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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.
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Sir , Jnn . 9 , 1808 . On taking np your last number , ( Vol . II . | $ ff 4 g , ) 'I was attracted to a letter on " Popular Preaah - ing / ' for I also feel myself , like
your correspondent , u deeply interested in the methods adopted by Unitarian Christians to disseminate their opinions . " Among those methods the institution of
book-societies has been justly pre-eminent , and for one , I should be very ungrateful to deny that they have circulated much valuable scriptural information .. Yet I am inclined to think that their
greatest utility has but lately appeared , in the establishment of ' ¦ The Unitarian Fund . " For this institution they have the undoubted merit of having furnished the occasion , and at the same time disposed the fhinds of Unitarian Christians to embrace it .
I have often read , with no small regret , a passage in the ecclesiastical history of ] VJosheim , in which he . remarks that , u the disciples of Socinua / ' ( v ino l er whom he inaccurately classes Unitarians in generaiyare at very little pains to make converts to their cause
among those who are not distinguished from the multitude by their rank , or their abilities . ' * This reproach , generally too just , though with some honourable exceptions , might have been expected fromaft orthodox historian . The Unitarian book-societies have
done much to remove it , but no « thir * g can take it . entirely awuy , except such - * ttemyts as use en-
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couraged by the " Fund / to whiefr your correspondent has stated ^ some objections in the unassumingform of queries * These I will venture to consider , trusting
tbaf" in your judgment , " as well as in that of " a modest querist , ' * . I shall appear " dispassionate , " if I fail to be satisfactory /* I was not a little surprised at
ttie first inquiry : What is to be understood by the terms Popular Preaching ? " having supposed that : their propriety in the present application , had been so obvious as not to admit a doubt . Though
too ofteu disgraced by the eccentricities of the indiscreet , or the ill-designing , yet thd term yo ~ pular is still employed in a goodsense , to describe an easy and familiar mode of teaching the sciences , either human or divine . A popular ' preacher then , according ? to the best notion which I am able to form , is one well qualified to familiarize and recommend the Christian doctrine to such a > mixed audience as generally surround a pulpit . , '
To prepare him for this important service there are some attainments highly valuable , while others are indispensable . Ho must have given his days and ni g hts to scriptural research , though ., per- *
haps , they were never employed 5 in turning over the pages of Crreefc and Roman genius . Yet , if he possess those aceomp ^ sbiftente which none who can appreciate * them despiscyhe will makoall hi *' studies pay their tribute to th #
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ON ' POPTTLA . ir PREACHING : IN ANSWER TO A XttftiTftT OUFRIST . I
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1808, page 86, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2389/page/30/
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