PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

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O./fices.
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every duty, which his principal, were he present,
would be bound to discharge, and in a manner
equally beneficial to the parish; under which circumst~'1ces,
th:! only objection to the absence of the
principal, at Jeast the only one of the foregoing objection3,
is the last.
Awl, in my judgment, tl]e force of this objection
wilJ ;(,£ much diminisheti, if the absent recto!" or vicar
Oe;Tn the mean time, en~ed _ io-any function _
or employment, of _ e~al or __ of gr~ter imjlO~c~ _
to the general-interest of religiQD... _ For tlie whOle
revenue of the national church may properly
enough be ~onsidered as a common fund for the
support of the national religion; and if a clergyman
be serving the cause of Christianity and protest.. -
alltism, it can make little difference, out of what
particular portion of this fund, that is, by the tithes
and glebe of ~·ha! partiru!ar parish his service be
requited; any more than it can prejudice the kin~s
servil:e, that an officer who has signalized hi:; merit
in America, should be rewarded with the govern.
ment of a fort (ir a castle in Ireland, which he never
saw; but for the custody of which proper provision
is made, and care taken.
Upon the principle thus Explained, this indu!
gence is due to none more thall to those who are
occupied in cultivating, or communicating religion
knowledge, or the sciences subsidiary to religion.
This way of considering the revenues of the
church, as 3 common fund for the same purpose, is
the more equitable, as the value of particular pre­
"ferments bears no proportiulJ to the ~rticu)ar
charge or labour.
But when a man draws upon this fund, whose (
studie~ and employments bear no relation to the J
object of it; and who is no farther a minister of·
the Christian religion, than as a cockade makes a
soldier, it seems " !ilis.1pplication little better tba~
a robbery. .
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