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Untitled Article
ment , opinion , and feeling , which it exhibits . Without referring to the contents , or detecting an individual by some peculiarity of manner , no one could distinguish the Arian from the Humanitarian , the American from the English , or ( but for their bolder and more fervid style ) the Genevese from either . The volume cannot be parcelled out into sub-sectarian divisions : there is one spirit . It is a reply to those who sometimes praise Unitarians of one
class or country , for the purpose of depreciating those of another class or country . We see here that they are truly one fraternitythey are all one in Christ Jesus . In this sense the Sermons are indeed * Family ' Sermons ; they are the holy effusions of the diversified , yet agreeing , members of a family whose Father is in heaven .
In a collection of thirty sermons , by almost as many authors , each individual may expect to have his taste gratified , and almost every reader will have his preferences and partialities . Three Sermons have , above the rest , impressed the mind of the writer of this notice . The first is that of Mr . Ware , on the ' Religion of
Principle and the Religion of the Affections . ' It is evidently the composition of a man both of principle and of feeling ; of one who combines them to an unusual extent ; who understands the worth of each , the reciprocal influences which they exert , and the necessity of uniting and cultivating both in order to advance towards Christian perfection . This discourse is the brightest gem in the volume . Sermon 17 , the ' Father ' s Name Glorified in Christ , ' is a very striking and beautiful composition , and one which could not have failed to arrest our attention , even had it not come from so young a preacher as Mr . Martineau . It indicates a pure , rich , and elevated mind . In it we seem to behold Philosophy and Poetry holding reverential communion with Theology on the holy mount , and around them is a glory . The third discourse to which reference was made is that of M . Celierier , entitled ' Simon the Magician , or the Worldling subject to two Masters . ' It is original and eloquent . It lays hold of the mind
at the very outset , and retains its vigour unabated to the end . It hurries us along with the preacher . He startles , moves , subdues , appals , and elevates . It is to the credit of the Editor that we can scarcely fancy ourselves to be reading a translation . We insert an extract ; but the power of the sermon can only be felt by reading it entire : —
' I ask , again , where is their faith ?—By what does it make its presence known ?—It produces nothing *; it modifies nothing- ; it never struggles . Do you not see , that this is that dead faith of which the Apostle speaks ? They are friends of the world , and faith becomes to them a stranger , soon perhaps an enemy . They are friends of the
world ; and whatever is not the lust of the eyes , the lust of the flesh , the pride of life , is insipid to them ; they can neither Understand , nor endure it . Ah ! if , realizing the wish of the vile man we now contemplate , faith set a price on its precious disclosures , its energetic influence—all the gift of God—you would then , perhaps , see them
Untitled Article
Beard ' s Family . Sermons . 81
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1832, page 81, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1806/page/9/
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