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    cause that ever Was brought to bear , whether it be economical , or commercial , or political , or religious , which has not owed all its success to the

    spirit by which the party has been animated , and to the vigour with 'which they have pursued their plans ? In carrying these into effect , it is impossible that you should not oppose measures which other classes and

    societies have adopted . Would you make your corn to thrive ? You must root up and destroy the weeds . Would you have one society to increase ? It must be to the loss , perhaps the ruin ,

    of another . This is the necessary order of things ; and you might as well attempt to unnerve the Almighty ' arm , as to effect your purpose otherwise than as he has ordained in the

    necessary order of things . I will only add , that while a party spirit will give you a decided purpose aud a disposition to promote the best interests of mankind , it need not put violence into your character , or tempt you to employ any other means than

    those which reason and humanity approve . There is a parable among the teachings of our Lord , in which we read , " Compel them to come in , that my house may be full *' I And this may be our motto . But let the

    compulsion we employ be the compulsion of argument , the force of benevolence and love , the persuasive eloquence of a manly , virtuous and undaunted deportment ; for be assured that this will avail much .

    Secondly -y—Use your individual influence to draw those who , through ignorance or prejudice , entertain false notions respecting us , to read and to hear for themselves . This is a point which it is in the power of the people to do much more than their minister

    can do . There is a kind of jealousy of the attempts a minister may make to convert men to his opinions . They may be attributed to various motives , or there may be a reluctance to discuss with him the points on ^ which they differ . But your neighbours are upon

    equal terms with yourselves , and are not perhaps' unwilling to enter the lists with you ; or they may be gratified , if it be only from a principle of curiosity , to accompany you to the place where you are accustomed to offer up your devotions . I need not state that these means have led many ,

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    very many , to correct the opinions they once entertained of us . They have often changed them from opponents to fellow-labourers in the same cause : and they would infallibly have the same effect upon thousands more , if those who are embarked in our cause were prudently to recommend to their

    friends and neighbours , an attention to the points on which we are at issue . But allow me to remark ;—there is no better argument you can employ to convince them of the importance you attach to the sentiments you profess , than the respect you pay them by a steady attendance upon religious worship yourselves . This is a seal

    you set upon your own declarations and professions , which all can see , and which they cannot fail to understand . If the public worship which you have chosen to support , is not of an importance to you great enough to deserve your regular presence , and your serious

    and steady attention , you cannot expect that those to whom you speak of it will think it of any value to them . Prove to them that you value it by a regular , and I will add an early , attendance upon its pleasures and its advantages , and then may they attach an importance to it also .

    And Thirdly j—Support , although it be by help ever so small , the general exertions that are making to promote the general interests of Unitarianism . There are some public measures which have greatly tended to increase the spread of evangelical truth . These ought to be universally known , and more generally attended to .

    One of them is the Society , which originated in the metropolis , and has extended its branches to all the divisions of the kingdom , for the distribution of books and pamphlets that teach correct and useful views of gospel truth . The benefit which has accrued

    from these societies is almost incalcnlable . Many hundred thousand tracts have , by means of them , been circulated throughout the kingdom , during the last twenty years , before which

    time , very few had been circulated , and the public at large were altogether in the dark as to Unitarian views of the gospel . We have a society of this kindthe — fr °

    , which works may be obtained which are admirably calculated to distribute amongst the members-of society *

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    718 On Congregational Unitarian Funds .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1817, page 718, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2471/page/22/