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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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( 255 ) " " . v I
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Gakiv . 18 * It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing .
Another season , my Christian friends , has revolved , and leaves us in our little society , as at the outset , like sheep without a shepherd , obliged to go in and out , and find pasture by ourselves and
for ourselves . In such a situation it might have been thought very improbable , that we should have continued to exist at the present period ; nor do we pretend to say that it is altogether such as we should choose if an
alternative were within our reach . We fully appreciate the advantages arising from the faithful services of an able and zealous pastor ; we hold such a character in high
estimation ; and are deeply sensible how very defective in imparting a suitable tone and dignity to the public devotions of a Christian
church , must be the endeavours of persons whose attention is necessarily directed , in a considerable degree , to concerns of a different nature *
Nevertheless , from the proof to which these attempts have now for such a length of time been subjected , we perceive and we rejoice
in the establishment of some points of considerable importance ( as we believe ) to the cause of rational religion and Christian liberty . One of them is this : when we
speak of the great respect we should entertain ibr the person , who might sustain the pastoral relation to our society , we wish it to be understood that it would not be for any thing supposed to be inherent in his official character ,
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but according to the strict letter of the scriptural injunction , " for his work ' s sake / ' We can , toge * ther with every friend to pound sense and foe to superstition , smile at the pretensions to superior sanctity derived from , and the imaginary importance attached to , apostolic succession , the ceremonial of ordination , peculiarity of
habit , and dignity of title . We cannot be of opinion that the unction of the Holy Ghost is consequent upon ajiy of thes ^ ; or that sacred things are prophaned when taken into other hands . The
simple question is— Whether the office of a Christian teacher was instituted for the benefit of the people , or" whether the people are to be considered a $ an appendage to the office , and to be collected intoa flock for the emolument and
dignity of those wha should occupy it ? " The answer cannot be difficult , when we recollect that even the son of man came not to be ministered unto , but to minister . " The highest sounding
ecclesiastical titles , without the people , ar 6 mere non-entitiesnothing but empty names . Whereas , the people , with the Scriptures in their hands , may form a regularly-constituted church : they may adopt that mode of worship
which tQ them appears to be most conformable to the gospel rule r they may employ whomsoever they think best qualified to conduct their religious services ; and it would be nothing less than spiritual tyranny to impose such a
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ZEAL IN THE CAUSE OP RELIGIOUS TRUTH : A Discourse delivered at the opening of theWinter Evening Lee- j tures , of the First Unitarian Society in Philadelphia , 5 th of Nov * & /} ~ 1809 / by R < EdboITEs .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1810, page 295, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2405/page/23/
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