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    848 Critical AVogices.— Theolugicah

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    those who unite together from conviction , those who feel an interest in the cause to which they give their siame arid their sanction , will not , cannot , be thnis diverted froni their profession . Upon them an anathema has no power , because they can * give a reason for the hope

    that is in them . ' By them a worldly temptation is despised , because they feel themselves to be engaged in the defence of truth . They are not unstable in all their ways , because they are sensible of an imperative necessity to serve God rather than meiu If these convictions

    are once properly operative , must they not lead the mind to be zealous , amd prompt us to leaye no proper means untried for the promotion of what we regard as the cause of righteousness and truth ? From this indifference or neglect on the subject of opinion many other eviLs have gradually resulted which call for speedy and effectual reform . Indifference on one subject has led to indif fercnce on many , and a general carelessness has ensued . Public and private religious duties have been neglected , and what remains is tthe mere form of religion without its power . < o It may not be unimportant to refer specifically to some of the evils which result from this want of knowledge or indifference on the subject of opiuion . There is au immediate consequence of it seen in the administration of public and private benevolence . —God forbid that I should utter a word calculated to

    diminish the universality of any Christian love . We ought to love and assist the whole family of God ; but there is a duty , also , which we owe to our own household of faith . In fact , if we have a proper sense of the value of truth—if we attach serious iimportance to our own convictions—if we believe that we have

    the mind of the spirit , the duty which results is plain . It is this , that whilst we are benevolent to the whole human race , whilst we love our fellow-ehristiaus of every denomination , and are not guilty of attributing exclusive salvation to our own views , we ought to employ

    our understandings , our influence and pecuniary means for the establishment and permanence of Christian truth ; for the support and assistance of those who are struggling Hinder difficulties , and united with us ini the same holy callinig . The practice of others is no argument for our adopting any particular mode of conduct ; but it shews us they entertain a strouger sense of the justice of their owu conviction : for in no instance does any denomination of our fellow-chri . s-

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    tians reciprocate with ns , or aid in the slightest degree , any of oar religious institutions . We can never hope for prosperity , speaking merely on the ground

    of prudence , but by the concentration of our efforts , by unanimous and willing exertions , by a hearty and sincere endeavour to advance the cause which we espouse . We want a stricter attention to the forms and the spirit of religion ; a more regular observance of its outward ordinances ; a greater respect for regularity in its private duties ; and ,

    above all , the cultivation of the genuine piety of the heart which is the essence of the gospel . We are too much afraid of every thing which has the appearance of precision , or formality , or fanaticism . But ' it is a good thing to be zealously affected in a good cause , ' and there is no danger whatever that fanaticism can ever be engrafted upon knowledge . The

    union of knowledge and zeal is the object at which we ought constantly to aim . I am very much mistaken if our religious views , when properly developed ^ are not calculated to inspire the most exalted religious feelings , and to prompt to the most vigorous discharge of the Christian duties . If they are not successful , the fault lies not with our opinions , but with ourselves ; and what rests with ourselves it is our duty as well as our interest to amend . If the warm spirit of devotion , which characterizes some of our fellow-professors , were engrafted upon the simplicity of our opinions ; if we added their zeal to our knowledge ; if , like them , we devoted owr time , and our talents and our

    worldly means , to the extension of the Redeemer ' s kingdom , by the education of the young , by the conversion of the sinful , by associations for our own mutual encouragement and growth in grace , — we should no longer be reproached with the paucity of our numbers , the heartless rationality of our devotions .

    and the cold and logical distinctions of our public teaching . We should rise above such reproaches ; and , under the banner of truth and love , we should , II doubt not , go forth conquering and to conquer , obtaining both the approbation of men and the favour of God . In all events , we should acquit ourselves fully to our own com sciences , and not be liable to the condemnation which i . contained in a he words of the Apostle , * To hinn that kuoweth to do good , and doeth nt not , to hi in it is bin . ' "—Pp . ' 25—29 „

    848 Critical Avogices.— Theolugicah

    848 Critical AVogices . — Theolugicah

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1830, page 848, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/mrp_02121830/page/48/