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from its being plain * familiar arid intelligible . Throughout the whole Work be also appears animated by a spirit of warm and genuine piety , and by an ardent zeal for vindicating religion from those corruptions , abuses and inconsistencies , which
have too long been substituted for the plain principles and excellent morals taught by Jesus Christ . Thus much we Can say , without subscribing to all the opinions advanced by" the author , ( though we have seldom found reason to differ from him ;) and we
recommend his ' work as deserving the perusar and encouragement of the well-wishers to the interests -of truth and virtue ; particularly , as an useful manual to be placed in the hands of young persons , before they have reeourseto more extended treatises on the important subjects which it embraces .
The contents of thre ^ olume are distributed into seven chapters , which are subdivided into a variety of sections . The 1 st chapter treats of the Existence and Attri
butes oFGod ; thef 2 d , of the Doctrine of Providentc ; the 3 d , of the Importance of forming > vortby Conceptions of God , and of the Worship t > f God and Prayer * The 4 th chapter discusses the subject of Revealed Religion ; the 5 th , that
of Religious Duties , and particularly Christian Morality ; the 6 th , is on Internal feelings ; and the 7 th , on the Sanctions of the Gospel . That our readers may be able to form for themselvefe some idea of
the author s manner of writing , and of the sentiments which lie enforces , we shall lay before them the whole of chap , vi ; on the Internal FieU ing ? Requited by Religion . €
< ist . In the estimate of the religious l ife , great reliance is sometimes placed
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© n the inward feelings . Without the operation of these , * t is asserted , there can be no vital religion . and therefore great pains are taken , and every means employer ! , to excite in the converts a
proper degree of sensibility It is cer «* tainlv of the highest importance , that the heart shou , M be right before God ; and Christ ' s religion addresses itself to our hearts , and furnislies us , at the same time , with the best subjects 'for our serious thoughts and rr > edi tat ions We have
for the exercise of our thoughts , the perfections and providence of God * particularly his holiness , h s goo ! ess his love and h s mercy we hive a future sttte of rewards and punishments we have the admirable life and character of Jesus
Chrfst , his e > . celleht doctrines ; , and his perfect e « . arr p le No subjects can be more interesting than fh ' . se ; and nothing so well calculated Co purify and improve our natures . It will be a proper and instructive subject of private meditation , also , to take a review , frequently , of our own life and conduct , how f-. r we
have performed our duties , and in what cases we have been negligent . Ariel the practical use of reflections of thrs nature will be to correct wherever we have erred ; and to supply where we have been do * fective . Here is a pla n path traced out to us , but coo plain , I am afraid , to be followed . . •* - >¦
** But this is not what is generally meant by inward feelings' and vital relgion ; it implies something dark and mysterious , teyond the reach of common sfense ^ and the general experience of m hklnd . Christ , acrordingtotheni mustbeforr : ied within ; and their labour must be to work themselves up to some fervour and holy enthusiasm .
" 2 ndly , Without attempting td give a formal definition of cnthusiasrh , I would observe , that it may be generally understood by referring to examples . There is an enthusiasm W ^ ich < tf * covers itself in a vast variety of things , and which we look upon with approbation . A man becomes An enthusiast , iri
particular pursuits , wheti he become passionately fond of them , and devotes the whul <* of his time and TabouiV |? o "their acquisition * anefhis entnusiasm ia most remarkable , wheti there is a little ecccntricity and extravagance of character accompanying the pursuit- , The patriot is often an enthusiast , in the love « f hi * country , vvftin ht % 46 inflamed witfi the object , as to sacrifice every tkitog fot
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Review •—Watson * 6 Plain Statemen t * iff
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T € > i . VII . 2 A
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1812, page 177, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1746/page/41/
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