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tion , that he would , by no means disturb them in the exercise of their religion , and punctually fulfilled his promise till the time of his death in 1714 , As he had long prepared for his last hour , so he met it with such an
extraordinary firmness and intrepidity , as has induced authors , by tracts wrote on purpose , to transmit the particulars to posterity . "Mem . Pp . 352—354 . " The Translator ' s Preface" begins with the just but happily common observations " that neither the
concerns of this world , nor the principles of education , tior a fear of displeasing friends , or of owning ourselves to have been in the wrong , ought to hinder us from embracing truth , wheresoever God is pleased / in his mercy to-let us know it . " After complaining that
* - * . too many Christians" are " biassed by one or more of these unwarrantable motives ^ in contradiction to the dictates both of reason and religion , " the translator proceeds to describe it as 4 a first principle of the Reformation , that every Christian is to gather the
articles of his faith , not from the lips of his pastor , but from Scripture by his private judgment , that is to say , by the industry of his own inquiries . " Thus complimenting Protestantism with a belief in such a just principle ,
he invites its professors to learn " from this book , a short and easy method of proceeding in this necessary search . " From such a search he thinks a Protestant would discover that the
doctrines of Luther and Calvin " appeal ' on some occasions to be rather the suggestions of a seducing spirit , than the inspiration of the Holy Ghost , " and that u God never sent them to reform the established doctrine of his church . "
Anthony XJlrics , sincerity in this change of his religion , is . less to be questioned than that of most princes , the motto of whose religious profession has been too often the soldier ' s
creed , ibi jus ubi maxima merces , that is right which is most profitable . He begins his Preface by describing how anxiously , even to old age , he had inquired for the true faith ,
** And found no end , in wandering' mazes lost . " And wfcll might he thus bewilder hhnsel £ among Creeds and Catechisms , While he sought thfe true religion in Christian fcectfc and churches rather than at the jttta&ter ' s feet , 1 * ho was born
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to bear witness of the truth . He thti piously and pathetically describes his vain pursuit . " Though for many years I had employed all the study , pains , and diligence I was able , in an inquiry after the true religion and sanctif ying faith , which I was sensible could be but one , and this upon no other motive than a concern for my eternal welfare , and a desire to know the
truth . I was yet in doubt out of so many religious and confessions , which it was that I ought to embrace . Ift the mean while , upon this design I visited several universities , Iturned over whole libraries , I read the works of
innumerable authors as well Catholics , as others , that treated of our present controversies -I y advised with a great many doctors touching the diversity of sects and confessions ; I
assisted at several public disputes upon these matters j I had private conversation s with the heads of all opinions , sects and confessions \ I proposed my doubts , not only to Catholics but likewise to their adversaries . In
a word , I tried all ways and means without being able to find out the only thing I desired . " P . v . He adds , " but that this inquiry might be to good effect and carry me to the thing I aimed at , —I made a strong resolution , by the grace of
God , to avoid sin , Well knowing that wisdom will not enter into a corrupted soul nor dwell in a body subject to sin * ( Wisdom , i . 4 . ) —I renounced all manner of prejudice , which inclines mea more to one religion than to
another . —In fine , I entered upon this deliberation and this choice , in the manner I should wish to have done it , at the Hour of my death . " P- vii . The author concludes his Preface , by
stating " the principles agreed upon by all Christian societies . " These he makes in number IS , excluding a Trinity and Vicarious Atonement and thus admitting Unitarians , as few Protestants would then have done , to a place among " Christian Societies . The first consideration shews , that Anthony Ulric had been more sin cere than successful in his resolution to renounce all prejudice . He had surely satisfied himself with a partial view of ecclesiastical history , wl ^ he ** discovered the Roman persuasion , such a » he found and embracca it , all the wgfrld over and in M *** " *
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X 4 Z Booh-Worm No . XIX .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1815, page 148, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1758/page/20/
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