8 September 1741

Anne Dutton, Great Gransden, to John Lewis, London, 8 September 1741.

Several Weeks ago I [John Lewis] receiv’d the following Letter out of the Country, which I cou’d not have opportunity to insert till I had finish’d Mr. Cennick’s Account. The Contents of which Letter are as follows:

Sept. 8, 1741.

Sir,

         If you will be pleas’d to give the following Lines a Place in your Paper, you will oblige your constant Readers.

A few Thoughts concerning Bigotry, as destructive of true Christianity.

         By Bigotry I mean such a Fondness for a Man’s own Opinion in things not essential to Christianity, as leads him to despise and pass hard Censures upon those that are of a different Opinion; when a Man can’t have good Thoughts of other Persons, nor speak well of them, nor wish well to them, unless they be of his Opinion or of his Party.

         Such a Temper of Mind is directly contrary to Christ’s Holy Religion, which requires Humility, (I Pet. v. 5.) and censures a proud Conceit of our own Knowledge (I Cor. viii. 1, 2.) recommends an easy yielding Temper (I Cor. x. ult.) and censures a stiff rigid one in such Things as are not essentially necessary to Salvation (rom. xi. I Cor. viii.) forbids rash judging or despising those that differ from us in Externals (Rom. xiv. 1, 4, 10.) censures Uncharitableness, (Rom. xiv. 15.) recommends Love to the fulfilling of the Law, both the Precept and Example of its blessed Author (Mat. xxii. 37, 41. John xiii. 34, 35. Rom. xiii. 9, 10. I Tim. i. 15.) and forbids Uncharitableness, Evil-speaking, Spite, Envy, and all those vicious Qualities, which are contrary to that Love which we owe to our Neighbour (Rom. xiv. 15. Tit. Iii. 2. Rom. xiii. 10. I Cor. xiii. 4. Gal. v. 19, 21.)

         What I aim at, is to perswade all into whose Hands thee Lines may fall to abhor Bigotry, that odious Temper, whereby silly Mortals set up themselves as Standards to all Mankind, magisterially condemning, and even ready to unchristianize every body that differs from them, tho’ it is but in Circumstances, or Things not essential to Christianity; imposing upon Men’s Consciences, what God never impos’d; in defiance of God, who has severely reproved such Management. (Rom. xiv. 4. Jam. iv. 12.)

         And may not Persons of contrary Opinions and Parties have many deserving Qualities in them, and be worthy oif one anothers Love? ‘’Tis most certain we ought to love all in whom we can see the Image of God, tho’ not of our Opinion or Party: If I love a Person merely because he is of my Opinion or Party, this is self Love; but if I love a Person purely because he loves God, and is like to God, tho’ he may differ from me in lesser Things this is to love God (I John v. 1, 2.)

         To conclude, Let all the Children of God join in Prayer for the Destruction of Bigotry and Party-Zeal, and the Revival of true Christianity; that Professors of all Denominations may agree in loving god, and hating every thing that’s displeasing to him. O! let us all be one in God and for God. Amen.

Text: The Weekly History, no. 27, Saturday, 1o October 1741, p. 2.