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
yjews beyond . H witb a feeble and uncertain expectation ; frpd his motives to virtue will be resolvable chiefly into mere worldly prudence and calculation . Whether of the two characters will have the advantage for the-attainment of moral excellence , and for the rational enjoyment of life , it must he needless to explain . It is indeed melancholy to reflect , that Christians in profession , are too often unbelievers in practice . By dismissing * the principles of their faith from their reflection , they become the slaves of worldly affections , and are scarcely distinguishable
in conduct from those who professedly disregard the obligations-of-religion . But they have means of moral improvement , of which the unbeliever deprives himself . In a word , the unbeliever , geiierallusp ^ aking-, must be what the professing Christian too
often ?> . " ' I . 10 , 11 . The preacher thus argues the reasonableness of the Christian religion : € t All nature seems to prove that there is a God , and also evinces not only the power and wisdom , but the general benevolence of the Divine Being . The provision that is made for the accommodation
and comfort of percipient beings , indicates a disposition in the Author of nature to promote the happiness of his creatures . At the same time the sufferings which enter into human life- will hardly allow us to
admit the unlimited benevolence of the Deity , unless the existence of man is to be extended beyond the grave . It seems strange if man is to be annihilated at death , that he should be called to endure so much
as many do endure , for so smajl a preponderance of enjoyment . And it does not appear that any hypothesis , hut that of a future existence , will reconcile the present circumstances of our condition with the perfections of the Divine character . But as we can imagine no cause of
imperfection in the Deity ; as we cannot even coneeive of any thing that should limit his benevolence , allowing * benevolence to be a . n-attribute of his nature , the doctrine of a future state may \> e considered as not ia itself incredible , but as a doctrine which upon certain evidence may readily be admitted . " I . 304 , 305 .
Towards the conclusion of Sermon XX . in Vol . II ., " The Progress of Christianity , an Argument of its Truth , " which is throughout a fine specimeji of reasoning , there is a
summing Up of the subject , which forms the best of ^ U perorations . The Sermon Unrnediately preceding may be likewise quoted as an example of the same excellence ; the beautiful conclusion of
Untitled Article
this Sermon is also strikingly rhetorical . We take notice of this the rather , because the peroration is not ttiep&rt of these Sermons that usually pleases most . Several of them terminate
abruptly : and it would almost appear from their equal length , that this writer set himself certain limits &f paper or of time , which he would on no account exceed . * We return
with great satisfaction to the passage referred to , containing a summary of the argument in favour of Christianity , from its effects : < tf A reformation in the religious notions , and the moral practice of mankind , was manifestly wanted before the Christian
asra , and this reformation has been actually effected by the religion of Jesus . A system of idolatry which was destructive of every thing- that is great and g-ood has been overthrown , and nioral and religious
knowledge has been diffused , where all hefore was darkness , ignorance and superstition . And all this has been brought about by men who , if Christianity be not divine , were employed in imposing- on the world the most shameless falsehoods that
ever insulted the credulity of mankind . They called upon men to leave the idolatrous worship which education and habit bad endeared to them , and to accept a , s their spiritual instructor , the crucified Jesus , whom they rashly maintained to have risen from the dead } and the final result of this wild and hopelegs counsel has been the demolition of heathen idcM
latry , and the introduction of a religion , whose morality is most pure , whos ^ doctrines are most sublime , and whose pros ^ peets are most animating- and glorious * u us , my Christian friends , rejoice , in the assurance which we have reason to feel , that our holy religion proceeded indeed from above , and that whije we . have
admitted the hopes of the g-ospel j we have not followed cunningly-devised fables . A religion which proposes to itself such ajpi object as the Christian , which made its way by such humble instruments , and which wsis followed by sijch conser [ ueBce 3 , bears clearly impressed upou it the ! char racter of divinity . Had it been of men ,
* Archdeacon Sharp has left some Discourses on Preachings which were delivered as Visitation Charges . They contain some good rules for pulpit composition : at least , the Archdeacon ' s precepts are better tharn his example , for he breaks off in one of them , and concludes with , " But I have come to the end of my pap *> r + " fcc
Untitled Article
Review . —^ CogarCs Sermaus . 25 Q
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1819, page 259, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1771/page/47/
-