Transcribed from the 1805 F. C. and J. Rivington edition fromBodleian Library scans ,
AN
ADDRESS
TO
LORD TEIGNMOUTH.
PRESIDENT OF THE
BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY,
OCCASIONED BY
HIS ADDRESS
TO THE
CLERGY
OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
BY A COUNTRY CLERGYMAN.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON,No 62, ST. PAUL’S
CHURCH-YARD;
By Bye and Law, St.John’s-Square,Clerkenwell.
1805.
p. 3ANADDRESS, &c.
My Lord,
The emotions of my mind, uponreceipt of your Lordship’s address as President of theBritish and Foreign Bible Society, were such as I am notinclined, for several reasons, to describe. Your friendsrepresent you as not hostile to the established church: nay, someassert that you are its firm supporter; and doubtless it nevercould have entered your Lordship’s mind to address aclergyman with proposals of lending his zeal and exertions forthe promotion of religion, but in the character of thechurch’s friend. Judge then, my Lord, at my surprize,to see your Lordship’s name at the head of such a list ofsubscribers as that enclosed to me; to find your Lordship’spatronage and protection bestowed upon every description of itsenemies, and your request that I would promote theirdesign. Judge, my Lord, what must have been my grief, tofind a man of your Lordship’s respectability deserting thecause of sound religion, and our poor country’s best p. 4defence, andconfederating with persons openly labouring the destruction ofall that is sober, or established!
My Lord, I presume to address you, invited by yourLordship’s known good sense and candour, and muchemboldened by a strong conviction that some enemy hath craftilyobtained your Lordship’s countenance to his project; which,I am sure, if your Lordship knew all, you would spurn withindignation and contempt. I am persuaded that you know notthe men and their communication, to whom you have joinedyourself. Let this then be my excuse for intruding myselfupon your notice; and if I fail to convince your Lordship, atleast let me promise myself that patience and respect which isalways due to sincerity and good intention. At present, myLord, you appear as the head of a party, (rather, should I say, alegion of parties) by whom every opponent is sure to be reviled,as illiberal and uncharitable, and as an enemy to thegospel. I confess I expect the honour of theirreproaches. I am thankful that I have enjoyed thembefore. “If they have called the master of the houseBeelzebub, how much more shall they call them of hishousehold?” From you, my Lord, I expect the treatmentof a Gentl