found myself much enlightened, much assisted in evidence and argument, and never corrupted; as I hope my writings, if they should last, will long bear me witness. If these principles should come into use with other people, I am confident they would turn Christians into scholars, and scholars into Christians; enabling them to demonstrate, how shallow infidels are in their learning, and how greatly every man is a loser by his ignorance of revelation. When we are describing Hutchinsonians, it would be unjust to forget, that they are true Churchmen and Loyalists; steady in the fellowship of the Apostles, and faithful to the monarchy under which they live. This however, is not from what they find in Hutchinson, though it is to be found in him*; but from what he has taught them to find, by taking their principles from the Scripture. Had this man been a splendid character and a great favourite with the world, we might have received his doctrines with our mouths open and our eyes shut: but our dangers are quite of another kind. From him nothing is to be taken upon trust: every thing must be sifted and examined to the uttermost. And so let it; for thus it will be better understood. Prove it well, and hold it fast. Of leaders and guides in learning beware: for, as wisely speaks the author of the Pursuits of Literature, they ought, in this age, to be well watched: if they fall into dangerous mistakes, many fall with them and if evil once creeps in, and finds public entertainment, no man can say how or when we shall get rid of it. Such leaders are as watchful against us as we ought to be against them. They neither enter in themselves, nor suffer other people if they can prevent it. Many young men would find employment and amusement for their lives, if the way were open, and they were permitted to inquire for themselves. Here, free inquiry would be honourable, safe, and laudable: but discouragements are often thrown in their way; and I have met with some examples of it; one in particular which made a great impression upon me. Some years ago I became acquainted with a young man of bright parts, a studious disposition, and a pious turn of mind; in whose conversation I found comfort and pleasure. To such advice as I gave him, in regard to his future studies, he was remarkably attentive. He saw a new field of learning opening to his view, which *No being whatever can have any power over man, but the God that made him: therefore no man can have any power over any other man unless he has it from God. Parents have it over their children by creation, therefore from the Creator; and rulers have it by being God's ministers. This is Mr. Hutchinson's argument; and it is as close as a demonstration. promised him much profitable employment; and he seemed in haste to enter upon it. As he was intended for the Church, I flattered myself he would take some active part in the defence of Christian truth as a writer, together with the advancement of Christian piety as a preacher. With this prospect upon my mind, he left me for many months. But, at his return, I found him totally changed; and I rarely conversed with him but to my disappointment. His mind, which used to be undisguised and open, was now guarded at every pass; and whatever I proposed as formerly, he had now an evasion ready. It seemed as if somebody had hung a bell about my neck, so that I could not stir without raising an alarm. To a man rather shy of making proselytes, but always pleased to meet with volunteers fit for the service of God and the Church, my situation was distressing. I discovered that my friend was no longer his own man: I guessed at the cause; and gave little trouble afterwards to him or myself. But I lamented that he had lost a view of things which would have animated him; and, while it found exercise for the best of his talents, would have given strength and effect to all his labours. His pursuits in literature will now most probably be frivolous in themselves, and foreign to his profession as a clergyman. No man will do great things, when he yields to secular influence, where literary and religious ought to prevail. The vineyard is a better spot to cultivate than the highway; and, when labourers are wanted, it is pity any one should be led away upon other service, less pleasant and less profitable." Why even of your ownselves judge ye not what is right?" said our Saviour to those, who could not judge of the weather from the face of the sky, without going to ask the Pharisees; and who ought, after the same manner, to have judged for themselves in matters of much greater moment, from the signs of the times and the state of the Church. I hazarded a great, and, as it may be thought, a rash assertion, at p. 60 of the following Life; I said, that, if we were ever to see such another man as Bishop Horne, he must come out of the same school." I am still of the same mind: for I think no other school will form such a man. I will now hazard a further opinion to the same effect: for I think it not improbable, that if some man were to arise, with abilities for the purpose, well prepared in his learning, and able to guide his words with discretion; and such a man were to take up the principles called Hutchinsonian, and do them justice; the world would find it much harder to stand against him than they are aware of, even with all the new biographers of the age to encourage and assist them. I may be called a visionary when I say this; that I cannot help: but how many stranger visions have been realized of late, which, twenty years ago, would have been pronounced utterly incredible! When strange things are to be done, strange men arise to do them. One man, as powerful in truth as Voltaire was in error, might produce very unexpected alterations, and in less time than he did. Then might a new æra of learning succeed; as friendly to the Christian cause, as the learning which has been growing up amongst us for the last hundred years has been hostile and destructive. As to confirmed infidelity, it is a deaf adder, never to be charmed. Yet even here the case is not always to be given up in despair. Many forsake truth because they hate it; of such there is no hope: but some believe wrong only because they never were taught right. Nayland, July, 30, 1799. |