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tnuch bigotry in the" north ; but then , even those who have most prejudged matters , do not shrink from discussion , they are rather eager to enter upon it : you may , without difficulty , draw them into the investigation of a subject . They will be warm in debate ; this I experienced ; but then some of my warmest opponents invited me to their houses , and treated me with respect . On the
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RULES OF THE UNITARIAN FUND ESTABLISHED AT GLASGOW ^ FOR DIFFUSING THE DOCTRINES X ) F RATIONAL RELIGION , AND PiiOMOTl ^ G THE PRACTICE OV VIRTUE . '
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PREAMBLE . Religion is the most important of all subjects , and , considered as a science , may be said to include every other ; the practical use of all knowledge being to give us exalted ideas of the Creator , and to lead us to an imitation of his moral perfections .
Of all the systems of religion hitherto promulgated in the world , that taught by Jesus Christ is the most benevolent , and the most rational ; and the proofs are abundant that it proceeds from God . This system teaches that there is one
God , the Creator of the universe ^ and the sole object of religious worship ; that it is the duty of mankind , as his rational offspring , to love him with ' all their heart , and to conduct themselves towards
one another as brethren ; and that the practice of these virtues will lead to a blessed state of immortality hereafter . Our friend and benefactor , jesus Christ , who was honoured by the Father to be the messenger ofSiis grace to his brethren > exhibited a perfect pattern of the practice of all virtue in his life , and hy his death and resurrection
demonstrated the existence of a future state . But this heavenly system of religion has been ^ strangely disfigured by the traditions of men . , \ n order to carry on a system of delusion , the most gross that ever was imposed upon the world , mankind were taught to believe that Jesus Christ
, the messenger and servant of God , wa 6 equal with the great &od him-Self ; and another Being was added , un-< fcr the titleof Holy Ghost-the whole ^ Ued the Trinity ; and , to complete the abs urdity ^ it , \ vas denominated ^ Trinity in vvity . Jusue Christ , so exalted , was
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whole , I think the better of the Scotch nation for having been among tnem , and of the provable progress of truth hi the north from all that I saw and heard there . "
On his return home , Mr . W preache 4 two sermons at York , to the * Unitarian baptists there , wfrose history is given in Mr . Eaton ' s < c Narrative , " and four at Thoi > ne .
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said to have laid down his life to satisfy the justice of God ; that is , of himself * and the other two persons composing the Trinity ; and mankind were ' fajrthex : taught to believe , that they are fey nature under a curse , and doomed to suffer the most excruciating torments to all eternity , unless the blood of Christ be
applied to make satisfaction for their sins , and thereby appease the wrath of an angry God . These doctrines , the fictions of bigot ; - * ted priests in the ages of darkness anci superstition , were unfortunately retain eel
at the reformation from Pbpery ; and so deeply have they taken root , that , notwithstanding their gross absurdity , and their complete inconsistency with the Scriptures , they are still leading" tenets with the great majority of profes ^ sing Christians in these lands .
But mankind appear now to be fast emerging from that state of mental bondage in which they have been so long held , and rejecting the fanciful creeds oi men , there appears tp be a general wish to appeal to scripture and reason . The people in this country are an intelligent , reflecting people , and much good may reasonably be expected to result from
their inquiries ; but there may be a danger that ^ ome may identify the corrupt tions of Christianity with Christianity itself , arid reject it entirely- while others , perceiving the innumerable difficulties with which it has been artfully beset , may shrink from investigation , and remain nominal Christians only . '
To endeavour to guard against both these results , and to-serve the cause of truth in general , is the object of this Society . They are deeply impressed with the belief , that there -is but one God , the
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Intelligence . ' — Rules of the Glasgow ZTnitdHan Funa . 5 IT
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1809, page 517, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1740/page/43/
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