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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), January 1808, Edition 1 of 1, Page 33

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      &ti ^ pt&'fef ; -ciftuiristaTiCes , ate attacfted to * ; and prejudiced' in fa-Vofrr of jSaltf ^ particular sect or persuaaticMt * J ^ 1 aiid the ether consists of tho > se whose minds are as yet undecided ^ and who have not so maturely considered the doctrinal parts of Christian ty as-to become

      the absolute members of any particular society . Taking it therefore for granted * consistently with the opinion of Barclay ^ and of Philo , that all mankind possess inherently a portion of this ** iiiward light' * or

      " divine spirit / ' the eiFect produced by a general coincidence in this opinion would be that of riv 6 tting each particular sect more firmly in their various tenets , many of which are in direct opposition to each other i because each sec * .

      tarist supposing himself to be under the inftuence ^ and teaching of the u divine spirit , " and having this superior tribunal to appl ^ to hi ail cases of difficulty * would % e more than ever convinced of the troth of

      las separate doctrine , arid * inproportion to his ^ eal and diligence irr searching the scriptures , so woifiit this confidence naturally be . l or * stead therefore of uniting the various professors of Christianity

      more closely together ^ the effect would be diametrically oppositeand to use the words of Barclay , they would " be continually buffcttingone another with the scriptures | concerning one verse of which scarce . two can be found to

      agree / ' \ * It " may likewise be observed * that hitherto the Calvinist and the Arminian h&vfevindicated the truth of their separate doctrines , and combated the errors Of each other

      by arguments drtfitfif solely from the scifbtti ^ , 0 tir * t ifard the ex-¦

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      istence of ati inward and superioV light be generally admitted , it must of hecesiity tend , as before observed , to aggravate rather tKati to reconcile their difference of opi ^ ion ^

      and instead of referring as formerly to the scriptures ^ the principal question would be ; as to whjcJi of the controverting parties the greatest shiire of the " divine

      spirit' * was- imparted \ and this single point being once ascer * taiuedj though in imagination only , all other arguments would naturally fall to the grotitfcl . With regard to that dfenomin ^ -

      tion of Christians whosfe minds are sot yet settled respecting the doctrinal parts of scripture , th ^ effect of a belief in the superiority of an ( i inward " -light , " would in Vll probability prevent them froi > i investigating those ^ abstruse and

      contradictory passages of scripture ^ whieh appear calculated to harass and * jDerplex , but without whieli investigation the doctrinal parts of Christianity cafi" never be disco * vered and arranged so as to form a system ^ or " a * -rule " . either " of faitlii" or " of ' - * hftirtMf < s-. » Such

      persons would not fei ? l themselves under the necessity of believing more than appeared to them to bo truej or of embracing opinion ^ not tlxoroughly understood and c © m > prehended by their " in w ^ r 4 light *^

      Philo must forgive the writer if he should have the presumption to doubt altogether the existence of this inward light / 1 or 4 * divine spirit / ' us Inherent in the mind of man , and it would be a difficult

      matter for him to demonstrate clearly , anrj to distinguish , accu * r ^ tely between what | u ? c ^ ljls ( th « f * iriwarrf light ^ f , and ^ t ^ e ,. r ^^^ soainn ; facwiuc ^ which " the Supnm ^ e

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      . tofakriiitiM * oti ite ' Iftwitfd £ igkt » &ftht Quakers . * * $ &

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      vox ., in . ff te " y if

  • Citation
    • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1808, page 33, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2388/page/33/