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creased . She could no longer reconcile herself to the opinion of our utter inability to perform any duty acceptable to God , without supernatural assistance first bestowed , while the doctrine of the absolute unconditional election of a few only to happiness , aqd the consequent reprobation of the Far greater proportion to and
of tl ^ human race certain everlasting misery , filled her with a chilling horror every time the idea of God w ^ s presented to ljermind . Such indeed was ^ her experience of the injmious effects of those popular doctrines , that she always spoke of them as fraught with the most serious ill consequences , and ranking
amon ;; the * grossest corruptions of Christianity . I am aware , however , from my own experience , and candour commands the observation , that there have been orthodox professors who have escaped the ^ e feelings of horror on the contemplation of their systeni , having probably looked at its milder , rather than its terrific parts .
Mrs F . had fallen into the too common error that Calvini-m and Christianity were synonimous . Thus when she be ^ an to exercise her own reflections on religious subjects , many objections arose in her mind against the Revela : ion itself She was afterwards
grieved at the recollection that for year-? he had neglected to examine the validity of the Christian Scriptures , and to r < ad any of those excellent defences of Revelation with which this age abounds . Yet , as she always firmly believed in the existence and government of God ,
and the absolute necessity of virtue to present and future happiness , she endeavoured to persuade herself . that it was of small consequence whether she believed the e important doctrines on the principles of reason or the authority of Revelation . Persuaded also , that the New Testament contained the most
admirable system x > f morals , and the most powerful motives to a holy life , she never mentioned her suspicions to her acquaintance , better pleased that they should believe- in Revelation , than
participate in her painful scepticism ; for during this period of her life the human condition wore a gloomy aspect . She would sometimes conclude with Johnson , that sin and misery greatl y preponderated , the world appearing as though forsaken by its author .
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She acknowledged with devout gratitude , her deliverance from this most uncomfortable state of mind , by being disposed to read with attention th ^ srriotures , particularly the four gospels , which she always regarded as the most interestiihg parts of the New Testamert ,
She had been ' accustomed to read , during several hours in a day , frequently works which , required considerable attention . Thus she had the advantage of bringing to the study of the scri p tures a mind not unfurnished nor
unerercised . She was fearful , tit the com ,-mencement of her enquiries , that her objections would not be easily removed , but happi ' y found , asshe advanced , that the evidence of the divine origin of the scriptures constantly gained upon her mind , till at length she attained a cornpleat conviction that no man could have
speken or acted as Jesus did , unless he had been taught of God . To 'suppose a person long imprisoned in some dreary habitation , possessing , at the same time , a taste for the beauties of nature , theu suddenly placed upon a point
commanding the most enchanting scenes , may serve to give some idea of her enjoyments . From this time the scripture became the great " man of her council /* and she meditated therein day and nL » i * t . It not only became light to l \ er own faith , but illuminated the whole
creation around her . While the subject of this memoir formed her notions of Christianity from the popular creeds the Redeemer ap * pcared in awful majesty the minister of wrath , at least to the many , exhibiting the le ather of the creation us an austere master reaping where be bad not sown . But when she examined for herself the
Revelation by Jesus Christ , the Apostle of our prdfession appeared cloathed with salvation , proclaiming the great Eternal equally the father of all / not selecting a few and abandoning the many , but loving an erring , offending world , and sending his Son to redeem it . She saw , however , no foundation for the modern
opinion of Christ's having satisfied law or justice to make way for the communication of mercy , or the more moderated representation of his suffering ! being a medium through which mercy is destined to flow . Conversing upon this subject she would remark , that in the original commission of Christ to his apostles , the direction was , tp teach thfer
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Obituary . 10 $
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Mrs * Fordham .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1809, page 109, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1733/page/53/
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