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la draw the conclusion , whether he was the Christj sent of God to reveal his will to the world . While , therefore , we read the Gospel , let us think also of what we read : let us weigh the nature and importance of those evidences he produced of his divine
mission , as if we had been on the spot , and seen and heard the things recorded : and when we are fully satisfied , that the proofs are genuifte , authentic , and sufficient , we shall then believe in earnest that he is the Christ . Let us then proceed to examine the nature , tendency ^ and importance of his doctrines , precepts , and promises , and digest them well in our
thoughts ; and if upon sedate and unprejudiced examination , they shall appear to us of the utmost moment , worthy of God , good and profitable for us , we shall then see reason to embrace them cordiall y ^ and to form our principles , temper , and conduct upon them sincerely ; and thus we shall become real and rational Christianssuch as Christ meantand hath made pro
-, , per provisions that all his followers should be . Thus we shall become Christians upon principle , and on that account more likely to be conscientious , consistent , and persevering Christians , knowing in whom , and for what reason we have
believed . By the same method of calm , diligent , and impartial consideration ^ let us examine whatever others may advance as religious doctrine or duty , together with the proofs they adduce in support of them ; searching the Scriptures carefully , whether the things they affirm are so ,, and whether they give us the genuine sense of the holy writers in the passages they appeal to , and do not abuse and pervert them to very different senses . If
any persons should refuse to suffer their doctrines or arguments to be subjected to examination by reason and scripture , they will thereby raise our just suspicion of a secret consciousness in themselves that they will not bear it ; and for that very reason we should not fail to be more accurate and careful in making it ; and we may truly tell them , that they refuse to be tried by that standard to which Christ himself appealed for proof that he was really the Christ .
Secondl y ^ let it $ lso be observed , that to address the reason and understandings of mankind by offering to them rational ^ rguiTtents , fitted to convince and persuade them of the truth of what we teach , is the proper and truly evangelical way of preaching Christianity , for this was the method of Christ
himself . To be satisfied of this ^ consider carefully his whole jermon on the jnount , and indeed all his other discourses : you will every where find him supporting his doctrines and precepts , by plain evidence of strong arguments and rational motives , fitted to enforce conviction on every understanding that will weigh them impartiall y * Even for his own divine com-
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542 On the Interview of Jesus with John ' s Disciples .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1806, page 542, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1729/page/38/
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