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one side or the other . The question then is , which will appear the more safe or dangerous at the great decisive day , wheu Christ shall judge the
world in righteousness . The wise man would gladly take the safer side * how painful soever to flesh and blood . Now , if my error be * that I have ascribed more honour to Christ than
really belongs to him , the sacred Scriptures , the very words of God , led me and a thousand of God ' s faithful servants into it . May I not hope the Judge will pity ? &c &c < ** These considerations , dear Sir ,
with some others , had their weight with me , whatever they may have with others . Besides , I thought it would be very imprudent to part with a doctrine- ( so well-founded and so universally received ) on account of some difficulties attending it , for the opposite scheme , that , is clogged with as great or much greater difficulties ; ana still the more so , as I could not
part . with It , but at the expense of quitting several others of great moment and importance that depend upon it , &c . y but I shall not enlarge upon these topics , fearing I have been too tedious already , and must ask pardon
for my prolixity as well as freedom . Only I would take notice of a maxim among philosophers and divines , viz . that an opinion taken up and embraced upon just grounds and reasons , is not to be quitted merely because we cannbt answer everv objection against it .
* ' Thus , Sir , I have given you an account of the wavering of my faith , and by what means it was established , and hope you will take in good part what 1 have imparted to you of my own experience j and I assure you it
is honestly meant , however it may be taken . I onl y beg leave to add one word more—the ( foctrine of the Trinity has been generally deemed by the church of Christ , £ 9 be not only an important , but a fundamental point , ana as fundamental in revealed , as
the existence of a God in natural religion , since we arc ; initiated into Christianity upon the solemn profession of our fcuth in , and dedication to God the Fattier , Son and Holy Ghost . Whe .
ther it be so or jqp ^ , 1 shall not d ^ termine , but it certainly becomes every ChnfltiaW Q&d especially e « ery minister of the gospel , seriously to consider , because x £ it prove « o m the
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upshot of things , bis doom must be heavy , who not only denies this doctrine himself , but may have been the unhappy instrument of leading many others into so pernicious and fatal an error- ^ -a thought , the weight of which is enough to make one tremble .
" And now , Sir , I beg the favour you would inform roe , what your thoughts are of these considerations , whether well-founded and of weight , for if neither be true , I ought not to have been influenced by them . That the Father of light may lead you by his spirit into all necessary , saving truth , is the sincere desire and earnest
prayer of " Reverend , worthy and dear Sir , Your affectionate Friend , and well-wisher , &c . &c . J . C . " " P . S . I should be glad of two or three hours * conversation with you upon the subject , in an amicable and
friendly manner , without any other company , if a proper time and place can be appointed ^ or if you please to come over to my house , and stay with me a night or two , you shall be heartily welcome , and received with the kindness and friendship of a brother , by ** Your humble Servant , J . C .
" Walpole , Aug . 2 nd , 1754 /' Sir , — Unitarian sentiments , and more especially societies of Unitarian Christians , are deemed novel in this eastern part of Suffolk ; but it hence appears that those sentiments were embraced , strenuously maintained , and
zeaJousiy and industriously propa * gated , and the professors of them formed into a worshiping- society by an ejected minister in the neighbour * hood of Walpole , a professed Socimttn , and a gentleman of considerable parts , learning and sobriety , much more than
a century back ; and that when infirmity incapacitated him for conducting their worship , some of them , more than a hundred years ago , joined the congregation of Protestant Dissenters at Walpole , made a plausible
profession of religion and were bold in support of their opinions ; and though some apostatized and abjured them on joining the church , others retained them to their dying day , undoubtedly because they had satisfaction in them . . Tiiepp must lutae appeared io be
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382 Some Account of Mr . William Mntmintf .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1817, page 382, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2466/page/6/
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