590 TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXAMINED. 



class professions, that the clergy do not profess to interpret the Scrip- 

 tures literally, that is, word by word, phrase by phrase, as, to my astonish- 

 ment, you have done. Whether their interpretation be the true one or 

 not, nobody more entirely admits you and every literate man to question 

 or deny than I do. The clergy profess to interpret, according to what 

 they deem the spirit of the Scriptures, and though I am a black sheep 

 amongst them, and though the very strong, yet very natural prejudices 

 of their early dedication to the maintenance of certain prescribed opinions, 

 they neither would nor could be expected to admit many of my inter- 

 pretations ; I know enough of their professed views in detail to affirm, 

 that they and I are agreed in interpreting the following passage from 

 St. Paul's epistle to the Philippians : " I have learned, in whatsoever 

 state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and 

 I know how to abound : every where, and in all things, I am instructed 

 both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." 

 Now, the clergy understand St. Paul here to intimate, that, though, 

 when circumstances might bring distress and privation upon him in the 

 Gospel cause, there was nothing he could not endure through Christ 

 who strengthened him (as he says just after the above quotation), yet, 

 when circumstances did not make such privations essential to the pro- 

 pagation of truth, he could, in moderation, enjoy the blessings of God's 

 ordinary providence as well as any other man. Believe me, Sir, the 

 sentiments of the body of the parochial clergy on this topic are, in churches 

 and out of churches, preached and professed to be in unison with this 

 interpretation of St. Paul. 



I have yet much to say to you on all subjects connected with Church 

 Reform. Some years of free and anxious thought upon the subject have 

 made me, I believe, competent to offer a sound opinion. I shall avail 

 myself of the continued permission of the Editor of the MONTHLY 

 MAGAZINE, to address myself to you. I shall take great care not to 

 overstep the bounds of decorum and gentlemanly forbearance, for my 

 own sake, for there is no man on earth who would make me smart for 

 such ill-behaviour so well as you. With the utmost good humour, now 

 that the brunt of the fight is over for the present, I beg to repeat, I 

 cannot grant the request you make in the outset of your article of 

 Nov. 4th. ; though, without great circumspection, it may be dangerous ; 

 yet, if one can feel a thorough dependence on one's strength, it is not, 

 I think, a bad way to commence a battle by taking the bull by the horns. 

 I look upon you to be the Coryphaeus of Ultra Radicalism, which I 

 deem almost as pernicious as Toryism, and more so than timid Whigism. 

 Thorough Radicalism is my profession ; and so confident am I, that it is 

 expedient to curb the leader of the too impetuous division of my own 

 party, that in spite of his utmost remonstrance, I will not suffer him 

 " to jfcght our battles in his own way" 



Believe me, Sir, your obedient servant, 



A RADICAL PARSON. 

 '>[> to h 



P. S. On the subject of the competency or not competency of the 



clergy, under a reform system, to conduct the education of the poor, -J^ 

 have very, as I deem, conclusive arguments to urge in their favou$ujr ? 

 But this letter is already, perhaps, too long. 



As ;4otiq te*& Jbdlfilosk 



to d4 : Jfiim l-~ 



