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07 ^ 2 On ike Decltfie i * f Presbyterian C&ngn ? g < itiort& .
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the humble Jesus , preferring his service to all which tfre w ^ rld is able to b ^ Mow . It cannot theare * fore be for want of talents or an independent spirit in th <» miimtty , that Presbyterian congregation * Lave declined . The decline which has hitherto
been gradually , but evidently , taking place , may * I think , be traced to a very different and fer less doubtful source , than any which have been as yet assigried . It nnvst have been apparent to
every superficial observer , that with the exception of a few iiii . stances , the great majority of our congregations have remained to * tally ignorant of Christian doc * trines * Their ministers actuated
by a groundless , and * I may add , an unworthy alarm * have abstained from touching upon those topics respecting which the Christian world is divided * Fearing that if they were to make known the re * , suit of their own most
commendable inquiries into the doctrines taught by Christ and the apostles , they might incur the risk of of . fending the prejudices of those of their hearers , who have contented themselves with adopting the creed of their forefathers , without
attempting to establish its importance by impartial examination ; such ministers have cautiously , and ^ in their estimation , prudently , avoided to instruct their flock on subjects of high and moment * ous interest ^ and which would have added force and intrinsic
value to the moral and devotional discourses upon which they brave judged it better only to treat * Thus their people have had no peculiar principles to which they were attached * they have not felt any real value which any one 5 ys *
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tem of Christianity bears pver anO * ther . -f * rom these c&tases , any trifling cireinn&fctanCe of pique , of matrimonial conne&totiy > er of fashion , has induced thejB , to withdraw , and to join in public
worship with atty oth ^ r sect of Christians ^ aftd in some case s ,, so little have thfcy learned of the reasons for our dissent ^ they have joined themselves tx ) the establish ; ed church .
But , I rejoice to say , that a mote auspicious day has at length dawned . The labours of those undaunted , enlightened and indefatigable servants of God , who are now no more , in conjunction with
those truly apostolic ministers who are still pursuing a similar course , have removed the drowsy torpor and dispelled the infantine fears which have so long impeded the progress of the gospel and havte suffered error to stalk with
hideous and gigantic strides over so large a portion of the Christian world * The manly avowals of those who are proclaiming the results of their laudable investigations ,
hate raised a spirit of inquiry through the land . Qur ministers are daily eastjrYg off their slavish fears , and their hearers , catching a spark of the same zeal , are informing themselves upon the real meaning of scripture . By such
proceedings a bond of attachment is . formed . They learn to reverence opinions formed upon mature examination , and the Result of conviction , ^ . nd are no lunger liable to be seduced Uy tess important attractions , or to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doc **
inne X * truat ^ therefore , that in our Unitarian societies we sfcall not
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1813, page 372, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2429/page/16/
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