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gutnents for a future state , worthy tLe P ° ^ a Steele , an Addison , a Watts , or a Young . This is not only a proof of your impartiality , and that you are free from the trammels of a sect ; bat also , in their idea , eminently conducive to the interests of true
religion : especially , as there is an evident tendency , at present , in the writings and sermons of some able , learned and strenuous advocates of Christianity , ( no doubt , from the best intentions , ) to depreciate natural religion , and the evidences upon which it is founded . Wherefore , it is
incumbent upon those who think otherwise , " to strengthen , " in this view , 4 t the things that remain" and which , in the opinion of some , may be " ready to die , * ' by studying these principles
more and more , both to improve , exalt and consolidate their own faith , and promote the knowledge of them among others . Nor , as it should seem , is this a verv difficult task . We
may entertain different sentiments on this subject , as well as others ; but it must be an Herculean labour indeed , to endeavour to prove > that all whkh the ancient and modern advocates of
natural religion , both fcieathen and Christian , have urged in its behalf — men , who in the opinion of most , have' * written for immortality "—is of little use or importance : and
whatever we may think of the reasonings of the " masters in Israel * on the opposite side of this question , we must be sensible that their humble foUowejs often commit grievous errors and mistakes , both in the parlour and in the pulpit . Mankind are too apt to P ay an undue deference to great
names , m religion and in the scieuces ; *» d it is truly lamentable , in a general view , to witness the extremes into which the partisans of discordant ^ cts are apt to run , upon particular owasious . We do not expert perfection , eveii from a minister of- long established reputation , any more ih m from his people \ still less from one , just emerged from the walls of an
aenctemy ,- whether as commonly kerned orthodox or heretical : but ^^ o ex pet t , in % those who are . set ap * it for pi , uh > instruction , a freedom lr manifest and glaring absurdities , I 'l ^ Vto tfi e ana logy oftheVawh , l l « e general- opinions of 1 hinki : g ™^ and even to matter off Vt ami * I * rience . «• Woe unto tUm t when
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their teachers cause them to err ! " Even Calvin himself , were he to arise from the dead , would shake his houry looks , at the sentiments uttered by some of his zealous adherents . When we Lear a popular divine of this cliss , after
stating his own notions of the death of Christ , tell the congregation , that "if these notions are not the true ones , the death of Christ is an event of tio importance in the scheme of Christianity »' " we scarcely know whether more to admire the modesty and judgment
of the preacher , or the sagacity of his auditors , who eagerly imbibe this luminous and salutary doctrine , and call it , " Gospel ! " Whv—good peopie , if you are now to be iuformed , that the death of Christ , as to its real nature and efficacy in the scheme of
redemption , remains jmt as it is in itself notwithstanding all > bur ^ isputes concerning it , anrl the nuth Jritative decisions of your spiritual lead * er—you are as yet , but " babes in religion , needing milk and not strong
fneat , and to be taught the first priii * ciples of the oracles of < God /* Again , when a sober rationalist would persuade us , that " the wretched savage commits his departed relatives and friends to the silent mansions of the
tomb , without any hope of restitution and recovery "—instead of reasoning with him upon the subject , we are inclined to refer him to <\\\ y common book of traveJs , or elementary treatise of geography , to prove the rnshnesfc of his assertions . Another candidate
for pulpit fame , under an ide ^ exalting the gospel morality , gravely informs us , that ** the polished Romans , had no word to express the virtue of humility ; or , if they had , it signified something very different from what Christians mean bv that term . " \
erhaps , this sapient divine h id just before turned over his Latin Dii tiouary ,, where we find , that in Ciceronian language , " Hnmi'itas * signifies < fc lowness , poorness , meanness , baseness . —A goodlv and decisive argument , truriy ! Cicero , gentle re Her , h . ith dereriiiiued the matter for the w iio ! e
Rohiaw commonweahh , and you are to inquire 'no farther . ' They IkkI no humility . We uiav he ^> on this sort of icg [ i « , by o 1 ; s « rviiig , th \\ neither did the word t * ajtyrius 9 wvAi ' the UomPns , ' signify i / a ery m r pennf , a haudv iusitumeni , now-a c ! ivs u >* d « from the wing of a &oose ¦ > enjop tiiey
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On Natural Religion . Q \ q
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1815, page 619, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1765/page/19/
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