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Untitled Article
eney we find examples of scriptural criticism that will endure the strictest investigation . It is evident that Watts continued to think much upon these topics : it is
evident that he was extremely desirous of reconciling his new opinions , if truth permitted , to a reputation for orthodoxy . But to me it is not less clear that
instead of maintaining " the true divinity' * ( Notes , 64 ) of the Son and Spirit of God , he had surrendered this article of the established faith . To Christ he
attributes , in effect , no other kind of deity than Unitarians conceive to belong to him : and it is remarkable that he describes his pre-existence as that of a human
soul . * On the worship of Jesus he is profoundly silent ; this practice , consistent enough with the creed of genuine Trinitarians , could have no foundation in the
scheme of Dr . Watts , The probability , then , Mr . Editor , was that a mind like his would not long retain the metaphysical conceits by which his views of the Christian doctrine were still in some
degree obscured , but that , on fur * ther reflection , he would separate the fine gold from the iron and the clay . f It were , in every view , to be wished that the M . SS , on this
subject which he entrusted to the discretion of his executors , had been published * . The titles of them will not enable us to ascertain the nature of their contents : and a better object than the gratification of curiosity , would have
* See Mr . Palmer ' s own concession n this head ( Letters , 35 , 36 , Note ) . t Dan . ii . 32 , 33 .
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been answered by our being put in possession of all the papers of Watts which related to the Trinitarian controversy . Mr , Neal was perhaps of opinion , with hi * uncle Lardner , that the publication of them would affect the
literdry reputation of his departed friend ; Dr . Jennings , for reasons which we can onry conjecture , seems to nave felt little or no in * terest in giving them to the world ; and Doddridge , the third execu »
tor , according to a report which has never been overthrown , and of the truth of which , 1 presume , Mr . Belsham would have particularly favourable opportunities of judging , was anxious that they
should see the light . It is observable that , in a letter written to this very excellent and candid man , Feb . 8 , 1748 , 9 ( Appendix ) , The Solemn Address to the Great and Ever Blessed God , Is
not mentioned , and makes no part of the 4 * complete catalogue " which Neal professes to send him of the M . SS . of Watts : yet this is the very piece which Doddridgc is said to have rescued from th *
flames ; If any of the executors of Dr . Watts were among the friends who persuaded him to destroy the impression of a tract printed in 1745 , we may easily conceive ,
Sir , that they would not judge it necessary to publish certain of hit posthumous theological papers * Some little time before bis death , a rumour , just or unjust , had
gone abroad , of his mind being less vigorous than formerly . There were those who even applied the term dotage to the pamphlet o £ which I have been speaking ; and I see that bis " growing infirm **
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Strictures On a recent Publication of Mr . Palmer ' s . No . II . 773
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1813, page 773, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2435/page/21/
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