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    themselves Unitarians in opposition to the Calvinistic doctrine of the Trinity , because they consider that doctrine as the basis of many perr nicious errors . The strong assertions

    so incessantly repeated , that a firm belief in that tenet is necessary to salvation , have driven many conscientious Christians into despair , have induced men of reflection to reject the whole Christian Creed - rather than

    to embrace a sentiment so repugnant to their reason , and will continue to be an insuperable bar to the conversion of every thinking Jew , to a system which opposes the most important article of their own religion .

    " * The society rejects also with horror , the corrupt tenets which are intimately connected with the Trinitarian Creed : which represent the Universal Father as incapable or unwilling

    to forgive the sins of his offending offspring , without the expiatory sacrifice of his well-beloved Son . Nor can they admit that the glad tidings of salvation , for which the whole human race are

    called upon to rejoice , will consist in the election of a few to eternal life , and in the final condemnation of myriads and myriads to everlasting misery ! They have not the boldness to assert that a Being possessed of infinite

    power , infinite wisdom , and infinite goodness , is still destitute of the ability or the disposition , to save any of his offending creatures from so tremendous a doom . They know that it is an incumbent and a delightful duty to Move the Lord their God with all

    their heart , with all their soul , with all their mind , and with all their strength ; * but they deem it impracticable to comply with the injunction , upon the principles which they oppose , and against which they loudly protest . 41 * Rational Christians have hitherto

    been too cautious , &c * " I think , my dear Sir , that some statement of this kind will render your society extremely popular . These principles openly avowed , are calculated to make a strong impression

    upon all who are not bewildered in the mazes of controversy . Calvinism will appear more than absurd , it will appear dishonourable to God , inconsistent with his moral character , and inimical to that filial reverence which every intelligent being confesses to be

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    due to him . Those who ar $ 11010 so terrified at the anathemas of presuming theologians , that they dare not disbelieve a doctrine repugnant to their reason , will be alarmed at sentiments so unworthy of the divine character ,

    and destructive of human happiness . For , if the doctrine of eternal misery had the influence upon those who be * lieve iivit which naturally belongs to it , every individual would feel the torments of hell * through anxiety for himself or for those whom he loves .

    " The above are principles in which I suppose every member of the society will agree ; and space is left for minuter differences respecting the precise nature of the mediatorial office , the divine influence , whether the future punishment of the impenitent will be by annihilation , or corrective , &c . &c . No modification of these can

    be a libel upon the Deity , similar to the preceding . " These hints are submitted with deference to the consideration of yourself , and the Gentlemen of the

    Committee , who will modify them as they shall deem most proper , if they think that they ought not to be totally rejected . " I am , dear Sir , " With great respect , yours ,

    " THOMAS COG AN . tl 5 , Norfolk Street , Strand , " June 5 , 1814 . " This interesting letter could not fail of exciting the serious attention of the Committee of the Unitaria » -Fund :

    the amiable and respectable writer was invited to a conference upon the proposal contained in it : but after much discussion , it was thought that a declaration of faith could not be adopted by thesociet 3 without risking the inconveniences that have usually followed subscription to a creed .

    Whatever the reader may think of Dr . Cogan ' s opinions , he cannot help regarding- it as worthy of admiration , that , having given up the ministry at an early age , having exercised a different profession for years , and having spent a considerable part of his life on the

    continent , mixing with men of the world of every country and description , he should have retained that love of moral and theological inquiries which rendered them the favourite study and principal occupation of the latter period of his life .

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    Memoir of the late Dr . Coguri * 73

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1819, page 75, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1769/page/7/