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    fcs applied to Unitarians and their doctrines . There is nothing in the terni , taken alone , of which they can see reason to be ashamed * Could they admit their system to have been the work of a human master , they would not blush to own themselves the disciples of the great men that bore the name of Socinus , who were distinguished alike by their brilliant talents , their exemplary virtues , and their devotedness to the sacred cause of religious truth and religious freedom . But the author knew full well that words have often a magic influence ; and that an epithet , happily chosen , will sometimes more avail in confounding and defeating an adversary than a long

    array of arguments . " Men , " he lately wrote , before he had cancelled his first thoughts to make room for his " Second , ' * " men are swayed by sounds . The term Socinian is considered as in itself a term of reproach . " " The title is now used to stigmatize the proper Unitarians , though they are not strict Socinians . " " They compassionate the ignorance , or despise the hypocrisy , of those who affect to consider a scheme of doctrine which , whether it be Bpostolical or not , was coeval with the apostolic age , as the heresy of a modern speculation . " *

    Our author has yet another grave charge to prefer against the Unitarians . In his present view of their principles , they are , it seems , Deists ! The imputation is again and again , in various forms of phraseology , repeated , " Unitarianism , " we are told , " occupies the same ground with Deism , as defined by Lord Herbert , of Cherbury , " p . 93 . " What the Deist could

    not do , they" ( the Unitarians ) " cannot do who wield the Deists' wisdom . " They are " philosophical Theists , who , " it is added with a sneer , " ' are no doubt the people with whom wisdom will die / " P . 97 . " It would appear that the Unitarians ( ahsit invidiaj are Deisls , who are * almost persuaded to be Christians . '" P . 101 . " The Unitarians stand on nearly the same ground with the ancient stoics and the modern philosophical sceptics . "

    P . 102 . We almost feel it necessary to apologize for wasting a word on this hackneyed subject . To attempt at this time a serious refutation of a calumny so groundless and barefaced , were to give it the semblance of an importance which it does not possess . Our readers may , however , be gratified by the perusal of what Mr . Elton could himself write in condemnation of this absurd and odious imputation only four years ago ; and what he continued to circulate up to the very hour of the publication of his " Second Thoughts , "

    * ' I have now , Sir , done with your arguments ; your general abuse will not detain me long . You attempt to identify as with infidels , because infidels find their way into our religious meetings ; where , however you may shew white eyes And lifted palms , I acknowledge that we rejoice to see them . It was your business to prove that they continue infidels . Unbelievers , who , in ninety-aline instances out of a hundred , have become so from the shock offered to the heart , as well as the reason , by the unworthy notions of God , the irreconcileable contradictions , and the demoralizing- tendency of your

    perverted Christianity , would naturally have their curiosity excited by a sect confessing Christ , yet rejecting the * traditions which had made the word of God of none effect . ' They would naturally repair , if they ' wished to know what these things mean / to a church where the shackles of one man ' s faith are not imposed on the judgment and understanding of another , but every man is exhorted , by those who stand to him * in Christ's stead , ' to be * fully persuaded in his own mind / But why they should repair thither , if they meant to persist in their infidelity , you offer no reason ,- you think the public will be satisfied ( and * Appeal , &c 9 as above , p . 3 .

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    56 S Review . — Secessions from Umtan&msm

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1827, page 668, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1800/page/36/