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    even by those ^ vho do not observe it upon a common principle / But it behoves us to remember , that & the 4 rtte worshippers qf the Father must worship him in spirit and in truth , " and that" Christians must have their conversation

    in the world with simplicity and ! godly sincerity * ' * We must not then appear to unite with the majority of professed Christians in an act Of which we do not approve , against which we enter our secret protest , and in which we would

    not be suspected to concur . The apparent design of out assembling on this day is to celebrate the anniversary of the Saviour ' s birth , and it is to little purpose we declare , . that the real object pf our meeting together is to offer up our united devotions to the . one God

    and Father of all men , and to deliver or to attend to those religious instructions , which are designed , for the benefit of the young , or more generally for the edification of every class and description

    of Christians * I am well persuaded , that a , mind , which is free from every prejudice and bias , will perceive the full weight and importance of this argument ; for nothing is more consonant with

    the spirit and tenour of the gospel , than that all pur religious services proceed from a pure heart , from a simple and genuine principle , and neither be , no £ appear to be connected with any object to which

    &ey have no relation . " , W $ can-« ot drink of the cup of the Lord ^ d of the cup pf demohs / ' We ^ ust not profeas to be the advo - cates of the plait ) and simple doc *

    trfaies of Christianity and the sup . PWers of its genuine institutions , *!* f Wifcgle with them tb ^ tra-*» tioia of men : an 4 the rudiments

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    of the world , " for this isto liv $ after the world and cot Ci after idhriat ^ , 3 . But it is further urged ) that entirely to disregard the cjay $ nd to depart from a general custom would give great offence to those , who attach an importance to it *

    and that we ought to regard the prejudices of our weaker ' brethren * If the observance of the ctyy were in itself innocent , there wbyUJ be some reason in this argument ; but I think enough has

    been said to show , that it is an institution ,, which is niK only unauthorised by " the gospel , but in contradiction to the spirit of it . Jt is generally allowed lo be so by Protestant I > issepters , and there *

    fore , the observance of the day should be laid aside by them , as an observance of a dangerous tendency ; nor should it be a bar to such honest and upright conduct , that it might give offence to some , ** who have not so learned Christ . "

    We must follow him u through evil as well as good report , " anjd they wlio are offended by the in * tegrity and consistency of our conduct are the persons on whom the censure of promoting divisions

    in the church of Christ will justly fall ; for it is not our firmness , but their prejudice that is deserving of blame . But such a consequence , if it existed at all , would only be temporary . The manly

    ayowal of our principles and views would satisfy the judicious and liberal part of mankind , that we are actuated by conscientious motives ; these would fee respected

    by them , and the opposition of ignorance find bigotry would k > qii be of little Avail . W-e see tjhiat no , such offence aw # e $ from tt * c conristen * conduct o ^ a l ^ rge and

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    Gbjtctions against the Observance of Christmas t > ay . S 4 l

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    • rO * ., T < .. ; : , , .. . 4 4 . ; . . -.. _ , :

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1810, page 514, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2410/page/17/