The Defendant then read an extract from page 9, wherein itstates, that "the whole of our religious belief rests on prepossessions and false persuasions; therefore the superstructure can only be a receptacle of fraud, imposture, forgery, persecution, murder, and the whole train of evils which attend the love and pursuit of power: for though religion pretends to subdue the bad passions, it is only a cloak to disguise them," &c. He then read extracts from pages 31, 35, 36, 77, wherein it says, "that religion is a system of imposture, and Government of robbery." There are many other passages equally as true and powerful as those of my little book, particularly in the last 100 pages; but as I have something of more importance to read, I shall not trespass longer on your time, with this book-but proceed to declare that, if those pious Gentlemen, my persecutors, knew this book to be of that description, which is given you in the indictment, and which in fact has been acknowledged, for my prosecutor has stated that he read the book before and knew it to be a blasphemous and scandalous libel, he therefore was in duty bound, according to their own doctrine and precepts, contained in this their holy bock, to have given, or sent me information thereof. Surely, Gentlemen, you must admit it to be more wise, and more just to prevent an evil, than to permit it, and punish for it. Is it not written in 2 Timothy chap. xi. ver. 24, 25, 26, (the defendant then took the Bible and read)" We must not strive, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil." And again, in Gal. chap. vi. ver. 1, "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one." How, Gentlemen, is he to be restored, by prosecuting him and casting him into prison? No, but "in the spirit of meekness considering thyself," for ye are also men of like passions-subject to the same temptations, for ye know," the Devil goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." Besides, methinks, you have not walked charitably towards me, for Paul, when writing to Titus chap. iii. ver. 10, says, a man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition, reject." But behold, Gentlemen, my prosecutors have never given me a first admonition; although I have sent and entreated for I remember, near two years since while reading this passage in Matthew chap. xii. ver 40, wherein it says, Jonas was three days, and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in

one.

as

the heart of the earth," I was greatly puzzled, and could not understand how that was fulfilled, if Jesus died on the Friday afternoon and rose early on Sunday morn following. I sent to Mr. Gaultier, the superintendent of Queen Street Chapel at that time, as I was a member of his society, for an explanation of this passage, as it raised many doubts on my mind, which gave me great uneasiness; but he returned me no answer. A few weeks after, when informed that I had read the Age of Reason, and "denied the faith," he only replied: "Ah, I thought so; when he sent me that letter, I thought he would soon be lost;" but, replied the person, who had told him of my apostacy, is there no possibility of saving him, would it not be adviseable to visit him. and convince him of his error? The parson excused himself by saying, he had too much business to attend to then; but then nor since, have I ever received any admonition: although Jesus himself, commands in Matthew chap. xviii. ver. 15, 16, 17, (the Defendant then read those three verses.) Now, Gentlemen, he does not command them, after all this obstinacy, to prosecute and cast them into prison; but tells them it is they that shall and must be persecuted, and cast into prison. You are moreover told to "lay hands suddenly on no man." Read Paul's commands to 1 Timothy ver. 22, but as though you did not believe those things yourselves, or were determined that you would "not have this man to reign over you," you came and suddenly collared me, and forced me to prison, and here you judge your brother and he dares not resist you. Thus you see, you have acted contrary to God's word written; and by so doing you have violated the twentieth article of the Established Church, which says, (the defendant then produced a prayer book containing the thirty-nine Articles, and read from the twentieth Article)" It is not lawful to ordain any thing contrary to God's word written, and that the church should have the power to decree rites, ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith." But you have taken the power out of their hands and usurped their authority. By so doing you have brought a disgrace on the Church like the Corinthians. Read what Paul says to them, 1 Corinthians chap. vi. ver. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, "Is it so, is there not a wise man among you, no not one, that is able to judge between his brethren? Know ye not, that the saints shall judge the world, and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge of these small matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels, how much more things, which pertain to this

life?" He even dares them to go to law with any but the saints; and as I should suppose, no gentleman in this Court will presume to state, that he is qualified to judge angels, this court cannot be a court of saints. But, Gentlemen, how surprised will you be, when I inform you that to guard against such usurped authority as this, the saints of old have wisely enacted, and with as good authority as Sir Matthew Hale, the Old Witch Burner, read the fifth part of the report of Sir Edward Coke in the case of Caubrey, page 9, "that so in causes ecclesiastical and spiritual, as viz. blasphemy, apostacy from Christianity, heresies, and schisms, &c. and others, (the connusance whereof belong not to the Common Laws of England) the same are to be determined and decided by ecclesiastical Judges according to the King's ecclesiastical laws of this realm," (and in page 10, it says) "for as before it appeareth the deciding of matters so many, and of so great importance, are not within the connusance of the Common Laws." This, Gentlemen, has been read in court before, and no one has attempted to contradict it, although the learned Judge has stated several cases of prosecutions for blasphemy which have taken place since this law, and I make no doubt will be reiterated in your ears again, that Woolston, Peter Annet, and others, were prosecuted for impuguing the miracles, &c. of Jesus Christ. Yet what precedent can these be to this case, in a day when even the divinity of Christ is suffered to be impugned with impunity, which was not the case in those days of Woolston, Annet, Williams, nor even Eaton. Lest you should be told from the bench, that it was unknown to them, I will read you the Act, (Defendant then read the Act to Relieve Persons from certain penalties, who impugn the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, cap. 169, George III, July 21, 1813. Whereas, &c.) Now, Gentlemen, the learned Judge, I trust, will not plead ignorance of this Act, as he did yesterday respecting the doctrines of the Unitarians and Freethinkers, who are allowed to publish their opinions and declare them openly in the rostrum. They disbelieve certain parts of the Bible, lecture on the unreasonableness of the existence of a devil, and publicly declare that the Bible now extant is a fabricated work, or a wrong translation, and publish a spurious work of their own. I can bring a person into this court, if required, who will declare on oath, that he has heard a Unitarian Minister in Liverpool boldly assert, that Paul was a liar, that Matthew did not write the Gospel ascribed to him, and that there does not, never did, nor ever will,

