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Untitled Article
gerated , or are justly referable to a different original 5 and that the many advantages which at the same time result frqm it are not sufficiently regarded . My reasons for thinking 1 so , I shall bow beg leave briefly to state . I api the more induced to do this , because many advocates for a religious establishment have endeavoured to found upon this supposed undeniable general
principle a strong argument against all dissenters . They first make a great display of the importance © f vmionand harmony , and expatiate in strong language upon the Kjatriy evils attending a public and avowed dissent from the authorized doctrines ; from which they
conclude tfrat in order to avoid these evils we should be justified fe preserving a complete silence Vttxh regard to our peculiar
opinions : nay , that it is even our duty to do so , though we should consider them as essential parts of our Christian faith , if we would escape trie charge of a separating
sectarian spirit . If we grant them the principle upon which this argument proceeds , it must I think be admitted to possess considerable weight , and I confess I do not much wonder that
marry persons should have considered it as perfectly unanswerable . But it seems to me that we are not at all required to concede to them this principle ; but may oiijtjhp contrary maintain th&t a
perfect uniformity , either of religious f ^ ith or religious profession , ivould not be attended by the benefits which they expect from it ; and , so far from being an object which it is worth while to make
considerable sacrifices to attain , fenn itself hy no inean > desirable . This-H , the pointwfeicJU I . wislh % q
Untitled Article
establish by the following obsen vations * In the first place , we seem to be led very forcibly to this con , elusion by observing the universal prevalence of that diversity which is so much complained of .
In no period of the history of human knowledge have mankind entirely agreed in their opinions upon any subject of irxquiiy . In the present age , when our knowledge is in many respects so much extended , we do not seem at a !
less remarkable for this disagreement ; and therefore , judging of the future from tlte past , we have no reason to conclude that the sentiments of mankind are ever likely to be exactly adjusted to one common standard . It would
be visionary to suppose that a time will ever come when men ' s opinions upon ev _ ery speculative point which now divides them , and excites controversy and discussion , shall be finally settled and
agreed ; that those knotty questions which have in all ages occupied the thoughts of the learned and reflecting part of mankind will eVer be finally determined ; or that one universal comprehen * sive creed is ever intended either
here or hereafter to receive universal approbation and consent , though deciding questions on which men never consented be * fore . Such an idea would be in
the highest degree absurd , since the thing is in its own nature impossiWe . Such an universal agreement in all points never can take place while human nature
remains the same . Different persons must always be placed in different situations ; they must alwavs be exposed to the influence of different circumstances : titfir connexions , their rriode of life
Untitled Article
206 On the Advantages arising from Sects and Parties .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1811, page 206, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2415/page/14/
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