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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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&b 4 y © t are a disgrace to Christianity ; * nd I-shall take a atep farther , y \ z . jtha& I jrave $ een divines who arc even a disgrace to the human race at large ; jecxk * if such examples are the standards , and the absolute proofs of religion i&nd piety , I do not wish to be counted among them . SOLOMON BENNETT .
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Sir , Sandon , March 31 , 1317-IN the Obituary of Mr . John Fordham , of Kelshall , in the Repository for December , 1816 , [ XI . 733 ] , it is said of him , that he was " a man remarkable for his frank ,
straightforward integrity . " Obituaries in general , are , I think , dictated more by the spirit of affection , than by the spirit of truth . But the above-mentioned piece of encomium was without doubt emiuentl y due to the character of the dead . The writer however of
tbe obituary proceeds to say , that *• ' he seldom made his own creed the subject of conversation , and appeared to have no desire to make converts to his own opinions . ' * Yet , it is a little after asserted , that the deceased
" was accustomed to remark , that controversy was necessary to a more correct knowledge of the Scriptures , the best antidote against bigotry , and jiq bad remedy to the errors of
education ; " and that " among his particular friends he : was fond of promoting religious discussions . " I shall not stop to reconcile these apparent contradictions , but shall proceed to remark , that to feel no desire to make
converts to our own opinions , abstractedly considered , is I think no matter of praise . It either implies that our opinions are worth nothing , or that we are very indifferent to the progress of truth . Now if our opinions are Christian opinions , we are bound as Christians to make as many converts to them as lies within our
power ; and ' if our opinions are not Christian , then we ought not to possess them ourselves . If my opinions are true and beneficial to myself , they rnust be equally beneficial to others ,
because they are founded in Scripture ; at least I believe so , and I ought to $ ct consistently with my own belief . If my opinions are worthless , I may safely enough put them under the bmh&l ; . liut . '~ it tbey are Christian ' s
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. principles , I ought to set them , oa a table , that like a candle they may give light to all . around them . Waft Jesus or his apostles indifferent about
making converts to their opinions r On the contrary , they came into the world , and spent their time abotait nothing else but making converts , and they were certainly not afraid of " controversial preaching , " but
" disputed daily in the temple , and in the open air" with all manner of people , and frequently among themselves . This is the proof of a good cause . -Jesus and Paul , unlike out modern scribes and pharisees , no
where " deprecated controversial p reaching . " Jesus said to Pilate , ' * I nave ever spoke openly to the world " ; I ever taught in the synagogues and in the temple , whither the Jew * always resort , and in secret have 1 said nothing . " We cannot open 3 page of the Life of Jesus Christ , but we fincj him involved in public disputations . Without controversv the
human mind would siand still ; truth would make no . progress : darkness and superstition would perpetually reign in the world . This is th 6 case with Spain and Italy ,, and this will continue to be the case wherever controversy is deprecated . G . F .
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Bath , March ' 20 th , 181 ? . - Sir , THE death of your very valuable friend , Mr . Mackmunlo , [ p . bS \ t
grieved me very much . I most sincerely sympathize with his good family for tneir great loss . He was a truly good man , and an uniform inquirer after truth , and professed it openly in the view of all the world , ( f wfc
had many such in different parts of the country , we should soon be able td witness a great reformation . To the entertaining article of Airs . Miner ' s death , [ p . 117 ] , may be added an anecdote relating to Dr . Goldsmith . The Doctor who was
master of the school , was particularly ' noted for detecting impostors . Oft one day , when Goldsmith had taken a walk ,, one whom the Doctor had in conversation with him was discovered as he thought to be an impostor : as
soon as he was gone , the Debtor serit after Goldsmith , having just paid h i * j * an . halt- year ' s salary , to guard tiirii
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Remarks on the Q&ituc&yqf' Mr : Jphn JFwxHiant r &f c . && 0
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1817, page 223, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2463/page/31/
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