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immediately on its first announcement : let them trust to the sure and silent progress of knowledge and intelligence , " and provide for its future interests by fixing the principles and confirming the faith and deepening the moral and religious sensibilities of the rising generation . There are a thousand
circumstances to deter men from the open avowal of Unitarianism ; but its friends have accomplished a great part of their object , if by their appeals to the public they have made their principles known ; these principles , fosterea by the influence of knowledge , will work in secret , and be ultimately productive of the most lasting and powerful effects .
In some respects , Unitarianism . is a truth of too grand and universal a character ever to form the bond of a single sect It is the form towards which I believe Christianity to be tending in all sects . Some minor question of doctrine or discipline may give birth to a sect and inspire it with delirious energy , till it has so far partaken of the intelligence of the age as to abandon first the reality , and then the very name , of its former errors . But a truth of deep and essential character cannot be confined by the
trammels of a sect ; it will assume a diversity of outward forms , and suit itself to every variety of taste and disposition . The great principles of the Reformation were soon dispersed among a number of sects , each of which , with some distinguishing peculiarity , retained a portion of the celestial substance and immortal vigour of truth . And so it will ever be with all those doctrines which God intends to survive the transitory caprices of opinion , and to work important changes in the moral condition of mankind .
I do not expect , therefore , I do -not even wish , to see Unitarianism diffuse itself into an immense sect , distinguished by a perfect uniformity of doctrine , discipline and outward worship . In its susceptibility of various outward forms , 1 fancy I can discern some indications of its being destined to live for ever , and to spread through all nations a $ the universal character of Christianity . By the adoption of more enlightened principles of scriptural interpretation , by the prevalence of juster notions of the moral and intellectual nature of man , and by the wider diffusion of general knowledge ,
it will grow up imperceptibly in the bosom of various sects , as it did formerly in this country under , the cover of Presbyterianism , as it has more lately in the Calvinistic Church of Geneva and amongst the Independents in America , first prompting a modification of the hereditary creed , and destroying the power , before the name , of orthodoxy ; till some unforeseen occurrence shall call for an explicit declaration of op inion ; when Christians of very different denominations will be astonished to find how nearly , in their real and inward convictions , they were agreed .
To me , I confess , it ' is delightful and encouraging to believe , that the glorious truths of the Divine Unity and Benevolence may hereafter be recognized in a form , and invested with an outward worship , suited to the genius of different characters and the temperament of various climes ; here , solemn , imposing and majestic ; there , simple and unadorned , or perhaps cherished with devotional enthusiasm and inculcated with all the ardour of popular
eloquence ; but , under all these forms , inspiring with equal fervour whatever is most sublime , touching and consolatory to the heart of man , and breathing that deep feeling of devotedness to God , that g lowing sentiment of universal charity , which shall soften the now harsh and jarring tones of sectarian bigotry into the distinct , though harmonious , accents of a hymn of praise to the universal Father . . A ..... X *
Untitled Article
Unitarian , Christianity , 181
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1827, page 181, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1794/page/21/
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