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the last year ' s correspondence by our Unitarian brethren in England . ' * In proof of the high position which the Unitarians of England hold in respect of intellectual cultivation and Christian benevolence , an appeal may be made to the Monthly Repository ; a publication as worthy of the social and
religious—character- ~ 6 f ~ the-denomina = tion which it represents , as it is of the eloquence and philanthropy of its gifted editor , the Rev . W . J * Fox . It is impossible that such admirable heralds of truth as the Monthly Repository for England , and the Christian Pioneer for Scotland , can fail to prepare the way for a rapid diminution of prejudice , and the wide " diffusion of a better
faith . ' - The Rev . Joseph Hutton proposed , and the Rev . James Armstrong seconded , the following resolution , which , with all which followed it , was passed unani mously : — - 1 . ' That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Rev . George Harris , for his eloquent and impressive sermons , delivered yesterday on behalf of this Society . '
The Rev . George Harris moved the following resolution : — 2 . ; That the members of this Society , contrasting the present state of Unitarian Christianity with its aspect in the days of the persecuted Emlyn , find reason for much gratitude to the Father of Lights ; but comparing its still depressed condition with its holy
and benignant character , we feel ourselves impelled by solemn obligation to renewed efforts in the dissemination of a faith , tending to bring glory to God , love to Christ , and peace to man . He said , * When I look around me , I feel impelled to thank God and take courage . X regard this assembly as an indication of the progress of the times , —of a growing spirit of inquiry and of benevolence , as a pledge and prelude of brighter days ; as a testimony to the true character of the religion of the Saviour , which tells of privilege to the many , emancipates from t& thraldom Qf ( superstition , and
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ushers humanity into , the presence of God . The dispensations of God have been not only dispensations of abstract wisdom , faithfulness , and mercy , but have been beautifully adapted to the several stages of human progress to perfection . In the infancy of
humanity , the mode of God ' s government was-analogousJoJhejexercise _ jaL _ p 4 = rental authority , —a special guardianship constantly exerted , a literal obedience constantly exacted . He was as the Patriarch of patriarchs , the almighty God of Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob . As man advanced to the
youth of intellect , temptations multiplied ; tyranny came to crush , and found in superstition a ready ally . It seemed good to Heaven to secure one sacred enclosure , to set apart one select nation , as the depository of wisdom ; and , prone as uncultivated man is to ceremony and show , he who seeth the heart decreed that the spirit of holy truth should be enshrined in ritual
observances .. As man advanced farther , the vision of nobler--progress ? the buddings of more productive reason , the reign of a higher benevolence , were shadowed forth by the prophets .
At length the manhood of man arrived , and the Messenger of Grace appeared . Broken down was the wall of partition , and the temple-gates thrown open ; and the banner was borne before the conqueror , inscribed with the announcement of u Peace on
earth , and good-will to men ; " peace , not merely to one tribe , but to all generations ; good-will , not merely to Scribes and Pharisees , not to any privileged few , but to man as man , as part of that great family of which the Saviour is the elder brother , and God
the impartial parent . To us , the ceremonies of Judaism are not adapted at the time of their appointment tfiey were essential . Man as a race resembles man as an individual ; that which would be his sustenance at one time , would be his death at another . It in
a proof of God's wisdom , that while his revelations have been various , they have keen in unbroken harmony : an 4
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UNITARIAN CHRONICLE . 67
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 1, 1832, page 67, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1813/page/3/
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