The proper objects of education in the present state of the world: represented in a discourse, delivered on Wednesday, the 27th of April, 1791, at the meeting-house in the Old-Jewry, London to the supporters of the New College at Hackney / by Joseph Priestley ... To which is subjoined, a prayer delivered at the same time. By Thomas Belsham.

  • Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804.
Date:
1791
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The proper objects of education in the present state of the world: represented in a discourse, delivered on Wednesday, the 27th of April, 1791, at the meeting-house in the Old-Jewry, London to the supporters of the New College at Hackney / by Joseph Priestley ... To which is subjoined, a prayer delivered at the same time. By Thomas Belsham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    gifts and powers of the firft authorifed pub- lilhers of it; and in particular, that the refur- rection of the dead has been attefted, fealed, and exemplified, by the refurreclion of the author and finilher of our faith, the Lord Jefus Chrift, the prince and the leader of life, the firlt-be- gotten from the dead. We thank Thee that though this humble and fpiritual religion was, at its firfl promulgation, difcouraged and oppofed by the vices and pre- judices of mankind, and though the profeffors of it were expofed to the moft cruel and bar- barous perfecution, thou didft, neverthelefs, raife up a fucceffion of faithful witneiTes, who ftedfaftly adhered to the gofpel, at the hazard of all that was dear to them in life, many of whom fealed their teftimony with their blood, and who thus confirmed the original evidence of the chriftian religion, by an atteftation which mull Command the afient of every candid and ferious enquirer to the end of time. We rejoice in all the benefits which have accrued to the world from the propagation of chriftianity, that in proportion as the light and fpirit of the mild and benevolent religion of Jefus hath prevailed in the world, it hath illu- minated the underftanding, it hath foftened the manners, it hath enlarged the heart, ithathdif- peiled the mills of error and fuperftition, it hath infpired the love of truth, together with a ge- nerous