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called gods , or as the devil himself is called the god of this world . I wish these things were laid to heart by all who profess sober and pious enquiries into the truth . I own sir I find nothing like this sort of language in your letter .
But there are two or three things in your epistle which I particularly take occasion to remark , partly to declare my agreement with you , and partly to shew my different thoughts . You observe sir , that I use the words
necessary honours , and due honours , paid to the Son and Spirit in such a cautious manner , as though I did not mean them explicative of each the other , but in a different sense , p . 245 arid 246 . Indeed sir , you are perfectly in the right , for I cannot call all those honours which are
due to our Lord Jesus Christ , as he has communion in the divine nature , to be necessary to our salvation , and it is obvious enough to every thoughtful reader . You observe again sir , and you own that you are a little warm there , that I levelled that text % Pec . ii . 1 . against my
brethren , which my conscience tells me does not belong to them , ( viz . ) damnable heresies denying the Lord that bought them . Aod you say that it stands in my book , temptingly offering itself to that unrighteous service . Now sir , I dare freely confess that I do not believe that
scripture particularly refers to those that deny the godhead of Christ , but probably to those who deny him as a holy governor of his people , or at least in general to those that deny him in any of those powers , properties , offices , or characters , the belief of which is necessary to salvation , and I wish upon second thoughts that I had so explained it .
But however without such a parap hrase , I think I have not given such just reason as you suppose , to apply it directly and peculiarly to those that deny the deity of Christ ; for when the first part of my book is spent in proving the deity of Christ and the spirit ; , the second part of my book in proving their personality . and the third or la ; t part in
proving their several officer and relations m which they stand to us ; and upon a recap itulation I make this conclusion , that there are such things as damnable heresies when persons deny the JLord that bought them ; this should with much more justice be referred to the de-Jiial of all or any of the proceeding properties , characters or offices i » fChrist , the belief of which is necessary to salva-
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tion , and not merely confined to th $ doctrine © f his deity . You ask me sir , how we shall know a seeming contradiction from a real one . I reply that by a seeming contradiction I mean that which at first sight appears so , butafterdueinspettionandehquirycannot
be plainly and clearly proved to be a contradiction . And whatever you may imagine , concerning some of the known and common schemes of explication of the doctrine of the Trinity , ( which yet I can by no means give up , ) yet I intreat you to believe that there is or may be some uncommon or unknown scheme
of explication which may not be a contradiction ; and I cannot part with this doctrine , which seems to me so plainly revealed in scripture , till the doctrine itself be either directly disproved , from the word of God , or till alL' possible schemes of explication , ( both known and unknown , ) are either actually refuted or -p recluded .
J further add , tharif ever my book of the Trinity should live to anothcr edition , I should make you sensible that I lie ever open to conviction , and should make some corrections , for which you and others have given me proper hints and just occasion , and for which I return my acknowledgements .
To conclude sir , the civility and reasoning of your letter deserves a larger and better answer than my -want ot health and many other ncces -ury engagements will at present allow , and if besides all , the candour of your writings you allow me to suppose that yourself are the person described in the three last
pages of your epistle , my esteem and respect for you is doubled . That God would send ( . guide ) you and me and every enquiring Christian into the firm belief of all important truths , and the constant practice of holiness and love ., i ; the hearty prayer of Sir , Your humble servant ,
August 4 , 1722 . . I . W . P . S . I do not forbid a prudent communication of this letter , yet I intreat you would admit no copy of it , but treat it as I do you / IVISS . according to our Saviour ' s rule , Matt . vii . iz .
* * * It does not appear thar . Mr . Stogdon violated this injunction , but it is supposed that the original letter fell into the hands of his survivors among o ^ her papers , and that the , above was a transcript from . it . Vhe copies of some others are yet in being . R . JL .
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Original Letter of Dr . ( Vatts ' s to Mr * Stogdon . 255
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v ul . iv . C 2 j .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1809, page 255, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1736/page/9/
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