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    It is not for such a cause that these doors have been thrown open to us , and we have come together this evening in solemn assembly . It is no sectarian field whose borders we are eager to enlarge : it is no sectarian interest which we are exciting one —another—to ~ aid-T ~ -but ~ -it—is—the-great

    cause of Christianity , as Jesus gave that divine religion to the world ; the cause of truth , the cause of righteousness , the cause of love , of celestial and godlike benevolence , that we would here arouse , unite , and pledge our energies to subserve . It is sympathy in this cause , cordial and sin * cere , glowing and lasting , that we would awaken and extend .

    Let it not be thought for a moment , Sir , that we are acting here as sectarians . It is a higher and a holier purpose which has called us together . Besides , we are entirely wanting in the essential features and characteristics of sectarianism—separation , for we do not withdraw from

    any communion , unless denied our Christian rights ; creeds , for we have no creed but the Bible , God ' s own word , as it commends itself to every man ' s conscience . We have no set of doctrines long and complicated to which we require assent * before we can receive to our

    fellowship a fellow-believer . We belong to the holy church universal , and therefore are ready to give the right hand of Christian affection to the devout Calvinist , to the humble Methodist , to the sincere Universalisty and to the pious Catholic . We are glad to witness in their lives the fruits of pure religion ; and

    whenever and wherever we see these fruits , we feel under a religious obligation to admit that the tree which bears them was planted of the Lord . We desire , —as I trust every Unitarian in this assembly will bear me witness , —» we desire to throw around all Christendom the golden chain of Christian love ; and we ask no man to bend his reason to our faith , How then , &iv 7 < mn we be

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    called sectarian in the"popular r ae © e ^ tation of th&t word ? W . k do mt require , sM a condition of fellowship , a conformity either of faith or form

    or discipline to our own , and we freely accord the Christian name and character to our brethren of every -bratieh-o ^ ihe ^^ f ^ liu £ &h ^ £ jfyjii ' cli ^ . Jesus is the only head . But , Sir , if to be zealous for Christian love in

    its length &n , d breadth and whole extent—if to be inflexibly opposed to everything- like exclusiveness anil uncharitableness—if to be resolutely bent on the overthrow of an assumed infallibility , on the part of some of our fellow-Christiaris- ^ -if this be

    sectarianism , then , Sir , I confess that we are Sectarians , bone , muscle , and sinew , to the very felood and spirit ; and I pray God that we may contii nue to be so for ever . Sir , ( said he , ) if I do not greatly mistake , it is the breaking down of all barriers to love between

    ChristiaWasathe p ^ pdii < ctiontjf'adeeirand unfeigned fraternal regard , which it is our aim , the end of our eifortsr , to effect . And it is this which I call the great cause of Christianity ; for it was the new , the peculiar command * ment of the Saviour to his disoiplesj 4 That ye love one another ; * and it Isr a free , prompt , general , universal

    obedience to this command which , as Unitarian Christians , we are now labouring , and would always labour WsWum ^ Sfe iti ^^ ertain ; that this great end' for which Jesus lived and died , will never be attained , so long as Christians of one form of specu ^ lative faith shall feel at liberty td disown and denounce those of a dif- *

    ferent form . This will never be effected , so long as one class of . bes lievei * s shall assume the right of determining the essential doctrines of Christianity . This will never be

    effected so long as the right of free examination and private judgment is in any ( way , and to any degree , infringed- —so long as any believer , or body of believers , shall presume to establish any condition of fellowshi p *

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    222 UNITARIAN GHRONIGLE ,

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 1, 1832, page 222, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1823/page/14/