On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
jealousy , about the faith of others , has left no sect wholly untainted . Even Unitarians , certainly the most liberal of all , do by the current use of that name , Unitarian , as applied to their societies for religious worship , decide in llmine one great disputed point of Christian theology , which has exercised to the utmost the most learned and pioiis inquirers , and with the most opposite resulting opinions . Unitarians boast that they have no acknowledged creed ; yet is the current and authoritative use of this name , in effect , tantamount to one . It reduces them to the common level of other sects , who all formed
themselves on one or other view of disputed points , which they exclusively embrace , instead of aspiring to be truly catholic . It is not that the term is inappropriate for designating the doctrine , when that is required to be done ; but that a religious society should not be designated with reference to doctrine at all . It is said , however , that Christians differ so widely in the sentiments Which they respectively deem scriptural , that a doctrinal demarcation of sects , though an evil in itself , is notwithstanding unavoidable , and that cordial union
among such parties cannot in fact exist . I am not so Utopian in my ideas as to hope to construct an harmonious edifice out of zealots and bigots , belong to what party they may . I do not even anticipate that staunch and decided Trinitarians , even though not zealots or bigots , will often b 3 disposed to worship in the same assemblies with Unitarians , however liberal the principles by which those assemblies should be regulated . But it will be a great point gained , if our religious societies are conducted on such principles as
shall make them acceptable to that large class of liberal and enlig htened men who are not very tenacious about these obscure dogmas , but take pleasure in rational and intelligible views of religion , and in such practical instruction as harmonizes with the love " of virtue . Some such I have known , who hare appeared to dislike the consideration of these formidable points , and who , therefore , were not prepared either to deny or defend the Trinity , but who , nevertheless , were so minded as to be best pleased when they heard least about it . To such men the name of Unitarian is an offence , and if it
couM be avoided , it surely would be desirable to do so . Is it not also a great evil in the current use of the term Unitarian , as applied to societies assembling for religious worship , that it has a contentious and controversial sound so as to give an impression to those without , and perhaps also to some within our little pale , that to reason and dispute about this controversy is the principal design of our religious meetings ? Thus it ceases to be duly considered , that this whole question is regarded by Unitarians as comparatively a subordinate concern ; that they meet as other
Christians do , to worship the God of all , and to seek his blessing , and to inculcate those great practical truths about which there is no dispute . This is indeed , for the most part , the real state of the case ; but , notwithstanding , the constant and necessary recurrence of the term Unitarian , which cannot be avoided while it is t | ie only recognized appellation of our societies , is for ever keeping alive the remembrance of the great dispute , and giving it an undue and painful prominence . To the conscientious and reflecting mind , this
great question , which it has pleased the Author of Revelation to leave involved in much real obscurity , brings with it some feeling of perplexity and apprehension of error , and to such a man , after having done his best to come as near the truth as he can , it is most grateful to allow the contested points to retire a little into the back-ground , and , in poetic language , " to leave him leisure to be good : "—leisure to work out his salvation , to prepare Kimseli for heaven , and do something towards preparing others ; in which pursuits he
Untitled Article
Use of the Term Unitarian . 409
Untitled Article
VOL . I . 2 E
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1827, page 409, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1797/page/17/
-