date

2 Sept 1811 Jug Util Cause
2 Sept 1811

Jug Util

Cause of the preaching of this doctrine. The penitent becomes a patient, the priest the physician.

By this system the salvation of the individual being more anxiously consulted than the tranquillity of the people or the power of its rulers, it did not find favour in their sight. It afforded them some trouble, and /had/ was never by that government or any other been, in the character of a genuine offspring of Christianity, received into the establishment, and /or/ put into the catalogue of merits. Its [...?] /reception in the character of a/ to be received and taken as the genuine offspring of that religion was not however the less unquestionable /correct/ /[...?]/ /[...?]/ at least if the doctrine /by/ which gives merit /positive merit/ to repentance to be really a part of it. The fault lies not in the application made of the principle but in the principle itself. It is a principle of which no good application, no application but an evil one can be made.

18

Individual salvation being thus, more anxiously provided for than peoples tranquillity or rulers power, the expedient was odious. It was not however the less Christian, if he doctrine of repentance be Christian. The fault lay not in the application, but in the principle—no good application could be made of it.

(Cause of the preaching this and other [...?] doctrines, Penitent a patient, preacher the physician.)
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    1. Make an occasion for repentance.

    2. Choose the close of life repentance will then not be obliterated by first offences.

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  • Title: [1 Sept 1811 Jug Util + B.II]
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    The physical evil of repentance being thus converted into a psychological a moral or rather a religious good. Observe the consequence /consequences/.

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    In force so great is the merit and power of compensation compensative power /virtue/ attracted to this pain, that it is capable of making atonement not only for the evil of the sinful /evil/ /mischievous/ act by which it was produced, but for the evil of other mischievous acts, of other mischievous acts without number.

    Acting upon this principle, and pursuing it with consistency, a set of Christians in Denmark it is said discovered in premeditated murder the most effectual /efficient/ means that could be devised for recommending themselves /securing to themselves/ to the favour of almighty benevolence.

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    Consequence of the example of the physical evil of repentance into the psychological merit of religious good, 1; Good still, how late soever, even though on deathbed, when all practical fruit is impossible.

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    2. Greater the pain, greater the merit. Thence the quantity of mischief it can attone for and expunge.

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    Be the pain great enough, it may atone for the evil not only of the offence that produced it, but of other offences.

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    Denmark fanatics their contrivance for gaining [...?] by child murder and repentance: process—
  • Title: [4 Sept 1811 Jug Util + B.II]
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    On the 8th of May 1811 was executed at Tortola for the murder of his negro slave Prospero, viz by causing him to be flogged to death, (viz for not paying more than 3 d out of 6 d that had been required to him by way of fine for negligence) the Honourable Arthur William Hodge Esq r. Arthur Hodge (d.1811), West Indian Planter, settled in Tortola in 1792, executed 8 May 1811. [Gent’s Mag. 1811 ii.79; A.M. Belisano, The Trial of A. Hodge, for the murder of his Negro Slave named Prosper ... stenographically taken by A.M. Belisano, London, 1811. Philanthropist to be found.]

    'Before the jury (by whom he was convicted) retired the prisoner addressed them as follows: 'Gentlemen, as bad as I have been represented, is as bad as you may think me, I assure you that I feel support in my affliction from sustaining a proper sense of religion. As all men are subject to wrong, I can not but say that that principle is likewise inherent in me. I acknowledge myself guilty in regard to many of my slaves; but I call God to witness my innocence in respect of the murder of Prospero. i.e. in this instance it had not been my particular object with him that the torture should end in death.

    ... 'From the time of his condemnation to that of his execution the unhappy man was attended at suitable hours in each day, by a clergyman, whose pious labours brought him, we believe, to sincere contrition, and, when not buoyed up by that vain hope of a respite, which he indulged to the last, to a christian resignation to his fate. On the evening preceding his execution, he took leave of his three young children, which so overpowered him, as to make it matter of doubt if he would ever be restored to tranquillity. In the morning, however, he was calm, and acquired still greater fortitude by receiving the sacrament.'

    Philanthropist N o 3 p.324 &c.

    26 (a)

    1. From Philanthropist N o 3 p.324. Case of Hodge executed at Tortola for slave murder.

    2. On conviction, I feel support (says he) from a proper sense of religion.

    3. Brought to contrition by a clergyman: almost maddened by leave taking of his three children, he acquired a fortitude by receiving the sacrament.