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Untitled Article
maakiad , to raise and conduct parties , &c , have mighty influence on human affairs } and both united , seem equal to the greatest undertakings . Here the instruments to work with may be gotten , and the matter to work upon is within your reach . But if you
attempt to change the religion of a people , to extirpate , for instance , idolatry , and to introduce the true religion of the one God by merely human means , how will you effect it ? Religion , whether true or false , is situated in the sentiments of men ' s
minds , and in the affections of their hearts ; and how will you come at these to take away some and introduce others ? Idolatry and false religion are supported by erroneous sentiments , by false prejudices and
corrupt dispositions ; but how will you come at these to eradicate them , and to take away the foundations on which idolatry is built } Will you use power to suppress it , and enforce the practice of true religion ? It is in vain : the spirits and consciences of
men are like the elastic , air , which you may compress , and may keep com * pressed , to a certain degree , by a proportionable force , but if any accident remove the pressure , it immediately expands with violence to its former or greater dimensions . In like manner , though tyrants may lay constraints on the consciences and
religion of mankind , whatever be its quality , as soon as ever the death of the tyrants , or any other of the many accidents to which human power is subjected , delivers them frprn the constraint , they immediately return to the former practices with redoubled
eagerness . One of the ancient monarcha of Persia , having conquered Egypt , demolished the temples , broke the images of the gods , and slew the sacred animals , and forbade the Egyptians to practise their ancient superstitions : this injunction was obeved
for some time ; but as soon aa a change of times and circumstances in the Persian government allowed , the old national religion was immediately restored in Egypt with great
zeal . Yes , perhaps some will say , to attempt by external force to constrain the consciences and religious practices of men , is undoubtedly no less absurd than it is cruel , and will certainly prove unsuccessful in the end .
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But let us apply directly to their understandings by reason and argument , and we cannot fail of succeeding to convince them of the folly of idolatry and false religion , and of the reasona * bleness and excellence of the tru 6 ; or to persuade them to abandon the one
and embrace the other . In this way it will certainly be very practicable , by merely human means to extirpate idolatry , and establish the true religion . Perhaps so , provided sound reason were the only governing principle of human determinations and
actions ; but the truth of facts decides it otherwise . Prejudices have a mighty influence over the generality of men ; the senses , passioDs and appetites are their sovereign guides , and where all these concur , as they do in
support of false religion , the voice of reason is little attended to , her clearest demonstrations are overruled , and strongest remonstrances neglected - This is not the only case in matters of religion , ljut in all the other concerns of human life / And if this be the
true state of facts with the generality of mankind , as it certainly is ; in vain will you prepare for them the best chain of reasoning , and study every art of address ; they will hold fast
their prejudices ; they will listen to their passions and appetites , which your stoutest attacks of reason and argument can never come at or take away from them . They will reverence as sacred the customs of their
ancestors , and regard their religious ceremonies and worship as their own birthright . If you would carry your point , in favour of truth and reason , with men who are under the influence of prejo * dice and sensual passions and lusts ,
you must present unto them motives which they themselves shall feel to be of greater importance in themselves * aud ' which shall operate on their hearts more powerfully than the objects which have hitherto attracted their attention and regards—motives which shall arrest and overpower
their affections and passions , expel their prejudices , and dissolve the « oh chantment by which their souls were captivated . But what motives of tins powerful quality do you expect hamati reasoning and argumentation alone will furnish you with ? You may even despair *
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Biblical Criticism . — -On John xii . 31 , 32 , ill
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1819, page 111, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1769/page/43/
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