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ing , I gl < wy in being uncharitable ; and in setting all the petty ordinances of the modern idol at defiance . If your correspondent wishes to go into the merits of biens&ance and courtesy ( of the same origin with courtesan ) I am prepared to give my reasons for
verging towards the opposite extreme from that of the fashion ; and what will probably have more weight with his judgment , I am prepared to back those reasons with high authorities ; for though I do not borrow my opinions they are not quite so singular as some readers may suppose .
Your correspondent ought to have sagacity enough to discern that the objectionable matter in the notes added to my sermon , is a literary rather than a theological question . Whether he perceived this and did not think proper to notice it , but chose
rather to speak of the odium theologicum , is not for me to determine . As , however , he glories in belonging to the dwarfish age of smooth , courtly petits maitres , he might have been expected to repel the violent attack made upon its tender delicacy and
accomplished refinement . But I am contemptuous . Towards whom am I contemptuous ? The only living author named by me is Robert Hall ; but so far from contempt , I have the highest admiration of his splendid talents and pre-eminent genius y and would rather read a volume of his
writings than a page of the dull censors' of faults which they have riot talent enough to commit . Your correspondent will not assert that I have expressed any contempt for the other names introduced ; and to these I
could add , if not a multitude , at least a goodly number of authors for whom 1 have the greatest esteem and affection . I am not conscious of expressing contempt towards that numerous and respectable body of the people who are of the orthodox faith . I am
persuaded that there is as much intellectual dignity and moral worth among them as in the CatJiolic church ° f Orthodox Unitarians . The question then returns—towards whom am I contemptuous ? I will tell
your correspondent sciolists * witlings and pretenders of all descriptions , who have the vanity and preemption to write on subjects while they know not what they say nor whereof they affirm . Whatever sub-
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ject I may have to treat o £ I shall certainly not spare the insect generation of scribblers - I y for would rather bear the marks of their displeasure than have the hum of their approbation . There are many Trinitarian
believers for whose understanding as well as character I have the greatest respect ; but none who know how to argue would attempt to support the doctrine of the Trinity by argument . Bacon was of opinion that reason ought n ^ ot to be employed about the
mysteries of the churchy and one of the ablest reasoners and most eloquent writers among the orthodox in the present time lias been frequently heard to say , that the doctrine of the Trinity cannot be supported by argument *
It is highly improbable that ever -I shall write or publish on that subject again ; and whatever your correspondent may say about disgusting affectation , or ridiculous vanity , I can once more declare that I do think it a
degrading task to have to reason with third-rate mystical declaimers . I have already wasted more time than the occasion called for , and shall conclude with a remark or two on the object of your correspondent ' s letter . He must have intended to correct
the offender—or simply to punish him- —or thirdly , to proclaim to the Catholic church of orthodox Trinitarians , that though the Catholic church of orthodox Unitarians , might through the laxness of her discipline harbour such a daring heretic , yet that he was
rather tolerated than approved . As to the first purpose , your correspondent has written very unhappily and unsuccessfully ; and though he says something about conciliating and pleasing , I fear he will be an unsuccessful candidate for the reward promised by his supreme holiness in the Vatican to
the best prize-essay on that important subject . But perhaps he did not wish to conciliate but to irritate $ and despairing of correcting , hoped simply to punish . Being a gentleman of exquisite delicacy and courtly accomplishments he thought , perhaps , that dull admonition and pointless satire are the most effectual means of refined
torture ; for the blunter the instru > - rnent the longer it is of dispatching the victim . I confess my pride is deeply wounded to think that ypur correspondent should suppose me unworthy of acute pains and costly ce-
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• v Mr * Gikhrist in Reply , to A . A . & !
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1816, page 91, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2449/page/27/
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