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its reiterated ? appjyteai * onon the present Qgqpiion . hM taught m& . that no mode of f ^ ith can change the evil propensities of human nature , aii ( i that the hateful passious of meu are never so malignant as when they put on the sacred garb of religion . Those , however , who have adopted this vulgar system of abuse , which only reflects discredit upon themselves and the cause which they espouse , have
not the merit of originality in the course which they pursue . The attaching of odious names to opinions and persons marked out for persecution , has always been the favourite plan of the exclusively righteous . I feel unwilling even to allude , in this heated assembly , to the most glorious Being that ever appeared upon earth ; but we all know that the Redeemer of the world was brought to
the cross under the accusation of tbla& Rhemyiy and the great apostle of the Gentiles w-as reviled asa-Amz / ic for preachiug the truth dictated to l * ha by the Holy Spirit . Paul "confessed that after tl * e manner which they called heresy , worshiped he the Lor ^ Qc ^ Pt hi ^ f&fc ^ ra ^ I cheerfully mls $ jtoe ^ ia ^ $ mmmmu ;
I own , tha | after the mapBer which the majority here <* caU heresy i ' I do wor * ship my Creator . But I am not the more in real error on tliat account , for I f ^ jieve no ; member of t ^ e Synod will say ajfc nmfib ^ rs prove "sound doctrine . " such a position were tenable , woe be mtfp Protestantism L indeed , Moderator , except for the credit of this body , 1 care
not by what name I may be called ; neither shall I retort upon ray opponents the invidious epithets which might easily be applied , being determined not to sacrifice the best part of Christianity , its spirit of infinite benignity and love , to the support of a party or the maintenance of speculative opinions .
M r . Copke has beep courteous enough to compliment me a * possessing « ta » lents , acquirements , and eloquence , of no ordiuary kind ; " and to say , "that he thinks mote highly of my abilities than I < fo < pOm . " For the fir $ t part of his
eulogjurn , however unmerited , I feel grateful , though probably I ought to consider it only as the tact of an ambitfpi | 3 general , magnifying the power of his enemy merely to enhance the glory of cer . £ ain victory . With regard to our comparative estimate of each other ' s
talents * I hope he is correct ; for , knowing J ^ vk highly I appreciate his abilities , I ^ liou . ld , ^ e pr utl to stand eve n % /»^ r in the estimation of so competent a judge . But admitting his compljment to be sincere , \ % Jiow awkward a situation does
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it place himself in condemning my op i ^ nions J H& ^ grants me a mind Capable at judging * and concedes that I possess r % erary acquirements adequate to enlighten and direct my judgment ; and yet ( most strange to say !) he declares that I do not understand the fundamental doctrine of the Gospel , which he avers is clearly revealed in every page of the New Testament ! How this alleged force of intellect and extent of information can be
reconciled with my alleged ignorance of the plainest proposition of Revelation , it is not for me to determine ; but as I feel grateful for his courtesy , I freely give him the full benefit of his argument . I am not , however , more surprised at Mr * Cooke ' s granting to me all the attributes which are usually considered
necessary to enable a man to form correct opinions , and then declaring that I am in : dangerous error , than I am at the humble estimate which he seems to make of his own talents , whilst he proposes tc * guide the opinions of others by a religious test or declaration . How a Church that considered itself infallible , or ao individual who believed himself
inspired , could make such a proposition , I can readily conceive ; but how any man , p # body of men , admitting fallibility of judgment , and laying no claim to inspiration , can be guilty of such an audacious attempt "to lord it over € tod ? # heritage , " ( the conscience , ) I do confess I have no faculties to comprehend . As there is a possibility of error , wherever th 4 re is human fallibility , in how awful a situation must those stands who either
require or give assent to that which mat / be " the commandment of men , ' instead of " the truth of God" ! It is tfairiJ to tell me , that " this is only a / declaration of opinion , not a test of belief . ' * < H \ A n distinction without a diffeireTiCC" ; fotf , what a man declare * , at the bidding x > f UU fellow-man , he virtually tiibscribtx * Now , I do say , without fear of rational or scriptural contradiction ^ ttaaft any body of fallible men who demand
absent or subscription to any declaration or test of faith , inhuman language , under the fear of any penalty or the hope of any reward , are trenching , not merely upon the fundamental principle of l ^ o ^ testantism , " the right of private judgment , " but also upon the sacred prerf * - gative of the great Head i > f the jQhundi ; "Who art thou , " aaith the Apoutle , " that judgeat another man ^ s servrait ? To his own master let him stand or falkf '
And elsewheiewe are instructed , " that one is our master , even Christ , and all we , are brethren * " How dase those very
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774 In $ et&g % ncex ^ 8 ^ o&wf > f 3 t » ler .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1827, page 774, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1801/page/62/
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