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their accep tance with God ; and by he sacred obligation imposed upon them of lifting up their voices , together with their hearts , against doctrines unhappily prevalent in the Christian world , but in the highest decree derogatory from the glory of
the Almighty Father and from the efficacy of the everlasting Gospel . In order to maintain these commanding distinctions of religious principle , the formation of all the worshipers of the One True God , the Father , into a separate body , together with the use of a particular name to designate them , is a matter of distressing , but
unavoidable necessity . But is there any occasion for a separation among these who agree in asserting these fundamental principles ? I cannot see that such a separation is either reasonable * or warrantable : and I think that any
division of their strength , or alienation of their affections , ought to be most religiously avoided . They are agreed as to the object of worship ; they are agreed upon the right of individual judgment and the duty of free inquiry ; they are agreed that God does not
demand an itifitwLte equivalent , or satisfaction , before he pardons any of the sinitffhis creatures ; in short , they are agiefcd upon every subject of very matef ^^ diisequence . A minister , either Arfofr or Socinian , has not often
occastdn to introduce into his discourses expressions or sentiments to which any Unitarian can object . When he proposes his peculiar interpretations of Scripture , it is universally underwood , that each of his hearers is at
toll liberty either to adopt or to reject them , according to his own judgment . Instead of regretting that there should be varieties of opinion among Unitarians , I think it is rather a beauty and a « advantage in the constitution of
their societies , that , while united upon jw topics of much importance , they W still some subjects left to enliven their curiosity , to exercise their unders fandings , and to gratify their devotl Wl taste with fresh views and
ever-^ w discoveries . lt will be asked , If the title Unitaria » i be uniformly applied in the exn * 1 Ve sense , here contended for , how j * e to distinguish those who hold "eaunpig humanity of Christ ? I anwer , that it would perhaps be better if to digtin 8 uish them at alL But > "ere be any occasion to make even Aotmnal division of the Unitarians
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into two different sects by the use of specific appellations , the terms Ariun and Socinian are now clearly understood , and have been in common use during the last two hundred years : and , although persons of the latter description have objected to the
denonomination bestowed upon them , their objections appear to me groundless ; for as , when we call our orthodox brethren Calvinists , we never mean to insinuate , that they make Calvin their master instead of Christ , or that they approve of the murder of Servetus ,
so we need not fear that , by allowing ourselves to be called Soeinians , we shall be charged with looking up to Socinus as our spiritual guide , or with adopting the sentiments favourable to persecution , which Lave been extracted from his letters .
Had not my paper already grown to such an exorbitant size , 1 should have added a few words to express my most cordial approbation of the plan , which has been more than once suggested in the Monthly Repository , for combining the efforts of all the English Unitarians by means of an Association similar to that which is established in
Scotland , and which , though necessarily upon a small scale , has already been productive of much good- But I must conclude with wishing increased success to your valuable Miscellany , and to > , the great cause of free inquiry and evangelical truth , to which it is devoted . JAMES YATES .
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Mr . Aspland , in Reply to Pastor , on the Term Unitarian . 47 c )
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Mr . Aspland , in Reply to Pastorf on the Term Unitarian . MR . Aspland is obliged to Pastor ( p . 355 ) for bringing his explanation of the term " Unitarian 11 into discussion . He is not more desirous
than Pastor of " interfering with the question at issue between Mr . Frend and Mr . Belsham , " but he is anxious to acquit himself of the want of " frankness , " though he is not sure that he can satisfy Pastor that he d o ** s not still labour under the want of " discernment /*
T ^ best way perhaps exhibiting Mr . A . ' s opinion on the question is to quote the passage referred to in the " Plea for Unitariau Dissenters , " and to subjoin two or three remarks . Mr . Norrial had avowed ; i determination , which however he did not always adhere toy of using the word Socinian
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1815, page 479, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1763/page/15/
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