THE SUFFERINGS OF UNITARIANS IN FORMER TIMES, URGED AS A GROUND OF THANKFULNESS FOR

THEIR RECOVERED LIBERTIES:

A DISCOURSE

PREACHED AT ESSEX STREET CHAPEL,

JULY 25, 1813,

BEING THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE ACT TO RELIEVE PERSONS WHO IMPUGN THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY"

HAD RECEIVED THE ROYAL ASSENT.

BY

THOMAS BELSHAM,

MINISTER OF THE CHAPEL.

They were tortured not accepting deliverance, others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment,-of whom the world was not worthy.

Epistle to the Hebrews.

-DEUS NOBIS HÆC OTIA FECIT. Virgil.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON AND CO.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD.

1813.

UNITARIAN SOCIETY.

AT a Special General Meeting of "the UNITARIAN SOCIETY for promoting Christian Knowledge and the Practice of Virtue, by the Distribution of Books," holden at the CHAPEL IN ESSEX STREET, on the 30th of July, 1813,

The following Resolution, proposed by R. SMITH, Esq. and seconded by GEORGE PLOMER, Esq., was unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED, That the Rev. THOMAS BELSHAM be requested to print, at the expense of the Society, his Sermon. preached on Sunday, July 25th, 1813, being the first Sunday after the Act to relieve Persons who impugn the Doctrine of the Trinity had received the Royal Assent.

J. JOYCE, SECRETARY.

Richard Taylor and Co., Printers Court, Shoe Lane.

WILLIAM SMITH, ESQ. M. P.

THE APPROVED AND INFLEXIBLE FRIEND

OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY,

THROUGH THE COURSE OF A LONG PARLIAMENTARY LIFE;

AS A RECORD OF FRIENDSHIP

UNINTERRUPTED AND UNABATED,

FOR MORE THAN HALF THE PERIOD ALLOTTED TO HUMAN EXISTENCE,

AS A TRIBUTE OF HUMBLE BUT SINCERE APPLAUSE

FOR HIS JUDICIOUS, ACTIVE, AND PERSEVERING EXERTIONS

TO OBTAIN THE REPEAL OF ALL PENAL STATUTES

RELATING TO RELIGIOUS OPINIONS:

AND AS AN EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE

FOR HIS LATE GENEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS

TO PLACE THE PROFESSORS OF THE UNITARIAN FAITH

UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE LAWS,

THE FOLLOWING DISCOURSE,

SUGGESTED BY THE SUCCESS OF THAT IMPORTANT MEASURE,

IS INSCRIBED

BY HIS AFFECTIONATE FRIEND

AND FAITHFUL SERVANT,

THOMAS BELSHAM.

Essex House, August 16, 1813.