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ther trouble , we have reason to be satisfied ( p . 117- ) that the caaoh of scripture which we now receive * is genuine and of divine authority . *
Such is my worthy friend ^ convenient dncJ accommodating hypothesis concerning the inspiration of the Christian scriptures . Like other distinguished personages he has " two strings to his bow / ' If he should be charged with superstitious veneration for the scriptures he may fairly answer , No . I believe , * that all the books of the New Testament have not equal authority ^ nor the same pretensions to infallibility . " ic Whether
the evangelists were inspired ^ or wrote from their own memories , we cannot ascertain ; nor is it a matter of importance /* "In the epistles there are some things which do not constitute a part of the gospel : in these cases the apostle disclaims inspiration , &c . " If after this you proceed to compliment my friend upon his rational and discriminating
sentiments concerning inspiration / he turns suddenly about , and contends warmly that the whole scripture is cc the wofd of God : " that u every tact is tme ^ that every doctrine is divine , that every precept is of God , " ( p . 1 O 2 . ) that a par 7 tial inspiration is to all intents and purposes no inspiration at all / ' for . " unless the sacred writers had told us what part of the scripture is inspired and what is not * how are we to distinguish what is divine from what is human V * { p . 98 . ) Thus- my ingenious friend ' s system of moderation accommodates itself to all parties , and like the bat in the fable he becomes bird or quadruped as it best suits . his
convenience M . y Worthy friend having favoured his readers with this-. kiminous account of the inspiration of the scriptures ^ and having warily fenced himself against all attacks , now recommences offensive . operations / and . briskly renews his charge against his old opponents the Unitarians . cc Of late years , " says he , ( p- 117 . ) u some Christians have called in question the genuineness of the two first chapters of St . Matthew ' & gospel , and the first chapter of St . Luke ' s ; principally , / believe , because they contain an account . . of tlie -miraculous conception of Christ . " And here I capnot but express my admiration of my . friend ' s charitable
construction of'the motives of his opponents , and the more so as he seems to plume himself upon being a moderate and candid rnan : but I suppose that he thinks ^ there is no rula v \ ithout aii e ^ cption : and in ; this ; instance he is sure to have the multitude on his side . Besides , it is notto be sup-
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Mr . Belshdriis Strictures on Carpehin * s Lectures . 367
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1807, page 367, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2382/page/27/
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