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Untitled Article
guments in support of the Unitarian doctrine , and in the metropolis of the eastern section of the Union ( and not there only ) flourishing Unitarian churches are found . Here , indeed , we are but as the little flock , the buried grain of mustard seed , the hidden lump of leaven . But this excites
no dissatisfaction—occasions no discouragement . To the momentous import of the cause itself , rather than to the glare and
attraction of any thing external , it ought to owe its success ; and that it will , in God ' s own time end way , ultimately-succeed , we entertain not the least doubts But
he works by human instrumentality ; and often , by means the least probable , produces the most important effects . It is , there fore , our duty to exert the abilities , "whatever they may be , with
which he hath endued us , in forwarding his designs for increasing the knowledge and promoting the virtue and happiness of mankind . It is with this view that we
appropriate the greater part of such of our funds as are not immediately called for in necessary expenses , to the publication of pieces and tracts , on subjects relative to or connected with the Unitarian
doctrine , a volume of which we hope to complete in the course of the ensuing year . It is purely from this motive that , notwithstanding many important and pressing engagements of asecular nature , we , who conduct the public services
of this place , devote a considerable portion of our time to the selection and preparation of materials proper for so serious a business . And still more particularly upon this principle it is , that the delivery of these Lectures is y \ nm
Untitled Article
1 ¦ , * v ? ^ - dertaken , in which , without availing ourselves as on other occasions of the assistance of printed dis - courses , we venture to offer dtir own thoughts in our own language In so doing , we use the liberty which we conceive every
individual of this society enjoys , of exercising his own judgment upon any subject whatever , and of expressing it conformably to our rules ; and thus it may happen that on every minute point we who
address you on these occasions may not exactly coincide , although on main and essential articles , we trust that no discord - ance will be found * On others
difference of opinion never shoUl 3 create disunion in any Christian society , composed of persons of liberal and enlightened minds ;—but this leads me to the mention
of a circumstance rather of an unpleasant kind . Although our doors and our communion table are open to all the world , yet , instructed both by general and particular experience , we Imve
in forming our constitution , restricted the title of member , arid the right of taking a part in the proceedings of the society , to such as shall express by their written signature their assent to its fundamental doctrines and its
established regulations . Of these , five are to be a committee for transacting several items of business placed within their department , among fyhich is the appointment of those who are to perform the duties of
the Lord s day during the vacancy of the past 6 ral office . Respectably as we are in general attended , yet so small at present is the number of our acting members , that it has almost unavoidably hap - petoeicL that the conductors of the
Untitled Article
Zeal in the Cause of Religious Truth . 200
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1810, page 299, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2405/page/27/
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