The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada WestArmstrong, John
Religion
The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada West
Armstrong, John
Mortimer, George, 1784-1844
Mr. Mortimer, just before his death, gave directions to destroy all his
papers and writings, and it does not appear that he kept any record of
the events of his life, or of his Christian experience: no specimen,
therefore, of his regular composition has come into the hands of the
writer. The following fragments or remains have been collected from
different sources, and show his opinions on the several subjects of them.
ARMINIANISM.
YOUR very Christian remarks and feelings connected with my much honoured
and much beloved Wellington friend deserve my sincere thanks. You are
quite right: the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is of
infinitely more importance than nice and subtle distinctions upon points
of which, after all, we know so exceedingly little. I do not think those
two sermons should have been attached to the volumes, whose other
contents are generally practical: and I objected at the time, but the
opinions of others prevailed. I think with you that the text is
unhappily chosen. As to the contents, we shall of course differ: but I
can say so much as this, that I attach so little importance to the
peculiarities of the system which I adopt, that, for many months past, I
have declined _in toto_ entering upon the subject with every one who
would dispute with me: and am so moderate in my own statements, that most
of my Arminian friends have their fears of my eventually leaving
them:—not that any alteration has taken place in my doctrinal views, but
simply in the ideas of importance which I used at one time to attach to
them.
ATHANASIAN CREED.
THE Athanasian Creed is not the milk which the Church gives to her babes,
but the test to which she brings her heretics.
CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION.
As to Catholic Emancipation I profess to know and to fear but little.
Were I better acquainted with the effects of the present system, I fancy
I should think with such men as Mr. Wilberforce: but not knowing these,
having only a very limited survey, I feel quite satisfied to let them
think for me. A meeting was lately called at Bridgenorth to petition
against the claims. I refused both to attend and to authorize the use of
my signature. I am equally satisfied, however, that the bill should be
lost: and I should imagine that the strength in the Upper House will
always throw it out.
DR. A. CLARKE’S COMMENTARY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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