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    p . 110 , notelO , is the following passage , on which , as my text , I beg leave to make a few remarks . "It is ' obvious' that the sect to which I here allude , is that known by the name of Unitarians—a title by which it is meant modestly to insinuate , that they are the only worshippers of one God . From a feeling similar to that which has given birth to this denomination , they demand also to be distinguished from the other nonconformists by the appellation of rational Dissenters . '

    I am not surprised , Sir , as Dr . Magee regards us ns the off-scouring of Christians , " even more to be dreaded than the declared and systematic deist / ' ( pref . p . 2 . ) destitute of learning , good intentions , honesty and every good principle ^ that he is not willing to allow us the appropriate but honorable title of Unitarians , and that with a candour peculiar to himself , he sneers at our modesty ; while it is in our power to return the same compliment to his humility , which ,

    good man , he frequently distinguishes by proud capitals i But the propriety of the appellation must be determined ma different manner , Mr . Ediior . It is a well known fact , Sir , that the Trinitarian controversy fairly amounts to this—does the Divinity consist of three persons or one person ? The great majority of Christians believe that the Divinity is constituted of three persons ; and they are called , and call themselves , Trinitarians . By the same analogy of language , those who believe the Divinity to be only one person , call themselves Unitarians . Now , Sir , as these Unitarians mean modestly to insinuate , that they are the only worshippers of one God , by parity of reason those Trinitarians mean to insinuate by their title , ( whether with equal motfesfjj- I will not say _>) that they are the only worshippers of three Gods .

    Inevitably as this conclusion follows from the Doctor ' s premises , it is far from being my intention to involve Trinitarians in general in the guilt of idolatry : my object is to expose the sneering haughtiness and tnalevojent insinuations of such high-churchmen and intemperate zealots as Dr . Magec . Indeed ,. doctor , I fear your cause is desperate , it in its defence you become ( unwarily we know ) the

    advocate of idolatry . But you are not the first , who has attempted-to kill his enemy through his own body . I leave T > f . Magee for the present , to consider , with your leave , Sir , what is the real line of distinction between Trinitarians and Unitarians ; for some , I understand ^ are dubi-

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    On the application of the Term 4 < Unitarian" 359

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    3 B 2

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1807, page 359, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2382/page/19/