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tifarious system , for its habitual use , those features or principles which are generous , pure and ennobling , and by these to sustain its spiritual life , amidst the nominal profession of many errors . I know that a creed is one thing as written in a book , and another as it exists in
the minds of its advocates . In the book , all the doctrines appear in equally strong and legible lines . In the mind many are faintly traced and seldom recurred to , whilst others are inscribed as with sunbeams , and are the chosen , constant lights of the soul . Hence , in good men of . opposing denominations , a real agreement may subsist as to their vital principles of faith ; and amidst the division
of tongues , there may be unity of soul , and the same internal . worship of God , By these remarks I do not mean , that error is not evil , or that it bears no pernicious fruit . Its tendencies are always bad . But I mean , that these tendencies exert themselves amidst so many counteracting influences ; and that , injurious opinions so often lie dead through the want of mixture with the common
thoughts , through the mind ' s not absorb * ing them and changing them into its own substance ; that the highest respect may , and ought to be cherished for men in whose creed we find much to disapprove . " We shall first enumerate the particulars in which the superiority of Unitarir
anism for the promotion of piety is maintained , and in which its tendency is contrasted with that of the opposite system . 1 . It presents to the mind one , and only one , Infinite Person , to whom supreme homage is to be paid . 2 . It holds forth and preserves inviolate the spirituality of God : here are some admirable remarks on the
effect of Trinitarianism in materializing and embodying the Supreme Being . 3 . Unitarianism presents a distinct and intelligible , object of worship , a Being whose nature , whilst inexpressibly sublime , is yet simple and suited to human apprehension . 4 . It asserts the absolute and
unbounded perfection of God ' s character . 5 . It accords with nature . 6 . It opens the mind to new and ever-enlarging views of God . 7 . It promotes piety by the high place which it assigns to piety in the character and work of Jesus Christ . After ably illustrating this point , and shewing the inconsistency of piety and devotion with supreme Godhead , the author indulges in a short digression to observe , " that we deem our views of Jesus Christ more
interesting than those of Tritiitariantani . We feel that we should lose much , by exchanging the distinct character and
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mild radiance with which he offers himself to our miuds , for the confused and irreconcileable glories with which that system labours to invest him . According to Uuitarianism , he is a Being who may be understood , for he is one mind , one conscious nature . According to the opposite faith , he is an inconceivable
compound of two most dissimilar minds , joining in one person a finite and infinite nature , a soul weak and ignorant , and a soul almighty and omniscient ; and is such a Being a proper object for human thought and affection ? " 8 . Umtariauism promotes piety by meeting the wants of man as a sinner . This is one of the most
interesting and striking portions of the Discourse . The author attempts to shew what a sinner needs ; how Unitarianism fully supplies his wants , and how completely the doctrines ; of the Trinity and Atonement , notwithstanding their high pretensions , fail in this respect . The following passage will doubtless very much shock believers in the
commonlyreceived doctrine of Atonement , and that it was likely to have this effect , the author has shewn that he was himself sensible ; but , anxiously as we should avoid any wanton or useless attack on the religious feelings , or even prejudices , of others , we cannot but think in this instance that the effect will be useful , for we are persuaded that it is the doctrine
which shocks , not auy thing unjust in the representation of it ; and we hope that many who were misled by mysterious language , and a reference to circumstances different to any thing which falls under their own observation , may be brought to perceive the real character of an error most injurious to the Divine perfections and pernicious in its influences on human minds : " This doctrine of an
infinite substitute , suffering the penalty of sin , to manifest God ' s wrath against sin , and thus to support his government , is , I fear , so familiar to us all , that its monstrous character is overlooked . Let me then set it before you in new terms , and by a new illustration ; and if in so doing I may wound the feelings of some who hear me , I beg them to believe , that I do it with pain , and from no impulse but a desire to serve the cause of truth .
Suppose , then , that a teacher should come among you , and should tell you , that the Creator , in order to pardon his own children , had erected a gallows in the centre of the universe , and had publicly executed upon it , in room of the offenders , an Infinite Being , the partaker of h \ n own Supreme Divinity ; suppose
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284 Critical Notices .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1827, page 284, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1795/page/52/
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