On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
derable degree of civilization ; and some degree of it is necessary to the successful introduction of Christianity . Hie commerce and colonization of Christian states have civilized America , and they . will , in process of time , civilize and Christianize the whole earth *
Whether it be a Christian duty to attempt , by lenient methods , to propagate the Christian religion among Pagans and M ahomedans , can be doubted , I think , by few ; but whether any attempt will be attended with much success , till
Christianity is purified from its corruptions , and the lives of Christians are rendered correspondent to their Christian profession , may be doubted by many : but there certainly never was a more
promising opportunity of trying the experiment of subverting Paganism in India , than that which has for some years been offered to the government of Great Britain .
The morality of our holy religion is so salutary to civil society , its promises of a future state so consolatory to individuals , its precepts so suited to the deductions
ot ihe most improved reason , that it must finall y prevail throughout the world . Some have thought that Christianity is losing ground in Christendom . I am of a different opinion . Some ascititious
doctrines , derived from Rome and Geneva , are losing ground a-^ ongst learned men ; some unchristian practices , springing from * gnorance , bigotry , intolerance , ^ insufficiency of opinion , with of
^ charitableness judgment , are losing ground among ail sober-Rinded men , bat a belief in Jesus ^ nristas the Saviour of the world , as the medium through whom « ternal life will be given to all
Untitled Article
who obey his gospel , is more and more confirmed every day in the minds of men of eminence and erudition , not only in this , but in every other Christian country .
From this praise 1 am not disposed to exclude even France itself , notwithstanding the temporary apostacy of some of its philosophers from every degree of
religious faith . I cannot but hope well of that country , when I see its National Institute proposing for public discussion the following subject ; ' . What has been the influence of the Reformation of
Luther on the political situation of the different states of Europe , and on the progress of knowledge ? especially when I see the subject treated by Mr . Villers , in a manner which would have derived
honour to the most liberal Protestant in the freest state in Europe . It is not to be denied that the morals of Christians in general fall far short of the standard of
Christian perfection , and have ever done so , scarcely excepting t > he latter end of the first century Yet , notwithstanding this concession , it is a certain fact , that the Christian religion has always
operated to the production of piety , benevolence , self-government , and the love of virtue amongst individuals , in every country where it has been received ; and it will every where operate more powerfully , as it is received with more firm assurance of its
truth ; and it will be every where received with more firm assurance of its truth , as it is better understood ; for when it is properly understood , it will be freed from rfie pollutions of superstition and fanaticism among the hearers and
Untitled Article
Letter by Dr ^ Watson ^ Bishop of Llandaff . $ 63
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1811, page 263, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2416/page/7/
-