Memoirs of Dr Joseph Priestley, Written by Himself, to the Year 1795 ...

CONGREGATIONAL DIFFICULTIES. 17 :hP in the place. I catechised the children, though there werenot many, using Dr. Watts' catechism; and I opened mylectures on the theory of religion from the Institutes,"which I had composed at the academy, admitting all personsto attend them, without distinction of sex or age ; but in thisI soon found that I had acted imprudently. A minister inthat neighbourhood had been obliged to leave his place on ,' account of Arianism ; and though nothing had been said toi me on the subject, and from the people so readily consenting" to give up the Independent fund I thought they could nothave much bigotry among them, I found that when I cameto treat of the Unity of God merely as an article of religion,several of my audience were attentive to nothing but thesoundness of my faith in the doctrine of the Trinity.(41.) Also, though I had made it a rule to myself to introducenothing that could lead to controversy into the pulpit ;, yet, making no secret of my real opinions in conversation, itwas soon found that I was an Arian. From the time of this+ discovery my hearers fell off apace, especially as the oldminister took a decided part against me. The principalI'families, however, still continued with me ; but notwithstandingthis, my salary fell far short of thirty pounds perannurn; and if it had not been for Dr. Benson and Dr.Kippie," especially the former, procuring me now and thenan extraordinary five pounds from different charities, I do, not believe that I could have subsisted. I shall always1 remember their kindness to me at a time when I stood in somuch need of it.1" (42.) When I was in this situation, a neighbouring1 minister, whose intimate friend had conformed to the church' * Dr. Andrew Kippis, who became tutor of the New College at; Hackney.--C1