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PA . RT II . ART . 11 , Such tvaa the state of the Oiurch when Councils began their work , and completed the corruption -which individuals had commenced . The state of : which we have spoken has given occasion for much complaint to such of the more modern orthodox whose
zeal was too strong for their discretion . Jurieu may be taken as the representative of this discontented class . The fundamental articles of Christianity he assures usy were not understood by the Fathers of the , three first centuries ; , and the true system began to be modelled into some shape by the Nicene bishops , and was afterwards immensely improved and beautified by the foilow « -
mg synods and councils . In the fourth century , these men held no less than forty-five councils respecting the person of Christ , though the differences , between the combatants were scarcely discernible , and turned frequently on verbal ambiguities . What the rival factions wanted in goodness of cause , they made up in furiousness of zeal ; and some of these assemblages may be likened rather to a band of gladiators , than a congregation of Christian
men-Little else could be expected . For what were the motives by which most of those who took part in them were influenced ? Let Jortin , a churchman and a Trinitarian , reply : — ' Reverence to the emperor , or to his counsellors and favourites , his slaves and eunuchs ; by the fear of offending some great prelate , as a bishop of Rome or Alexandria , who . had it in his power to insult , vex ,
and plague , all the bishops within and without his jurisdiction ; by the dread of passing for heretics , and of being calumniated , reviled , hated , anathematized , excommunicated , imprisoned , banished , fined , beggared , starved , if they refused to submit ; by compliance with some active , leading , and imperious spirits ; by a deference to the majority ; by a love of dictating and
domineering ; of applause and respect ; by vanity and ambition ; by a total ignorance of the question in debate , or a total indifference about it ; by private friendships ; by enmity and resentment ; by old prejudices ; by hopes of gain ; by an indolent disposition ; by good nature ; by the fatigue of attending , and a desire to be at hormie J by the love of peace and quiet , and a hatred of contention ; ' by Anything but that which would occasion a just decision .
- Such was the machinery ; and so much according to its own nature did it work , that the Pagans who stood by and looked on , Were delighted , and remarked , that no wild beast was so cruel an enemy to man as most of the Christians were to ieach other . Such was the machinery and the manner of its operation . What the workmanship ? Those who know the spirit of the day £ ould predict the nature of its workmanship . The following fact may turn
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• _ ¦< " . ¦ ¦¦ ' :. : ¦ ' * .. . ' . . ' : i ' . ... ' ¦ . - . &ISE AND PROGRESS OF THE ftOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY .
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¦ ¦ - - : z . , ' aM& : z . -v . . ' . - . -IV .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1832, page 315, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1812/page/27/
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