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besides some others not mentioned : The eternal covenant of grace between the Father and the Son ; resulting from this ) absolute election , not to mention reprobation * the doctrines of original sin , satisfaction and substitution ; the infinite demerit of sin ;
the hvpostatical union ; the- supernatural operations of the Holy s pirit , &c . It has been often observed , I believe truly , that the doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of what is called " orthodoxy ; and that the demolition of the whole system generally is effected by establishing the proper unity of God .
Many doctrines , however , though false and irr tionaL m ? y have no connexion with ^ H ritari ^ nism ; and therefore thev rnaj be held consistentl y with it . Indeed if we adhere
rigidly to the deiiaition—the belief of one God in one person—Jews , Mahometans , Swedenborgians , indeed , all hut Athanasfans , have a right to be denominated Unitarians , their
right not being abrogated by their opinions on other subjects , as Mr . Frend observes . But if Mr . Belsham ' s pale is too contracted , as some think , Mr . Frend ' s , on the other hand , is much too comprehensive . Though , I presume , Mr . Frend is serious when he prescribes the use of the denomination Unitarian in a sense that will
include Jews , Mahometans , Swedenborgians ( whose creed annihilates the Father ) and Calvinists , I shall , I hopev be excused from seriously urging any reasons against a sense so novel and peculiar .
I do not remember thai any Christians assumed the name of Unitarian before the Polish brethren , since most generally called by their opponents—Soeinians . Their leading principles , in mistake not ifor I h we here no
opportunity of consulting books ) were : The unrivalled supremacy of God , the Father ; the proper humanly of Jesus Christ ; the necessity of explaining the scriptures in a rational banner ; and the sufficiency of reason to understand and explain the mysteries of revelation . Those who in this
country openly avowed these princi-Pfcs , despising the shame and popular ^ ium resulting from their profession , ^ led themselves Unitarians ; their opponents generally called them Salmans , pestilent heretics , &c , &c , Warding the denomination Unita-
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rian much too good for them ; an d those who , as it were , haited between two opinions , but had s particular dread of being esteemed heretical—tearing the unpleasant consequences of a fearless and explicit
avowal of their principles , used in some curiously qualided manner the language of orthodoxy , ami feared above all things to be called aiid ? lassed among Unitarians or Sociniaus . If Anti-athanasians in general now begin to think and act in a manner
more liberal and correct , I hail the happy change , and thank God . There is no *« obvious inaccuracy' in refusing to class those ( whatever be the reverence of their names ) among the
Unitarians , who were hostile to the explicit avowal even of their leading principle—the proper unity of Godand who feared the contagion of their society . " Obviously inaccurate" indeed ! !
Quere : Where are those many Christians to be found , who , disbelieving the doctrine of three persons ( or three somethings ) in the godhead , " agree on other points with the majority of Christians , and differ most of all from those who would be
denominated Unitarian " — Priestley , Lindsey , &c . ? Let them come forth unto the light , that they may be made manifest . Mr . Frend ' s supposition that other
Unitarians may wish still further to contract the pale of UnUarianism is absurd—the leaning is evidently the other way—avid the enumeration of particulars invidious and uncharitable . I would wish vour readers to consult
on this subject Mr . Yates ' s excellent Answer to Wardlaw : excellent in Christian spirit as well as argument . It has been the usual practice among Christians to consider those as a particular class , and to j ^ ive them
a title descriptive of their denomina * tion , who think alike on a few leading characteristic principles , and who in consequence of this similarity of opinions worship ( rod together , and Jive in Christian communion with one
another . Now , if I am not greatly mistaken , the leading principles of those who have always openly avowed Unitarianism in this country have been , —the proper unity of God , the simple humanity of Jesus Christ , the free forgiveness of sins without an atoning satisfaction , and that Je » ui
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On the Term Unitarian . 553
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1815, page 553, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1764/page/21/
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