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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Xh € quarterly meeting of the Presbytsrim ministers in Manchester and its ¦ vicinity 9 . was held at Stockport , at the clvapel of the Rev . E . Higginson , on the ^ ist of September , 1809 . The Rev . W . Jq hns * introduced the service , and the Rev . J . Holland preachdd sn
excellent sermon , from Rom . xv . 5 , 6 . to an attentive , and , though not numerous , yet . respectable audience . 4 . S the session at the York Institution commenced on the day on which the meeting was held , the preacher , in a short address before the sermon , was
naturally led to recommend it as a " seminary where the study of theology is most impartially pursued /* It was observed , ' . ' that the principle of the liberal conductor of that seminary is not to imjjpse any ism of his own , but simply to appeal to the best interpretation of the holy scriptures , ' * The merits of the institution therefore being duly appreciated , it was added . " that whoever
could conscientiously unite in divine ^ worship with the assembly then present , and yet did not use their best endeavours , for the support and continuance of such seminaries , might surrender future generations to the influence of error , until Providence should think fit to raise up other instruments to diffuse the divine
light of truth over the world . ' No exclusive appropriation was claimed to the term Unitarian , whilst it was maintained that - " •* whoever agree , or nearly agree , respecting the commission or character of Jesus Christ , have no good reason to render his nature or person a pretext for not uniting in any common interest . " Hence it was deemed " not
inconsistent with the purposes of the as-UQciation to solicit the candid attention of the audience to some reflections on the subject of Christian unanimity . " The text was in Rorri . ^ v . 5 , 6 . * The apostle in the text seems to restrict unanimity to the essential * of the
gospel , *« according to Jesus Christ , " and to represent the worship of all those to be acceptable , who " with one mind glorify the God and Father" of the Messiah . It was then shewn , that there is , no form of Christianity , which forbids disciples of any denomination frpjp * being of one mind in the most ixu-
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* . ' pprtant and essential particulars- .-not excepting even those whose . r tenets arc most remote from the reputed standard of orthodoxy , because in their system i % comprized whatever is most general , least contested , and most important ; in other systems . In favpur of the lowest scheme , as it may be styled , ft is also a presumption , that it enables the
greatest number of Christi ans to join in peUgioas offices ; where as peculiarity of sentiments in devotional exercises , must necessarily prevent the general adoption of them . It was argued , that- uniformity of opinions , even in matters of importance , is absolutely impossible in the present state . ' * There may be a uniof
formity or sentiment ' in . the bon ^ l ignorance—in the bond of dissimulation ; but palpably different from a uniformity of the spirit in the bond of peace . ** Whatever is obviously practical in tjie reputed orthodox system , not even its most decided opponent rejects . He admits the divine providence to be universal and everlasting ; is orthodox zeal
authorized to require rqore f He admits , too , that the power of Go < J alone creates , redeems , sanctifies ; and it the word atonement mean the reconciliation of man to God , by means of die religion confirmed by the death of Christy even the Unitarian is agreed with every other
disciple . Will any one call the preacher ' s representation of the Christian faifh partial or imperfect ? . Tt is granted , that if more had been revealed , more were to be received : yet in all cases , it were absurd to say , that that is a revelation which cannot be understood . If
it were a rejemysteries , supposed not to be revealed , so would it be to receive them when in fact they were not revealed . But in neither of the cases can involuntary error be deemed criminal , Let all defend that faith which they suppose Was originall y given to the saints ; but with that zeajf which
is according to knowledge , and consistent with brotherly love . But in faith , when an object of commendation , is included integrity and sincerity , as well as belief ; and it is of no available eflicacy , when unattended with thp ^ e mora l virtues , called the fruits of ( he Spirit . — By these considerations , may unanimuy
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MANCHESTER PRESBYTERIAN QU ^^ T ^ ItXY A $ SOClATi 6 , N .
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. * * JS 39 >
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1809, page 639, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1742/page/53/
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