On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
being satisfactorily convinced : and if they were also possessed of honest sincerity arid candour of spirit , they would certainly be induced by their convictions to believe in and obey faitn . From this account of our Lord ' s behaviour to John ' s
disciples , I would beg leave to deduce an observation or two * First , if Jesus used this method of dealing with tnaiifcind ^ then certainly it is not only .. lawful , but absolutely necessary , for all his followers to make a careful and diligent use of their reason and understanding in examining , consideringv and judging of all matters relative to his religion . God has given ns
reason to guide us in all things important to our interests ; ceirtainfy , then , we ought carefully to employ it in matters of religion , relating to the will of God and everlasting life , whiclni ar ^ interests of the greatest importance , and in which it most nearly concerns us not to be misled or deceived * Most meti will assert their right of inquiring and judging for themselves in their own affairs relating to this world , and will refuse M yield
implicit faith to any one , when they conceive they can come at proper information to enable them to judge for themselves ; and those are justly censured , as very weak and imprudeftt * who do not think for them selves , Why , then , are persons so averse to examine and reflect , so prone to yield implicit faith to the ; judgment of their fellow-r creatures in matters of religious doctrine and duty , especially since implicit- faith is , in reality , no
faith at all ? for faith is a firm persuasion of the judgment ^ founded on due consideration , and assent to good and reasonable . evidence ^ concerning things hoped for , or not seen . There may be credulity ^ formality , or hypocrisy ; thet ^ m&y be enthusiasm , and even zeal , without reasonableconviction : b&fc
there can be no real faith . One would almost think it a selfevident truth , that no man carl really believe what he &ees no reason to believe , or what he has never considered , and knows nothing about : and still more evidently is it impossible to be- ^ lieVe what at the same time appears to one ' s own n * ind
incredible , which yet some have been so weak as to call thetrtumplg of -faith , bttt which is indeed the triumph of fanaticism over the ruins of reason , and her genuine offspring , faith . < ; Let not Christians be afraid of employing inquiry atid consi deration , of reasoning and judging For themselves , in matters of
religion * That must certainly be deemed a suspicious 6 ufoject , which is sliy of examination . But ( God be praised \) Christianity will not only bear it ; * but calls fot it j and , itt its original constitution , will admif * notie for real believer ^ without it * To the honouf of our Mastet be it ^ id , * h ^ prdppSed' th ^ th
evidence of his divine mission to men ' iSk se 6 ^^ s , ^ hd rough fhenst appealed to their reason , and i ^ ferred to their judgniejit&
Untitled Article
On the Interview of Jesus with John ' s Disciples . $ 41
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1806, page 541, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1729/page/37/
-