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against the wisdom and goodness of Ood in this invaluable blessing , 6 * for his riot miraculously interposing at all times of threatening injury to individuals , to counteract its natural effects ? Let us not confine our views to the evils which we see around us ,
or know by our own experience , without considering the salutary tendency of these evils themselves , and how rrnch they are overbalanced by blessings , from the Author of nature €€ who is good to all , and whose tender mercies are over ail his works . ' *
While contemplating any part of tbe plan of the divine administration , let us make due allowance for the narrow limits of the human understanding . We shall no * be then surprised to
find some of the . dispensations of Providence respecting both nations and individuals , to our view involved in clouds and darknesss . Can a finite mind comprehend infinity ? Howjfe ? # links do we see of that amazing chain of Causes and effects , which is
suspended from the throne of God , and extends from everlasting to everlasting ? To censure therefore any of the proceedings of Heaven , because we 4 io not immediately perceive the rectitude , wisdom and goodness of therri would be more unreasonable and
jpresumptuous , than for an ignorant peasant , seeing only a single wheel or Spring of an ingenious complicated machine , to pronounce this wheel or spring useless , though really so
connected with other parts % that without it the whole piece of machinery would cease to move . The instructive pages of history , sacred and profane , present us with many events of direful aspect
when viewed separately by themselves , which , under the disposals of the propitious Power that presides over the world , and is continually educing good from apparent evil , have been maae to produce invaluable blessings to mankind . . That this will be
the actual result of those astonishing changes and revolutions ( attended with atrocities and calamities deplored b y every friend to humanity and liberty ) which have for many years past agitated Europe , is as reasonable . to conclude from the wisdom
and goodness of * ' the Most High who ruleth in the kingdom of men , and giveth it to whomsoever he will , " ms it is consolatory to the pious and benevolent Christian . " The Lord
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reigneth , let the earth rejoice ; fct * .. multitude of isles be glad thereof f Clouds and darkness are round about t * l ! , f i g toeousnessyarul jud gment are e the habitation of his throne . " Convinced by abundant satisfactory v
proofs , that the communication of fan .. piness is the great leading object of thedivine administration , it becomes us ; to co-operate in the gracious designs \ of the Deity , by discharging the duty
we owe to society , of contributing as much as lies in our power , to lessen its evils and increase its comforts . This is incumbent on us as children of the same gracious Parent , and therefore brethren of the same family of mankind , as members of the same
community , and I may add professors of the religion of the gospel , the chief characteristic of which is love . The happiness of society is promoted by improvements made in the arts of civilized life , by the education of the
rising generation among all ranks and conditions , by the diffusion of general knowledge , and more especially by the spread of just a * nd worthy sentiments respecting God and religion . The estimate of human life , I doubt
not , as to the preponderance of its sum of enjoyments over its evils , will be proportionally more favourable , aa attention is paid to the important objects just mentioned . To a state of society greatly more enlightened \ more
improved in moral excellence , and consequentl y happier , tnan in any preceding period of the World ; to a state of society distinguished b y the prevalence of truth , peace and righteousness , inspired prophecy directs our views : and the many pious and benevolent institutions which do honour to this
age and country ( among which may be ranked those that are established for thV promotion of free inquiry , of pure Christianity , and the practice of virtue as not ofthe least importance ) , are some of the means whrch th « Supreme Disposed of all things will probably adopt , for bringing about this auspicious era .
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Sir , Bristol , September 10 , 1810 . IT was with much p leasure I read the article on Doctrinal or Controversial Preaching , in the Rep 0 * * tory for last month , j > ; K n writer of which is entitled ( I W * hesitation in saying ) to the m cordbl thanks of all those ^
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584 On Doctrinal or Controversial Preaching
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1816, page 584, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2457/page/20/
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