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^ wilderness , without any apparent ^ equa te means , a withered arm insfcntly ** made whole as the other , " *> r a dead' body raised to life again , iiaty must needs be assured of a Dim m mm « V
** vine interposition : that if this were t # happen now , it would be equally true I 80 O years hence , and to ail eternity , and that » therefore , if it happ € i * ed 1800 years ago , it is equally true now , and that we have all the
' evidence of the reality of these events , < £ rom testimony ami a legitimate and rinfallible tradition , which , at this distance of time , the nature of the tfrJRg will admit of : that to doubt of the truth of miracles in former ages , because we see none at nresent . is the because we see none at present , is the
jpost foolish thing in the world , and 3 fc i principle which would lead us to deny eveVy thing but what we ouriselves behold : that an ignorant native of a burning climate might find it difficult , if not impossible to conceive , liow water should ever be converted
into a solid mass ; yet that this is an absolute fact , which such persons ought to believe , upon the testimony of sufficient : and credible reporters : that a person brought up in a mine 4 ttight deny there was such a tody as the sun , a man born blind , that
4 here was such a thing as light , or mie . ignorant of letters , that language aaid sentiments could be transported to incalculable distances , without the raid of voice or sound : that the wonders of creation , of which we are daily . witnesses , prove a sovereign and Hincootrolable Power , who , for wise
and obvious reasons does not think proper to depart from those fixed laws Ttfhich he hath appointed , except in particular cases : that the creation of the world was a miracle in the eye of intelligent beings , then existing , and that a miracle may now take place before they are aware : that
the solid ground may instantly give way under their feet , and they may « 5 nfc into an unfathomable abyss : that the healthful air may become Baleful and pestiferous , the sun descend to the earth , and burn it up wijth fire unquenchable , and
after-Wards himself be quenched in a mighty . ocean , as a twinkling taper in the lender stream ! and that all this would certainly happen , and the rna-J | prial ui ? ivers ^^ become an absolute Wank , &hpuld the , Creator once withrdr&w his energy , or should not his
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wisdom and goodness connm ** - to regulate and control the exercise of his power * rie will point out to them the kni table as well as the peculiar and distinguishing character of Chriatv his profound numility and submission to the Di vit > e will , his oerfect nuritv . to the Divine willhis perfect purity
, , his heavenly mindedness , his urir limited benevolence , and uni versa ! charity , extending even to his enemies , persecutors and murderers , the exalted state to which he is now advancea , and the important consequences that will ensue at his second glorious appearance , the superaddj
tions which are made by the gospel to former systems , natural or revealed , not only in the charity of its precepts , and the immensity of its promises and prospects , but also , as to some of its essential forms and characteristics , namely , that although we may sometimes pray to God , considered only as Creator and Hector of the universe * .
in which practice the fiord ' s prayer itself will justify us , which appears to be founded : in the principles or simple theism ; yet , we are obliged more frequently in private , and invariably in the public religious assemblies , to pray as Christians—^ -that is , in the name of Christ , and with' a diie
regard to his person , character and sufferings , his mediation atid intercession , principles often alluded to and inculcated in the New Testament
though we ! may not always fully comprehend their import , seeing they are such as " the angels desire to contemplate , " and must ever . be careful not to interpret the passages - relating to them , and which are sometimes
evidently figurative and metaphorical , in any sense inconsistent with ' , or dishonourable to the character oC the Supreme Deity , who , as he is in himself the great source of all being and perfection , so , he is the original author of all the benefits we derive from the Christian dispensation , which are the effects and not * the
causes of his infinite and essential benevolence : and that without this open profession of Christian principles , " in the great congregation /' ' we shall not only be guilty of high ingratitude to God , and to the Redeemer , but that also , by this unwarrantable omission , the churches of Christ may -in the succession of time Ber converted into assemblies of Deists / ' or degeno-
Untitled Article
^ Thoughts Missionary Socieiub . &f
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1817, page 27, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2460/page/27/
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