On this page
-
Text (1)
-
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
have been " cut off as a rotten ' branch , " arid that very act of seventy wotild , in all likelihood , have confirmed * him in error . But see the happy consequence of kiudness and moderation ! He who might have continued an Arian , a Heretic , a Semi-Atheist , peculiarly dangerous
on account of his talents , is now the zealous champion of orthodoxy , and one of the powerful enemies of Catholic error ! What has been , may be . In two years , if you do not " lop us off , " Mr . Porter , or myself , may be edifying the world with dissertations against our present opinions !
But consider farther , if you pass this declaration , you must extend it to probationers as well as ministers . Now , you tell the people that they have a right to choose their own pastors : but if they should not like a Calvinist , where are they to procure a teacher ? I presume they must either submit to your dictation , or remain without a minister , whicii would be rather a singular way of consulting their rights and privileges .
Mr . Cooke aud others have been pleased to denominate those who differ from them , as " wolves in sheep ' s clothing . " This implies that we have assumed a false character . So far as I am concerned , I treat the insinuation with contempt . But , I do admit , there are in this body " wolves in sheep ' s clothing : ° men who have lived with us in Christian
communion , who have pretended to entertain for us Christian friendship ; but who now , when they are confident in numbers , turn upon us and would devour" us . These are the real wolves . r- 'But we have also been compared to soldiers fehterin ' g a garrison for its defence , and afterwards turning our arms against our companions . Surely Mr ; Cdoke intended this as a hit at himself and his partisans . I came into the garrison with the same colours which I now
wear ; 1 have always kept them flying ; and whether I remain in it , or be driven from it , I shall keep them aloft , so long as I have an arm to bear them . There are ^ however , traitors amongst us : men who came into the fortress on the avowed condition of mutual toleration and
forfteftrdtit ' e , and who engaged with us to ' defend it against the common enemy . Btot now , that they think thetnselves able tt > maintain the bulwarks , they treachel'btt&ty tarn their arms against their comi tides '; hud would drive them out defenceless Ulibu the world . These are the real traitors . Mr . Cooke ' s similes arc only to be
Untitled Article
equalled by his charity . He has given us a hew version of Christian unifcy . He has talked a great deal about unity of the Spirit , meaning unity of the Spirit ' s testimony . These are idle words which sound in the ear without conveying any idea to the mind . Every ignorant enthusiast , down to the lowest dregs of
fanaticism , talks most presumptuously of " the testimony of the Spirit , " and appeals to his own feelings as a proof that he is right . But when Mr . Cooke says that he is only to love those of his own creed , and to view those who differ from him as he would regard robbers , I tell
him , that he is listening to the testimony of his own passious , not to the spirit of truth . There were persons of old , who loved only their own tribe and nation , " who trusted in themselves that they were righteous , and despised others ;" but our Saviour shewed that the poor Samaritan understood the nature of
brotherly love infinitely better than the priest and the Levite . It may be said , this was only an act of charity to the body ; but surely , if we are bound to love " that which perisheth , " we are much more constrained to love " that which endureth for ever . " It is one of
the greatest evils of our unsanctified contentious , that they tend to restrict the charity of the gospel , which enjoins us to " love all men , and to do good unto all men , "—even that charity which the apostle declares to be superior even to faith and hope .
I have not entered into any defence of my peculiar tenets , though I believe them to be capable of a rational and scriptural vindication , because I know that such a course would only widen a breach which is already too large . J 3 ut I can assure you , that whatever my opinions are , I hold them in great humility , under the most profound sense of my weakness and liability to go astray . In
coming to the conclusions at which I have arrived , I can truly say , that I have sought light and direction where alone they are to be obtained . I have never read the Scriptures , with a view to ascertain their meaning , without first imploring the gracious assistance of the Divine Spirit to free me from prejudice , presumption , and error , and to lead me to a right understanding of the truth . Neither have I ever sat down to write a
sermon , or any religious discourse , without praying to God that I might be enabled faithfully and truly to interpret hfa holy will , and to instruct hi a people , And I can farther say , in perfect since -
Untitled Article
Intelligence . —Synod of Ulster . 779
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1827, page 779, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1801/page/67/
-