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' " * * ' ¦ . " * preaching , had brought many of our congregations to the verge ! of diskn fution , in which they would inevitably have sunk , had not the intrepidity of Dr . Priestley awakened a new spirit and given a new impulse to the public
mind . The timid and undecided policy of a former period was abandoned . Associations were now formed amongst Unitarians for their mutual support and encouragement : preaching on their peculiar tenets became frequent and was sometimes popular : they , who had hitherto been only scattered and insulated individuals , were drawn together , and began to assume the soiid consistency and definite movement of a sect . Nevertheless , with the strongest conviction of the scriptural truth of
Unitarianism , and with the most confident expectation that it will at length prevail universally , I much question whether it can ever become the rallying word of a very enthusiastic and closely united party ; whether , in short , it be capable of being made subservient to the purposes of violent sectarianism : and I ground this opinion on the superior importance of Unitarianism itself , on the more vital character of the doctrines which are its essence :. Did it insist on any minute rite or particular discipline ; did it impose some outward badge , or gratify that unaccountable fondness for extravagance and
singularity for which the weaker portion of mankind are so remarkable , I should expect to see it spread through a numerous and zealous sect , and excite the greatest enthusiasm in its adherents . For , however humiliating a confession for human nature it may be , it is nevertheless perfectly true , thai , in the present state of society , a certain degree of secular feeling seems esseri-r
tial to the activity and zeal of a Teligious party . Only touch some worldl y prejudice or gratify some political antipathy , and , dull and sluggish as its movements may have previously been , you inspire it at once with an almost preternatural life and energy . I have observed , that the preaching even of Unitarianism has sometimes been most popular when it has flattered a feeling of imaginary superiority above other Christians , and coincided with
that propensity to inveigh against political and ecclesiastical abuses which is always prevalent in a free country , but is not very closely connected with religion . In genuine Unitarian Christianity , such as it was professed arid adorned at a very early period by $ Firmin , and in later times by a Lardn&r and a Lindsey , there is nothing to gratify either personal vanity or political prepossession ; it leaves the individual no ground of merit , no means of distinguishing himself above his fellow-christians , but what consists in a
more patient and exemplary fulfilment of every moral and religious duty . It admits of no substitute for virtue , nor will accept the zeal of proselytism and sectarian activity in place of doing justly and loving mercy and walking humbly with God . Let not these remarks be understood as discouraging popular and zealous exertions , or as intended to deter our ministers from scattering as widely ^ s possible the precious seed of sacred truth . We believe ourselves to Be the holders of a most important doctrine , a doctrine which we trust will finall y spread , for the blessing of mankind , over the
wnoie eartn . Most certainly then does it behove us , by every means of writing and preaching , to make this doctrine extensively known to the public , and in such a manner as most effectually to promote those moral arid devotional ends on which , when properly conveyed , it bears with the directest force , and from which it derives its only value . But we should beware of confounding the nominal increase of a sect with tjw extension of the vital influence of pure Christianity , and of mistaking the bare recognition of pa $ t errors for the practical adoption of ne ^ r and living truths . Our ministers ought not to be discouraged if numbers do riot embrace Unitarianism
Untitled Article
180 Unitarian Christianity .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1827, page 180, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1794/page/20/
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