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nnind could bo calm , collected and at home ? Could such a concussion pass away without tales of wonder and visions of revelation ? That if we turn from Jerusalem
tp RornCj whither this religion travel led we see another mighty empire nodding to its fall . Contending chiefs rise in rapid suecessionj arid agitation and misery every where prevail . The gods , who were thought the guardians
of the empire , lose all the respect of the worshippers , with the fall of what they should have preserved , and the distracted minds of miserable men , were ready to imbibe anv new doctrine which fed them with new hopes . All this is inviting to enthusiasm and
imposture . But you say the Christian religion promised on ] y persecution ; was that an inviting tale r
The adversary will reply—that no one is pert ecu ted before he is noticed and distinguished , aild it is agreeable to the principles of human action , that men hazard the chance of suffering for the pk * asin * e of distinction . That if the saints are told to expect persecution , they are also promised that they * should LC inherit the <; irth . " That as far os any
accounts have renchod us of those early days of Christianity , —the preachers expected un early consummation of their wishes . That u church government was early adopted winch would gratify the vanity of the leaders of this sect , and that if a common purse was
initcle , many would irnd an interest in disciple ^ hip . That in all ages , although the language of the scriprures is still ( he samo ,. its preachers have been men of close umLir . ' . m , panting , for influence iiiui dominion , 'i'iiat fraud i \ nd caihufciabm often mix iu the same
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546 The Churchman * s Answer to Mr . Bclaham and Mr . Allchin .
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character , and that it is probable that Mahomet and his first fol . lowers believed in his divine mission . That it must have been some time before Mahometanism
appealed to the sword , and that when it did , the hazards of the soldier were probably invited by his belief of his prophet ' s future rewards . That Christianity was also propagated by the sword in good time , and that its splendid
triumphs in trie world owed too much to that fatal instrument . But how came such a self-deny ing religion as this , to be adopted by such numbers ? The adversary will reply , that as a self-denying religion , no proof exists of its extensive adoption , that in a large
community the self-denial of many must necessaril y be the gain of many others , and that
Middleton and others have proved , that the name indeed of Christianity was adopted in the Roman empire , but that the most impure of the ancient rites of the old religion were still retained , as branches of the new ; this simple religion , in its simplicity , never having been popular .
Finally , the adversary will repeat , that the state of mind , the characters , the peculiar circumstances of individuals , which could authorize an argument , in defence of JMahometanism or Christianity , from the conduct of their first disciples , are hidden in impenetrable obscurity . Thus this celebrated argument in favour
of human testimony , establishing the truth of revelation , is seen to be a baseless fabric . To my second head Mr . All- ? chin opposes the hypothesis , that all the pain which is experienced , is necessary to teach men the importance of virtue . 13 ut virtue .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1808, page 548, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2397/page/24/
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