exist a Devil. This lecture, with many others, are now published under the title of "Lectures Delivered by the Reverend G. Harris, in the Unitarian Chapel, Renshaw Street, Liverpool." And persons holding forth this doctrine or giving their assent to it, are even received into the very bosom of the legislature of this country. I have heard in a meeting house in Moorfields, the divinity of Christ, as well as the miraculous conception, publicly declared to be both false and ridiculous. In Jewin Street Crescent, I have heard Samuel Thompson, the Wine and Spirit Merchant, of Holborn Hill, publicly recommend to a meeting of four or five hundred persons, the writings of Thomas Paine, for the sale of which, so many good and useful men have been, and are now, incarcerated in a prison, and wished that every man in the kingdom would read them. Now, Gentlemen, can you say those prosecutions are just, in the present day, when so much toleration as this is given, or do they only wink at it, as God is said to have done? Acts chap. xvii. ver. 30. Thus you see, which ever way my persecutors turn, they are foiled with their own weapons, which convinces me, "ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of;" for of some, even ye ought, as ye are commanded, to "have compassion on making a difference;" for it is written: "the high priest himself is compassed about with infirmities." In many things we offend all, one believeth one thing, another believeth another thing, read what Paul says, Romans chap. xiv. ver. 2, 3, 4, "that one believeth he may eat all things, another who is weak eateth herbs, but let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not, and let not him which eateth not, Judge him who eateth, to his own master he standeth or falleth; therefore, who art thou, O man, that judgeth another man's servant. Let every man be persuaded in his own mind;" and take care ye do not destroy him, for whom ye say Christ died, but have you not read that the Lord will harden whom he will harden, and shew mercy on whom he will have mercy." Read Romans chap. ix. ver. 22, 23. "What now, if God, willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known, endureth with much long suffering thevessels of wrath fitted to destruction, that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy." Will you then, feeble man, dare to prevent him, will you persecute those whom God tolerates; beware, lest you be found like the Jews of old "fighting against God." Read Acts chap. v. ver. 39, the scriptures were written for your instruction and example, and "be assured that judgment will begin at the house of God," and "he that shewed no, mercy, shall have judgment without mercy." I would therefore, exhort you "to refuse not him who (you say) speaketh from heaven,” "but love one another," even your enemies, and follow after those things which make for peace."

No. 2, Vol. X.

I perceive, also, in the indictment, although you did not read it out to the court, that you have presumed to say, "to the displeasure of Almighty God," what presumption! "who among you hath known the mind of the lord," or who among you is his counsellor, that you should presume to tell me whether the Lord is pleased or displeased? "Are not his ways past finding out," or do you think, Mr. Raven, his own right arm is so shortened that he cannot save me without your assistance?" Shall not he that made the eye see; is his ear so heavy that he cannot hear, or do you thing he is not "the same to day he was yesterday?" If he, on former occasions, could change the hearts of King Nebuchadnezzar, and Saul of Tarsus, I warrant you, he can change mine, if he chooses, by the same means, without your assistance. He did not drag them to prison; although they were dragging others; you, therefore, are doing more than you are commanded, which is violating the xiv. Article of your religion. (The Defendant then read from the prayer book, part of the xiv. Article, which says "that voluntary works, besides over and above God's commandments, cannot be taught without arrogance and impiety; for by them, men do declare, that they not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but they do more for his sake, than of boundén duty they are required.") If you read Liviticus chap. xix. ver. 18, you will find that "ye are not to avenge yourselves;" for it is said in another place: "vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the lord." But what does he say he will take vengeance for, or for what is it he will repay? Is it for selling a sixpenny printed book? No, Gentlemen, it does not appear by this holy book, that God, or Jesus, or any other person spoken of in this book, knew any thing about or ever heard any thing about printed books. But I will tell you, for what he will take vengeance; for not feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. Read Matthew chap. xxv. ver. 31, (the Defendant then read that chapter to the end.) Here, Gentlemen, you see, is nothing about faith, baptism, preaching, prayers, predestination, building of churches, or printing of books. You laugh at, and ridicule the solemn rites, and ceremonies, and observances of the Catholic Church, and call it superstition, you even consider the Catholic church itself to be no other than the whore of babylon, spoken of by John in his Revelations, without reflecting, that the Protestant church, is no other than the daughter of that whore. Even those who have dissented from the Protestant church, you ridicule and call fanatics, enthusiasts, and fools; yet, you forbid us to take the same liberty with yourselves. You endeavour to promulgate your opinions even to the most distant parts of the earth; yet you would prevent us from propagating our opinions amongst our neighbours. Surely this is acting contrary to God's word written, which commands you to do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you. Even Jesus hath set you an example of toleration. Read Luke chap. ix. ver. 49, when John told his master, "that