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considerations whatever ; that the origin and progress of the Christian religion , under such circumstances as it was at first propagated , cannot fairly be accounted for without admitting a miraculous interposition ; "and we confess we cannot see how
their arguments can ever be answered . If so , it does not seem necessary to embarrass the question concerning the truth of our religion , with doubtful speculations on the first cause , or the present moral state and final destiny of mankind . It is not
probable , however , that the author meant to concede to unbelievers so far as to acknowledge that Christianity cannot be satisfactorily proved , unless these points are previously admitted ; but only to shew that the arguments in its favour would then be felt with much greater force ,
The conclusion contains some practical observations deduced from principles advanced in the tract . It is short , but very important ,. Afterwards follows an , appendix cc On debating for victory , and not for truth . " This practice is reprobated by the author as highly immoral . He shews the arts by which such sophistical disputants contrive to perplex their opponents , and the contrary mode by which 3 . fair and candid reaSQner would support a cause which he believed to be just , He argues that the powers of reason and speech were given to men for nobler purposes j that they are perverted when used to deceive ; that the practice is injurious to the person who follows it , as tending to weaken the influence of sound argument on the mind , and t ^
general scepticism ; that it is injurious to the hearers , as * leading them to regard the art of reasoning like the art of fencing , that is entirely dependent onthe skill of the disputant , but as having no natural tendency to the discovery of truth . " It also tends to excite anger . A practice of such a nature , it is concluded , must be immoral .
On the whole , we have no hesitation in recommending this book as one of the most generally useful , of those relative to the human miiid , which have been published for many years ; and especially to young persons . They will find in it some very valuable directions for drawing just conclusions ^ and avoiding dangerous errors . Though pure discussion , it is never abstruse . It is brief , but clear and comprehensive . Though the reader may not feel himself amused , he will have no reason to regret the time and attention it may have occupied . The
author may be considered by some as rather a rigid moralist , but he will not be censured on that account by any sincere believer in the Christian religion . A . N #
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vol . 1 , 4 H
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Gambler ' s Moral Evidence . 601
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1806, page 601, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1730/page/41/
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