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    merit to goocl works . We believe , as we belieye we live , that life . , is designed for virtue ; that religion is designed to promote virtue ; and that

    virtue on earth is the pre-requisite to happiness in heaven . We believe that it is not so much by calling "Jesus . Lord , or"Tnagnifying his name ™ or nature , as by keeping his commandments , and doing the will of God his Father , we are to vindicate

    our claim to be called his disciples . We believe that the misery as well as happiness of our future condition will be spiritual and not physical , and that the remorse and internal anguish which we here feel for wrong conduct at the moment we are conscious of it , is the fittest emblem of what

    they must suffer to vvhom the consciousness of all their bad acts and perhaps worse motives shall suddenly be imparted in the hour of retribution . Holding Such views of religion , of life , and of duty , how shall it be said that we , above all others , can find any excuse , still less any inducement , in our faith for aught that savours of indifference ,

    lukewarmness , and coldness in our moral and spiritual concerns ? Let them who venture to say so , point to a principle or precept inculcated by Unitarians , which justifies the charge . We do not know , and , until we are otherwise advised , must deny that there is any such ; and when it is pointed out , we will show that it has been misrepresented , or we will renounce it .

    The present meeting , Mr . Chairman , will not allow us to admit , unqualifiedly , the charge of religious indi | Ference . There is a spirit here which encourages the hope that in many hearts Uriitarianism has proved itself to be Christianity in all its in ^ fiuences and effects . It is not in this

    church that we are to believe that it is wanting in power to convince the reason , to rouse conscience , and to warm the affections . It is not in this county , as has been well shown , that , either in its past history or present

    condition , any other than ; wha £ > w # esteem liberal and rational vie ^ 3 f of Christianity have been : most distinguished for producing a salutary and

    permanent influencer . It is not in this state , distinguished for the prevalence of Unitarianism—4 t is not in ^ MMs ! £ him ^ tts ^ we are concerned , the principles and interests , the instructions and ordinances , the schools and churches of religion , have been suffered to languish and decline . Rather has it

    been here , and amongst ourselves , that learning and talent and private munificence , and the public tpunty , have been frequently appropriated to religious uses . Rather has it been here , and amongst ourselves , that religion has been held to be-the

    bulwark of all our institutions , and that the support of religion , in perfect consistency with liberty of conscience , has been felt to be the duty of .. every : .. citiz ^ ii ^^ d ^ i-jfly ^ j ^ slSL people . We may , then ,-as we should upon every suph occasion , confess our deficiencies , and exhort each other to reformation and

    improvement ; but it would be unjust for us to acknit that , the charge of our opponents is to be received without limitation—that it is more true of us than it is of themselves , and of all not divested of the imperfections , of humanity—or , least of all , that it lias any- pretensions . to , tr . uth r , as ^ . jdirectecl against the pure and holy faith in which we trust .

    The present occasion , suggesting so many causes of gratitude to Qo , d . } and of mutual congratulation , deserves especially to be imprpved as the commencement of a xiew Series of efforts to iKqite '" Jij 3 " e 3 Seli 3 ' * . al ei '" ligious sympathy , and to aid the

    cause of practical piety amongst omv selves . We ought not to be insensible to the new and peculiar circumstances in which we are placed . By the blessing of Qo& we are no longer a few scanty , scattered groups , incapable of co-operation , and hardly daring so much as to make ourselves

    Untitled Article

    9 Q& UNITABl ^ If CHRO > pC ! 3 Ed 3 .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 1, 1832, page 226, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1823/page/18/