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CJiiehester , Sib , , . Nov . 18 , 1819 . BEING a Christian from conviction that the evidences in support of that faith are full and satisfactory , and adopting the Unitarian creed from a like conviction that it approaches nearer to the truth as it was
in Jesus than any other explication of Christianity , I cannot be supposed to have any admiration for the writings of Paine , or for the publications of Cariile * But I cannot conceal my regret , that it should be now thought
necessary to visit with punishment any individual for making- known his sentiments respecting the Christian faith . It is , I think , paying our wellpaid clergy but a bad compliment , to suppose that their talents could not completely answer his objections : it
is paying Christianity itself a bad compliment to hint that it requires the support of the law to its defence : ana it is demonstrating a sad ignorance of the nature of real religious liberty , and a sad inconsistency in the
dispensing pf this blessing , if , while we send missionaries to other lands , to shew Pagans the folly of idolatry , we will not suffer an individual in our land to shew us the folly of our creed , Prided it appears to him that the wwdom of God belongs not to it .
The ignorance of Scripture which *™ ne evinced , was pointed out in a westerly manner by Mr . Gilbert W akefiejd ; and like ignorance was strayed by Mr . Carlile , in his endeavour to identify Unitarians with Deists ; Jr no ignorance can be greater than ? k rJJ ^ ich would rank unbelievers in ^ Trinity ** unbelievers in Christi-** h Still , however , Unitarians Are
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offenders at Common Law , according to the jargon of barristers , as niu ^ ly as Mr * CarliTej and , therefore / he was quite correct in endeavouring tQ sfaew that if they are suffered to Iferoacfc their opinions , lie ought to be suffered to broach his . This being the case , X
own I am indignant , and most deeply do I regret when I hear Unitarians approving Mr . Carlife ' s prosecution and conviction * Are they not , in this case , using against him an argument and weapon which the orthodox could
use equally against them ? But , what is still worse , do they not , by this conduct , plead guilty , in fact , to a charge sometimes made against them , that , had they the power , they would be as intolerant as other sects ?
Throughout the writings of Unitarians , it is often expressed , and mote frequently insinuated , that their system is liberality itself . While your Catholics and your Protestants jbave alternately burned each other , each of them being debased with au anti-Christian spirit , we are told that
Unitarianism forbids all such proceedings . True , remarks the orthodox Reliever , but this is easily accounted for ; you have never yet had the power to persecute * How much , alas ! is this observation strengthened , when Unitarians , though not themselves having power to persecute , join the hue and cry with those who have .
It is consistent enough for the descendants of the " man of sin , " be they found in Papal Rome , or in Protestant countries , to " rejoice and be exceeding glad /* when , under the pretence of holy zeal , they are able to
reek their infuriated passions an & defenceless mortal . But for those who plume themselves to be peculiarly the followers of the meek and lowly Jesus , thus to act , shews that their blood is still infected with the impurity which flowed in the veins of the Mother of
Abominations . Let Unitarians express Iheir regret that any should be found blind to the beauties of their Christian faith . Let them , by argument , fortify their
children and the ignorant around them , against any moral poison : let them endeavour to convince , and heal the erroneous and sickly Judgment of | he Deist : but let them not be absurd enough to suppose this conviction , or tikis hapj > y tesult , can arise from ma-
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trate at the shrike of an early * intbibed superstition , wfhat can be said , but , with a sigk * ?* s » poor human nature ! ^ avingt as not relevant to my puroose / a main branch of the argument ,
-that the doctrine of the Trinity is a human device , gradually and prove ^ Jably superinduced upon the Scriptures ; I desire only to enter my protest against siicft a sweeping perversion of the text as I have aimed to
correct , and to remark how sorely they must feel themselves pressed , who seek to shelter themselves under it . BREVIS .
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OntheProsecution . 4 $ - * Catlile . 727
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1819, page 727, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1779/page/11/
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