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    texts , which have been supposed fb _ hold forth a particular doctrine , * This method is a good one , and has its advantages . But there is still a better method to obtain

    satisfaction concerning the doctrines of Christianity , and that is , to have recourse to the Scriptures themselves in the first place , and to study them according to the order in which ihe writers composed them . TR * e great and good Dr . Jebb has furnished an

    excellent plan of tnis mode of study , as it concerns , particularly , the four Gospels . Should it not enter into the course of the divinity lectures which you will receive , you will do well to pursue it in your private studies . The reflections of this

    admirable man merit your close Regard : I will give them to you . " The inquirer into the credenda contained in the Gospels , resembles the inquirer into the fuhdamental laws of nature , before a better philosophy had taught us the vanity of systems , and inclined us to adopt the humble process of experiment . 4

    * We begin our researches in theology with ihe assumption of a certain set of religious tenets , and

    * Such are Dr . Clarke's " Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity : " Dr . John Taylor ' s ** Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin : " ** Bishop law ' s Examination of all the Texts where the words , ' Soul or •* Spirit / ' occur in the " Appendix to the Considerations on the Theory of Religion . " 4 * Edwards' Doctiinc of Irresistible Grace : •» Dr . Sykes' '' Scripture

    Doctrine of the Redemption of Man by Jesus Christ : " Foot ' s " Letters on Bap ^ tism : ' " Dr . Carpenter ' s "tJnitarianism the Doctrine of the Gospel , * ' and Mr . BelshftOft s"Calm Inquiry into the Scrip , ture Doecrinc- coaccraiog the Person of Christ /'

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    frequently employ the mofet val uable of those hours which we des « tine to sacred study , in collecting arguments in their favour , and in rain endeavours to explain them ; while every text of scripture is , ia its turn , perverted from its obvi . ous meaning , in order to support them .

    ** How much more reasonable , previously to investigate , With patience and critical attention , the sense of each particular text or passage , in the natural order of

    the writer , and to defer the fo rmation of opinion , until , like a principle of sound philosophy , suggested by a numerous train of experiments , it forces itself with accumulated evidence on the

    yielding mind ! 44 It is solely owing to the preposterous method of enquiry above described , that the holy records of our faith have , very injuriously , been supposed to be so loosely worded , as in effect to

    ce oppos opinions and to justify the mo $ t fantastic doctrines . 46 But let us for a moment re * fleet , and let the reflection teach us wisdom , that the same phenomena of nature which were

    brought in evidence of -the fig . ments of remote antiquity were also applied to support the equally vain hypotheses of more modern times . The laws of the material world , in consequence of the introduction of a better method

    of investigation , are , however , now demonstrated to be consistent , simple , and invariable , affording a just and easy explication of every natural appearance . H a similar process be observed , success may reasonably be expected to be ouf "fewa ' njL when we ex-

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    508 Letters to a Student . — Letter V .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1812, page 508, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1751/page/32/