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    teriori , fccte in abuiwjanee prps ^ nt ^ en ^ elyes ; to establish its vafidity Even tfiose events which have borne the strongest marks of such a charac ter , may hkve been no more than the gradual developement of the varied ordinations of a grand whole , attended by circumstances not familiar to observation , and consequently attracting general attention .

    , To these views of the subject , it may be objected that they weaken the sense of our dependence on the Divine power . Tjbis I caijnpt , adjnit , , Substitute expectation qt Divine interpositions for sense of dependence , and I grant it is weakened . The preceding views certainly rebuke the practice of

    invoking when we ought to oe labouring , of Kneeling when we ought to be Shouldering the wheel * They make unceasing demands on our activity and care as the basis of our well-being here and hereafter . Nor have I ever

    known a single instance of a fool having been made wise , an ignoramus learned , a poor man rich , a distempered constitution healthful , by

    invocation , without the use of the proper means * Of the objectors I challenge the proof of such a fact , without referring to what took place at the first promulgation of Christianity , and

    without considering its aid as a collateral mean . With consequences I have not any thing to do : I leave them where I find them , in much better hands : I am anxious only to relieve the human mind from the apprehensions which

    the foul aspersions cast on the Divine character , sometimes produce . Bigots will , I know , censure what I have written . It is not to them I address myself . They are afraid to reason , and their fears and selfishness

    make them unjust . Had they been accustomed to offer their children to Moloch , to Moloch would they continue to offer the unnatural and horrid sacrifice . I address those who are

    perplexed by the subject , as I have b ^ en . If the principle of my theory be 4 « : ht , lt wfll # id abler advocates and prevail : if erroneous , let it sink mi ever . Spch an event ,, however , I do not anticipate . Whatever be the

    tiouof having been iafluenced by the ffi 4 ^ # ^~^^ W JW : * vindicate the $ aya , of . $ && > . mfa *

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    $ gd ttfcreby to obviate aH doubt of Ibis feeoignity ; a settled anxiety to ifeptras the presumption - of creatures wiip , with finite and very limited faculties , dare arraign and condemn the measures df an Infinite Mind . When our Unotvtedge and wisdom become , infinite , then , and then only , shall we be qualified to decide .

    . After I had written the preceding observations , it occurred to me as probable , that it will be objected to ihia scheme , that it requires tm interpretation of various passages of Scripture inconsistent with their general tenor . I am not aware that it w 91

    require greater latitude of construction than has been used on other occasions by the most pious and judicious interpreters of Scripture of all denominations : for instance , it was declared to Adam , " on the day thou eatest thereof , thou shalt sorely die f * but Adam did not die on that day

    Here a positive averment and denunciation is construed figuratively to reconcile it with the actual event * One of the apostles writes thus , " for as in Adam all die , so in Christ shall all be made alive . ' Interpreters generally aljlpw the word all , in the

    first sentence , to be a term of strict universality , as far as relates to the animated beings of our planet , and at the same , time insist that the same word , in the second sentence , is not a term of such universality , but of partial import onlv 9 not ; even implying a majority , but the contrary ; tod this is

    done to rejiuce it to a consistency with their av ^ iem . Again , Christ said , " Thif is my body , this is my blood /* referring to the bread arid wine . The Papists interpret both phrases literally .

    Most other Christians , to render them compatible with fact and common sense , put a figurative construction on them . The Scripture deqlares that the wicked shall be cast into unquenchable fire , into everlasting fire . But many good men have maintained , that such phrases do not refer to the

    dijrability of ife infective agency , Jbm to tfte intensity $£ itti q&imc&Ve powers . It cqlwiily ^ pmmrs ; to me p ^ ftfts n ^ i **^ ft * ^^^^^ W " fw t , •* ' ^ O ^ n ^ 5 ' ^^ ^ ' * ^?^^ '' j ^ ff ^^ tW ^ ibw ^^^*^^ Sl ^ e ^^ MS ittS '^ ^ mSmimmw ^ &ii ^^

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    m Vteu > of the tMginij /^ Siiil .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1823, page 88, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1781/page/24/