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( 183 )
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A PARABLE FROM THE GERMAN OF LESSINC Tq the Editor of the Monthly Repository . Sir , Should you be inclined to diversify your pages with foreign disquisition , the polemical and critical writings of Leasing are ane
unwrougbt mine of original thought superadded to the most extensive learning " , from which almost every subject of high and general interest has received some striking illustration . Lessing enjoys the singular felicity of being alike honoured by the metaphysical party in Germany , which has arisen since the introduction of the Kantian philosophy , aad bv the pretended
advocates of common sense , who deride all the speculations of the schools , and who are accustomed to hold forth Lessing triumphantly , as an instance of what may be done without scholastic subtleties : But the philosophers consider Lessing as a profound metaphysician , though he gave all his speculations a popular form . Thus much is certain , that Lessing is distinguished for the clearness and point of his style , the fearlessness of his
speculations , the liberality of his views ^ and his fixed opposition to-delusion and illusioa of eyery kind . He may be considered as the hero of rational religion . It is true , he often takes the side of the Orthodox against the Socinians , in a way that will excite astonishment here : But at the same time , he so modifies his concessions , that the Orthodox havei seldom
thought proper to avail themselves of his assistance or to consider him as their ally . Shotild I find the following little piece ( in which most of the favourite opinions and notions of Lessing are to be found , more or less obscurely intimated ) inserted in your Miscellany , I shall be disposed hereafter to furnish you with some more considerable ,, I do . not say more excellent , contributions . Your ' s , &c . Bury Si . Edmund ? sy R . March 26 , 18 O 6 v
There was once a wise and powerful monarch of a great empire , who had in his principal city a palace of immense extent and very singular structure . The extent was immense , because he had collected together and placed in it , all who were the instruments or agents of his government * The structure was singular , for it was in opposition to alt " received rules , and yet it wa ^ fbund agreeable , and answered it * purpose * , ,
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1806, page 183, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1723/page/15/
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