On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
lates to the knowledge of God , is mere darkness / ' And h $ jays that by the carnal wan ( i Cor . ii . 1 . ) is meant such as rely upon natural reason . Calv . Instit . L n . cap . ii . § 18—20 . Once more : permit me to quote a passage from the last number
but one of your Repository , written by an orthodox son of the Church . c < The point is not what the divine Being can be according to our pre-conceived notions of possibilities or probabilities , but what he is said to be , and to do in scripture : "—u e . ( if words retain their usual acceptation ) whatever the bibleimcriticized , or nQt " Socinian- ' torturecl , " says , must be understood in the most literal and obvious sense of the
wordswithout the presumption of consulting our reason and notions of things . Our pre-conceiyed notions , i . e . whatever notions may heretofore have appeared to us tohavebeen the best grounded in truth and reason , must be blindly renounced if the bible contradict them . Therefore , whatever previous notions we may have entertained concerning the Supreme Divinity , _ wemust believe that he repented , that he smelled a sweet
smelling sAtouR , that he was wroth , &c . &c . because the scripture says that he , did and was so . But , says my opponent , this language \ s figurative , —this is—No , no ; Sir ; no reason * if you please , no pre-conceived notions , no " Socinian torture . " Besides , Sir , you must believe the horrid doctrine of transubstantiation
itself , because the scripture positively asserts it . No , say you , Because— -Yes , you can reason when it suits your purpose . In fact , Sir , ( for to cite more witnesses were useless ) , it is
well known , that it is a common practice with the orthodox to disparage reason as blind and carnal ^ and that they scarcely ever cease to vilify the best gift of the benevolent Creator , and the most distinguishing characteristic of man . I shall now state the sentiments of the Unitarians concerning reason , but I shall g ive only a few instances , as our opponents have been ever disposed to give ample credit to our professions in
this particular : c 4 As we cannot in reason , we are not obliged by revelation } to carry our faith one jot beyond our understanding . '
Again : " Where the mystery begins , religion ends / Foster ' s Sprnions . " Be not backward ^ or afraid , my brethren , to make use of your reason in matters of religion , or where the scriptures are toncerned . " Again : " Distrust all those , who decry human reason , and who r « -
Untitled Article
Remarks on the Appellation of cc Rational DissentersJ 57 $
Untitled Article
VOL . II . 4 F
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1807, page 573, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2386/page/9/
-