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century past , without interruption : it is only the most ignorant , the most stupid , the most abusive and malignant ' , which have been , very foolishly , I allow , singled out for persecution . Will any man of common
sense , and I had-almost said common honesty , pretend to compare , with respect to ability , the despicable trash of the " Age of Reason , " or " Ecce Homo , " with the effusions of the distinguished writers 1 have just mentioned ? No , Sir , Christians who have
examined for themselves , honestly and impartially , are convinced that there is nothing " strong or unanswerable " in the arguments of Infidels , revilers or scoffers , of any class : and still farther , that the arguments for Christianity are " so strong and unanswerable , " that those who have a fair and
full opportunity of examining them , would do well seriously to ponder their reasons for rejecting it 5 and whether the language of the great Author of Christianity is not deserving their most solemn reflection . — " This is the
condemnation , that light is come into the world , and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil . " Your correspondent Thomas , with wonderful candour , hopes and
believes that Unitarians in general " are not more approvers than parties in such [ persecuting ] transactions . " Now , Sir , 1 hope it will add to his satisfaction , when I assure him , that many amongst almost all sects of Christians , disapprove of such folly and wickedness united , equally with Unitarians .
Flic weapons of a Christian ' s warfare are not carnal but spiritual - and these , wherever they are not blunted or spoiled by statesmen , will be found as they were m the days of the primitive Christians , to be fully sufficient for the purpose of pulling down the strongest holds of ignorance , idolatry , infidelity and vice .
But Thomas is displeased that they [ the Unitarians ] have made " no exertions to remedy this case' * ( the prosecution of the author of fc < l ^ cce Homo" ) . What exertions , I demand , could they make ? The unhappy author had the able assistance of Mr .
Brougham j but the Unitarians , with other denominations of Christians , have done much more than merely exerting themselves in ^ my particular case , and if the Infidel or sceptical
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readers of your Repository have passed over unregarded the Various manly and spirited resolutions on the subject of religious liberty , and the repeated petitions to both houses of Parliament
for the repeal of all penal laws in matters of religion , therein recorded , and are determined to represent the petitioners as * cowards , " indifferent to the subject , the only reply such misrepresentation deserves is the wellknown adage , " None so blind as those who won't see !"
As to the declaration of Mr . W . Smith , " That as Christians , the Unitarians have no farther toleration to wish for , " it may admit of different interpretations 5 but as the declaration is thus loosely referred to , without acquainting us with the occasion on
which it was made , it is only necessary to reply , that Mr . W . Smith is not considered as an unerring guide by either Unitarian or other denominations of Christians ; ar ? d that they by no means consider themselves as responsible for any of his supposed or
real inconsistencies * They feel due respect for his occasional exertions in the grand cause of religious liberty , but are no more required to reconcile all his declarations on this or any other subject , than they are his wellknown and constant attendance on
Unitarian dissenting worship in London , with his equally well-known and constant attendance on the established Athanasian Trinitarian worship in the country . Your correspondent Thomas is " sure that any man of a free and generous
spirit must scorn the conduct of those who are writing defences of the Christian religion , " &c . To this declaration , the offspring of Infidel ignorance and bigotry , I with equal confidence affirm , that the Christian who " knows in whom he has believed , "
who has carefully examined the evidences , and has experienced the efficacy of Christianity ; who is persuaded that it has the most beneficial tendency to promote the best interests of mankind ; who has felt its support in the hour of severe trial 5
and who , believing its doctrines , following its precepts and living on its promises , can look on the grave with tranquillity , and welcome eternity a * the completion of his hopes and wishes ; I am " sure * ' such a Christian must despise that conduct which may
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94 Mr . B . Flower ' s Defence of Christians against Infidels .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1815, page 94, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1757/page/30/
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