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Untitled Article
tgtfiUi , to Go 4 that those who hold the faith of the gospel , in its original purity ^ wauld Ibrtng salvation to themselves and convert their feUpjy-chrisfiansy by reviving th $ simple and' virluous tnsMnmers of the primitive believers ! All eyes would then be turned , and all hearts , be drawn towards them !
JLet u $ look amongst the members of our ' numerous congregations , and see whether { they display in their words and actions that purity , that simplicity , that heavenly-mindedness , which ought to flow from their clear and
sublime views of gospel truth . Do they in their intercourse with each other * set aside the low distinctions which pride and folly have created , and shaSy- that brotherly love , and union of heart and affections , which
becomes / those who so often meet togefcher to worship a common Father D «* they more than others * l take . sweet counsel together / ' and go up to the house of God as friends ? Are the rich * lzealous of good works , " the benefactors , the * advisers , the comforters of
their poor brethren ? And do they take a real and affectionate interest in their welfajne ? I have often and anxkmgly looked for marked appearances of this kind ; but alas ! I have tocr generally found , that they who think with . Newton and Locke ,
Priestley and Lindsey , and numerous other great and good men who have assisted in restoring our holy faith to ite genuine purity , > conform their lives toi the common standard -of those ^ hose terrors and misconceptions on the subject ; of religion , are , in part , an apology for ^ tl > e ipnperfections of their practice- , > ¦ . ¦ Unitarians would do well to considerj that all wiU * at the solemn day ^ f ^ etri hutiiBmy be judged according to the * degree , of illumination which has hone s upon < their minds : and if pur
"Hews are more sublime and beautiful , ^ d . moi « powerfull y incitive to the r p&cfoce of all that is excellent , th ^ n 'Wi « e eotertained by other Christians ; Lff « uU we not be expected and required
w val k according to our light ? Shall yswho / , behold in ou $ Maker " the ** wS > merciful and gracious , long ~ su £ - & *« % . -and 'abundant in mercy and JJ ^^ Juwitao "' hath no pleasure in ^ ifctttfe * of sinners , " but " wttleth jjjj afcwflwwai should < be sayed , &ad come !^ ?™^ w wJedfee ^ f tl ^ rutM '^ sWl •*^ v « % o seo . jTn th * a jbu&to awptures
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these rveart-cheexing and most attractive vvew ^ s pf T 6 ur great Crea ^ r ; pKai ^ y set forth ; Jove him no more , and ofc ^ y him qo letter , than others ? ^ iQold ' indeed must be our affections ami $ ard our hearts if it be sol j'tw * I would warn you , I would earnestly warn you , as Christians , and pti ^ e e $ pecially as Unitarian ¦ « Chfistiafis ,
against religious negligence , " To whomsoever much is given , of him wtl much be required . " If the pure doctrines of the gospel are happily opened to our understandings , let them sink deep into our hearts and be powerfully set forth in our lives . The Christiln
warfare cannot be made a mere secondary concern of life , a matter that is only now and then , at stated times , or in the hours of sickness or of sorrow to occupy our thoughts . What the good Dr . Barrow says of virtue , may be well applied to that purest form of it , Christianity : — " It is not a mushroom that
springeth up in one night , when we are asleep or regard it not ; but a delicate plant that groweth stowly and tenderly , needing much pains ta cultivate it , much care to guard it , much time to mature it , *** our untoward soil , in this world ' s unkindly weather : happiness is a thing too precious to be
purchased at an easy rate ; heaven is too high to be come at without much climbing ; the crown of bliss is a prize too noble to be won without a long and tough conflict . " This is confirmed both by the precepts and the example of our Lord ; " He that will come after me , " saya this great Teacher , " must take u $ his cross and follow me . ' * We onust " strive to enter in at the strait &sie , " for " narrow is the way which leadeth unto life . " It is not the wide and beaten road which , because so much frequented , seems safe and . pleasant to the thoughtless multitude . The
fashions of this world speedily pass away and their followers will at length find , that they have been pursuing shadows \ airy phantoms ; while the great end and purpose of existence has Been overlooked and cast aside , as a tmng of little value or inipoTtarice . Oh tifet Unitarians would come out from a-
mongst the sons and * daughters of van nity and selfishness , arid prbve to the world that iU ^ y haye higher aiipd than this uncertain I pfp cai ^ sjatisfy ^ ^ HJmt ifa ey consider th ^ ms ^ lyes as ^ ftk ^ mvs ana pilgcuns uppa , eart ) i > ' s ^ ethig a
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On the-peculiar Duties qjT Unitarians . < p 7 i
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1816, page 271, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2452/page/19/
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