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of the true orthodox "faith , € C have been accustomed to believe that their Saviour ' s exaltation is real , not figurative , over all in heaven and upon earth : accompanied with complete dominion over all opposing powers of darkness , They have thought that
lie was really the Lord of angels , and that he was in truth interceding at the right hand of God . Heaven has been realized in their view , and their communion with it enlarged and elevated by the belief that Jesus of Nazareth is really there /*
The Editors of the Improved Version , not haviug been favoured with these " realizing views , ' and judging only by common sense and analogical reasoning , have presumed to conjecture that , in the present state , we are incapable of forming distinct ideas of the
invisible world : and , consequently , that the language which is used to express the present exaltation of Jesus Christ , is to be understood rather in a figurative than a literal sense . Mr . Locke
in his admirable Note upon Ephesians i . 10 , explains the words " heaven and earth , " in the apostle PauVs writings , as often figuratively expressing Jews and Gentiles . And Mr .
Lindsay , in his explanation of Ephesians i . 20 , which is referred to by the Editors with approbation , interprets the exaltation of Christto heavenly places , and his superiority above all principality and power and might and
dominion , as expressing the superiority of Christ over all the prophets and ministers of the old dispensation : and in the same way they explain some other text . ? to the great annoyance of this pious critic j who , probably , was not aware that anv " serious , learned
and curious individuals" had ever advanced any such interpretations ; and who , to get rid of them in the shortest and easiest way , pronounces them all to be u idle , ill formed , unfounded and mischievous . " And to save
himself further trouble , he adds , p . 92 : "JLet Christians judge of these things for themselves ; and if they judge these to be the men who have given us the fairest view of Christian truth
nnd a Version the nearest ; possible to the apostolical and evangelical Scriptures , I have erred greatly concerning their sentiments , and will weep in secret for their infatuation / ' This , to be sure , is very pathetic ; and in
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the estimation of the Christians t& whom he alludes , it will probably have more weight than solid argument . The learned gentleman now draws to a close : and what is a little surprising , he " feels ho fear of being reckoned a calumniator , unless it be
by those who cannot , or by those who will not see fche truth . " But , perhaps , of all the various kinds of ignorance which this eminent critic has displayed in his intemperate libel upon the Improved Version , self-ignorance may not be the least conspicuous . He even takes credit for moderation and
forbearance ; for he tells us that the " arrows of his quiver are by no means spent . " Indeed , how should they ? For as long as tlie English language will supply him with vituperative epithets , and as long as his own vanity , his want of information
concerning the principal topics in discussion , and his confidence in the ignorance and implicit faith of his readers shall prompt ^ him to write , I do not see why he might not go on publishing a pamphlet every month , till the world itself should not-be able
to contain the books that should be written . The conclusion of this modest writer ' s animadversions upon the Improved Version , is too curious and too characteristic not to be exhibited in
his own words . " At present , at least , I think I have done enough : and if you , Sir , or any other man can defend this Version ? md its Notes asraiust the
odium and neglect -which 1 firmly believe tliey deserve , you must have a storehouse of argument out of the common ' reach atul apprehension of mankind , and au effrontery in opposition to truth as foolish as it is "bold and daring * I believe there are Unitarians who are ashamed of this work
—or if there be not , prejudice , which has neither eyes nor ears , has blinded the minds , and weakened the faculties of the whole sect /' Poor gentleman 1 What must have become of his own eves and ears , his
own mind and faculties , when he penned the above extraordinary paragraph , if he could for a moment atoppose , that it could excite any other feelings than those of pity and sorrow in his friends , and contempt and scorn in the breasts of those against , who * *
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6 £ 8 On the Rev . Samuel Newton ' s Objections io the Improved Version *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1819, page 628, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1777/page/40/
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