On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
The policy of princes , the arts of priests , and the inclinations of the people , all combined to support and propagate it ; a combination , which nothing hitherto had been found able to break or to grapple with . And now Jesus foretells , that shortly idolatry should be extirpated , not in
one nation , or a few only , but in general through the world . What probability or likelihood of such an event ; an event unexampled—a thing which scarce any one had ever attempted or thought of ? Besides , what sort of religion is it which Jesus foretells should be established and
embraced in the room of idolatry ? A religion that enjoins the worship of one God only , and he an invisible Spirit ; with a worship founded in spirit and truth , consisting in the sentiments of the mind and dispositions of the heart , but destitute of every thing that may captivate the senses or allure a sensual mind . And was
there any human likelihood , that , as things then stood , mankind ih general would abandon their idols , the visible objects of their worship , and all their ceremonies , sacrifices and splendid rites i drive away their awftil priests
and pleasing musicians , neglect their religious crafts and festivals , their games and processions , and a thousand other enchanting things , for such a plain , spiritual and unattractive institution as this ? Doth the universal
experience of mankind through all ages promise any probability of it ? Directly the reverse . I might add to this , that the idolatrous religions of the Gentiles laid no restraints upon , nay , indulged and encouraged all manner of lust , debauchery and
intemperance ; whereas the gospel religion absolutely forbade these things ; and consequently , not only opposed the bodily senses of men , but the affections and prevailing dispositions of their hearts ; which things , when duly considered , will shew that the improbabilities were extremely great
and complicated , either that idolatry , which waa so very convenient and complaisant to the lusts and passions of a corrupt world , should ever be suppressed ; or that the gospel religion , which combated them so rudely , should ever be propagated with any considerable effect It is observable .
Untitled Article
that before the coining of Christ there had been some few attempts made in some few places to reform the morals of mankind , partly by lawgivers and patriot princes , partly by philosophers and moral writers ; bnt with what success ? Truly very little , and very short-lived ; they had at first good effect on some few . Restraints were
laid on the enormities of the people for a while . This engaged attention and admiration for a few years , and , perhaps , the applause of posterity ; but soon the stream of corruption returned info its old channel with
increased strength and rapidity : and yet the reformations then attempted , were nothing like so complete and universal as that which the gospel proposed and enjoined on all mankind * But as to religion , scarce ever any attempt had been made to reform it , or to suppress idolatry any where
through all the Gentile world , A very few choice spirits arose indeed now and then ; one or two , in several ages , who saw into the absurdity of it , and somehow gained some rational sentiments concerning the one true God , and the religion due to him , and who ventured to disclose their
sentiments to the world . But how were they received ? With execration and abhorrence , as impious and atheistical wretches , enemies of the gods , for presuming to assert ( as
Demetrius expresseth it in the Acts ) that those were no gods , which are made with hands ; and fortunate were those of them , who escaped the cruel deaths which others suffered .
If we enter still more deeply into the subject , we shall see reason to conclude , from the nature of the things themselves , that it would be a much more practicable attempt to establish or overthrow the greatest empire that ever was on this globe ,
than to extirpate idolatry and false religion , and introduce true and rational religion into a single nation by any means merely human . In the former case , human power and human policy have a full scope . A sufficient
army of hardy veterans , expert in the arts and discipline of war , will go a great way : wise and experienced politicians , who know how to improve incidents , and to apply properly to the passions and inclinations of
Untitled Article
110 Biblical Criticisms—On John xii . 81 , S&
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1819, page 110, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1769/page/42/
-