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f ^ ce- , f > rejuclie % ^ bi gotry And superstition ^ With these it was destined to wage a long and appajent \ y ? 4 utyous contest ; ^ ut over ^ Jms
^ h ee it * triumphed ; and it qvp £ S ta rfieijr pei tinacious and dbstinate opposition ? the
accumulat ion of fr mass of evidence which places its truth beyond the possibility of a ' catfil . / The Newtonian theory of gravitation was published at a time when the suffrages of
nearly all the philosophers of Eu « rppe were eagaged by an hypothesis of a widely different nature . It ia 4 to make its way therefore in opposition to rooted prejudice ; it was subjected ^ to the severest
examination ; ^ very objection was ^ roug ^ t forward in $ 11 its force , $ nd the ground disputed iftch by inch . But the consequence was
that at length it was universally admittedj ^ nd shQwn to be sufficient ; to account for all the p-heijtomeaa , ^ and established on a kind and degree of evidence which can never he overthrown * Nor has
this severe aprutiny beett of less important service to the interests of religious truth . The Christian systemitself was fora long period the theme of bitter contention . The
powers of ifeij * world rose- ; up in arraiy against the Gospel , the philosopher opposed it by argument , aftd the wit by ridicule , so that every thing was minutely sifted ^ d ca nvassed . Thei r unbelief
nm . y : hftve been a misfortune to them t \ M ) £ \ t has been u &reat bless-*» glo , ^ w ho have in consequence deceived the groumds an 4 reasons ° / PUr faith in their full forqe .
% > m , the disputes and ( jiyioion ^ of ^ te 0 qut » t ^ g ^ s , the s ^ i nl ^ beneji - ^ 1 eff ^ Qlihas . ^ sul ^> JNTq dpc - » ^^ ^ ft t ^ QP ^ 8 Irorxi ^ od ^ rati ^ l to stand the test of examinft-
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tio % | but lifas ; gold triedr by » the . ftirfta-ce must « f » erge ifroni the struggle brightened 0 , n& pvurified . Accordingly , I Hm not one ? orf those Avho regret the opposition which now prevails against the Unitarian doctrine . If it be ^ as I firmly believe ^ the faith deliver . ed to the saints , I ought rather to rejoice at it . for then all the art of
^ nd industry its opponents can only serve in ^ he end to set its truth in a more conspicuous point of view . That the disputes and controversies to which these differences
of opinion give rise ., frequently excite violent contention and afford food for the angry passions * I . .. sm willing tp Mmit ; but s # ch food is nf v ^ er wanting where , there is the disposition : to § e , ek for it ; ft ^ d at any ra t ^ , \ ve ough * ta « con » sider that a world which is ¦
coulessedly # state of trial ; and probation , neither can nor ought to be Wanting in those circumstaoces which are fitted : to call , into exercise ibe virtues of focbear ^ noej self-corn- * mand and belf-denial : and which
may at tfa # same tinae afford us abundant scopti for the cultivation of those dispositions of charity and candqur which stre so necessary to the perfection of the Christian character , and are most likely to fit us for a place where discord and contention shall for ever
cease-For the improvement and perfection of such heavenly disposirfbtxa tbjs is the best of all possible schools s and when we consider the heat find violence which loo
often prevails m the management of c 0 ntroveiSi particularly when thq m ^ niv of religion , can iii aby M /? ty , be introfluicecj ia . tQ thedw * ^ u ^ e , ther ^ jQj aui ^ ly W > $ pec * aci ^ more pleasing * 4 ml heavenly , tbab
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Op the , -Advantages arising from Sects and Parties * ^ 209
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1811, page 209, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2415/page/17/
