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Untitled Article
mission from , and connection with the Father , and the decla * rations he made in his Fathers name , concerning his purposes towards mankind ( points that could not be proved by the ordinary methods of human reasoning ) , he produced the only proper and adequate proof they would admit of * in those miraculous works he wrought in his Father's name , thereby appealing to rrien ^ senses as to the reality of his works , and through their
senses to their understandings , that they were really superna * lural , ajad consequently authentic and sufficient testimonies from God himself to the truth of the doctrines he affirmed as from him : but without a sufficient evidence , either of natural reason or supernatural operation he delivered nothing , he required men ' s assent to nothing .
It is certainly great pity , that this method of his hath not always been followed in his churches ; but that the jingle of a set of favourite terms and phrases , often repeated , but seldom considered or understood , together with obscure , metaphorical * and unintelligible modes of expression , quaint allegories , and far-fetched allusions , supported by puzzling sophistries , or the
authority of venerable names , ( all which things have really no £ ignifieancy or weight ) have been substituted in the room of rational conviction , and our Saviour's clear , weighty , and argumentative method of persuasion . But especially is it to be Jain ented , that this should ever have obtained exclusively the credit of the evangelical way of preaching Christ ; to which it has not the least pretence of similitude .
It is very certain , thgt to those who have not been accus * tomed to think carefully , and inquire for themselves in matters of religion ( which , unhappily , is but too general a case among
mankind ) , it is to impose $ laborious task upon them , against which they have no small aversion , to put them upon examining rational evidence , weighing arguments , and judging accordingly ; whereas it is very easy to take doctrines upon trust which one hears asserted with much assurance : it is even a
soothing and grateful sensation to feel the fancy moved and warmed , with figurative and allusive modes of expression , or the quaintness of modes and gestures . No wonder , then , if these things are found to be more popular and attractive to the multitude , and therefore are chosen by such whose aim is to
captivate and hold them at their direction . But what good purpose for real religion in men ' s hearts and lives is aaswered by these things ? The play of fan cy ^ the warmth of imagination , and such like mechanical emotions , have no concern with real religion , ' and they will pass away like clouds and shadows , and Jeave a person the same as to religion that he was before . True religion consists in a conviction of the understanding con-
Untitled Article
On the Interview of Jesus with Johrfs Disciples . 54 *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1806, page 543, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1729/page/39/
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