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and not , as is asserted by their opponents * from an unwillingness to submit the controversy to the decision of the Scriptures . None more readily acknowledge that the only safe appeal is to the Scriptures , and that the only
authoritative decision must be sought in the Scriptures ; they wish their doctrine to be tried by no other test ; and they demand constant I y and earnestly that this test be applied fairly , that is , critically . But it may be asked , with what consistency do
they unite in this appeal to a book of which they acknowledge not the inspiration and authority in every part ? The question might be returned upon their opponents—Do they believe every word in the present Canon of the Old and New Testament to be the
dictate of inspiration ? Perhaps Mr . Wardlaw does so y if he does not , his own conscience will reveal to him , that he has betrayed a want of simplicity and candour in his accusation of the Unitarians , quoted above . He has not calumniated them , but he has
presumed to cast a stone , though himself not without sin . It is , however , charitable to believe that Mr . Wardlaw ' s faith on the subject of inspiration extends farther than that of many of his brethren . Of them
there are many who know , that there is not ^ qu al evidence of genuineness for every book in the Canon ; and there are many too , who , admitting some difference of circumstances iu the narration of facts substantially the
same , are rational enough to acknowledge , that the narrators were » ot all inspired . If any of this better informed class of believers join also in th $ popular cry against Unitarians ,
«• that they do not accept the entire Canon a * the undoubted word of God , " they may have their reward ; but it i * not in the satisfaction of an honest mind , Let them not accuse other Christians of want of reverence
for the sacred writings in refusing to subscribe to a proposition which is not an article of their own belief ; but to those who assert the plenary inspiration of the canonical books of the OW and New Testament a
different answer ib due : why appeal , they my * to an authority which is not heW sacred * In the first place it is ( Reaper to ask , what are the grounds of their own pemiafttoa *• Where is
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the proof of the proposition to which they subscribe ? Is it in tradition , in the decrees of -councils , or in the writings themselves ? In what part of the Scriptures is it asserted that the present Canon was all written under inspiration of (* od ? The Apostles did , indeed , affirm that thev
received their commission from Christ , and , that they were instructed by him and by the holy spirit what wag Christian doctrine : but this was a very different thing from asserting that every word they spoke or wrote in the discharge of their commission
was dictated to them by inspiration . Admit the former , and Unitarians do admit it as well as other Christians , and the authority of the Apostolic writings is sufficiently established ; and the appeal to that authority , on
every question of Christian doctrine , is made decisive . Yet , on tbis hypothesis , it is fair to ask , may not the Apostles as well as other men have convened their meaning in such terms as to make it difficult to ascertain at
all times what they did mean ? Undoubtedly they may : and , Peter being judge , it is certain that the Apostle of the Gentiles ^ w hose Epistles form so large a part of the New Testament Canon , did write things difficult to understand , and liable to be greatly mistaken even by men
who lived in the same age and spoke the same language as himself . It is , therefore , in vain to contend that the interpretation , which would first , or generally occur to the most simple and unlearned readers , must be the true interpretation of his meaning . The same labour and rules of criticism
must be applied to some parts of the sacred writings , aud especially to the epistolary for very obvious reasons , which are applied to other ancient writings , in order to arrive at the true interpretation . 1 apprehend it is in this opinion , and not in want of deference to the authority of the Christian
Scriptures , that the Unitarian differs from the majority of Christians , and as long as this difference remains there is , indeed , little probability that lie , and the great body of Christians , should think alike on several of the most important articles of the Christian faith * J . M .
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5 $ 6 Unitarian Opinion of the Scriptures * *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1817, page 596, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2469/page/24/
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