Transcribed from the 1817 J. Keymer edition ,
REASONS
WHY
A CHURCHMAN
MAY WITH GREAT JUSTICE
REFUSE TO SUBSCRIBE
TO
THE BRITISH
AND
FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.
YARMOUTH:
Printed by J. Keymer, King-Street.
1817.
p.iPREFACE.
As this small tract seems destined for a more extendedcirculation, than was at first intended, from the author’sbeing strongly solicited that it might be made more public, itmay in some degree be necessary to explain his motive for itsoriginal publication; lest it should seem to have been solelybrought forward, with a view of entering into the controversyrespecting Bible Societies. Which was certainly far fromthe case, because he is of opinion, that though controversieswill, when conducted in an argumentative, dispassionate, andmanly manner, draw out and confirm the truth; yet, if conductedotherwise, they more frequently tend to confuse others, but veryrarely to convince the parties engaged. His motive,therefore, was very p.iidifferent. Being minister of a populous parish,and observing, what he conceived to be, an unwarrantableinterference in it, to assist and forward the views of theBritish and Foreign Bible Society, though it was contrary to hisknown and expressed wishes; he was, in a manner, compelled togive his reasons to his parishioners, who were churchmen, why heobjected to that society; and to shew that his objection did notarise, as the general insinuation is, because the Bible wascirculated, but because there was a society established, which,to churchmen, afforded greater means of circulating it; andwhich, also, held forth greater advantages and security to theEstablished Church. His object was to keep the members ofthe Established Church steady in their obedience to it; and toput them on their guard against the invitations of the BibleSociety, which would only distract them. He has conciselytold them his reasons for forming this opinion, and has furnishedthem with a reasonable excuse for not subscribing.
The author will now merely repeat, that, p. iiihad it notbeen for the solicitations of many of his friends, this tractwould have been confined to the use of his parishes. Hewishes, therefore, to observe, that, as that was his firstintention, and as he has not been in the habit of writing for thepress, he hopes he shall receive indulgence for itsimperfections. His desire was, that it might be useful tothose for whom it was at first intended; and he trusts it will beequally so, when more widely diffused.
p.1REASONS,
&c., &c.
From the increased activity whichhas of late been shewn by the advocates for the British andForeign Bible Society, and the reflections which have been castupon those who do not choose to join them, it seems necessary toset this subject in its true light; and to shew that the refusalto unite with them, is not, as they have falsely said, becausethose who refuse are against the circulation of the Bible; butbecause they foresee danger likely to be incurred by it; andbecause there is another Bible Society, which was establishedabove 100 years before their’s, and which holds out to itssubscribers, particularly churchmen, superior advantages; and,therefore, a person may be thoroughly justified in the preferenceof the one Society, and the rejection of the other