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
his life * embraced those tenets which are usually termed Socinian . On the contrary , previously to his conviction of the truth of Christianity , he ridiculed them as idle tajes ; and after that conviction , he uniformly opposed them as false doctrines , with ail that ardour and
enthusiasm which belonged to his character . In short , Mr . Gr- was a rig-id Trinitarian , a sealpus supporter and defender of the articles of the Church of England , and , of consequence , his , religious tenets were really and properly those which are now generally known
by the name of Calvimstic . I do not charge Fig Linus with a falsehood in this instance , but it is evident , that he has been misinformed ; and , I trust , that he will be cautious in any future state * ments of this nafure ., not to present- the public with any circumstances , for the truth of which he has not indisputable authority
I cannot , however , so readily acquit him of that wilful misrepresentation , and that studied perversion of the truth , which are but too conspicuous in some parts of his account . He fre ~
quently connects the words infidelity , Deism and Socinianism , as if they were synonimpus terms . Now , Sir , he cannot he ignorant of the very great difference which exists between the sentiments of a Deist and those of a Socinian .
He must know , that the latter believes in the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures ; the mission , the miracles , the death and resurrectipn of Christ ; his triumph over death and sin , smd his promises of eternal life to all who obey him . These glorious facts are the foundation of the Socinian ' s creed , and from them , connected with the sublime
doctrines of the gospel , he deduces the obligations to a pure and holy life . Is this Deism ? But , to enlarge on such a subject would wa £ te the time and insult the understanding of your readers . The motives of the writer are sufficiently evident . Thousands of the common people in this country , who well know that a Deist does not believe the Bible ,
are very imperfectly acquainted with the tenets of a Socinian ; what , then , could be intended by the indiscriminate use of these terms , but to inculcate the belkf , that infidels , Deists andSocinians are persons of similar views , sentiments and characters . Figlinus pannot forbear indulging in the vulgar cant about death-bed scenes . He says , that ** many
Untitled Article
Socinians have renounced their opinions with horror at the approach of death . " And further , that" the shores of death exhibit not a single instance of failure in evangelical hope . ** What he means by this last passage'is not very clear , for the uncouthness of the metaphor has obscured the sense ; but if he intends to say , that no Calvinist ever experienced despair , terror , or depression of mind , in his last hours , I have one objection to the assertion , vis , that it is
not true . Individuals of all . religious persuasions have , in those awful moments , languished under very distressing debility of mind , vand- been harassed by dreadful terrors of the imagination . But these effects are often produced fey the irresistible influence of physical causes ; and I think a wise man would hesitate
to defend a favourite theory by conclusions drawn from such precarious phenomena . In answer to the former part of the quotation , I would refer Figlinus to the venerable names of Lardner , Priestley and Lindsey , and then ask him , whether Socinian views of
Christianity possess sufficient energy to enforce a life of piety and virtue , and to support the mind in the hour of death . Your correspondent observes , that *^ the religion of Deists is only calculated for worldly ease , and cannot be the system of salvation revealed in the
gospel . ** Pray , what does he mean by the €€ religion of Deists ? " And what necessity was there to inform the world , that Deism cannot be the Christian revelation ? Surely nothing , but the desire of coupling Socinianism with Deisrn could have led to this palpable absurdity .
In the third column , where IVTr . G—¦* is charged with - profaneness , I find another proof of Thaccuracy . It is well known in this place , that he was not a profane character ; and , during the many years in which I have enjoyed the pleasure of his society , I can truly affirm , that , in my presence , he never gave utterance to a single profane
sentiment or expression . And here permit me to indulge a short tribute of affection to the memo * y of a man , whose incorruptible integrity commanded respecc , whose gentleness of manners conciliated , esteem , and whose active benevolence will be long and gratefully remembered by the very numerous objects of hi » bounty . From some of the above observations ,
Untitled Article
A Letter , refused by the Evangelical Mttgazine . 121
Untitled Article
tol . v . a
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1810, page 121, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2402/page/17/
-