science. The future Temple of the New Jerusalem must be a
Temple devoted to the promulgation of truth and all sciences, and such
must be the Church of Rome, and such our English Church, under any real
state of reformation.
The practical part of my proposition for a Reform in the Church, is,
that all indefensible superstition or mystery be banished or explained,
that it be made the best possible general school for the people, to
which the knowledge of the time is equal; that the people being the
Church, and the Ministers not being the Church, the property of the
Church in each parish shall be managed by the parishioners as their
property, and the best provision be made with that property, including
tithes, that can be made for all the physical and moral necessities of
the people. The property must be put under some authority, cannot be
allowed to remain as it is, cannot be well put under extra parochial
authority; but may be well and honestly left to parochial management, as
the property of the parish.
As our Institutions were all so first arranged for this purpose, so it
will be found, that every thing emanating will fall back easily into
its natural, moral, and original use. I cannot see the least difficulty,
beyond the dishonesty and reluctance to yield of existing spirit. Such
as are so weak in mind as to desire the present Church ceremony, may
have it as long as they like, so as they do not exclude more useful
business. I repeat, that, if the Bishops and Clergy be wise, they will
take this advice: if they do not, they will very soon be where their
predecessors were in the seventeenth century, not to be restored again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account