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their great work , nor should it hinder their disciples from following their example . Mr . Fox then meets the objection that this parallel is destroyed by the
fact of Paul ' s possessing miraculous powers . His answer is , that miracles svere not always wrought by the apostles to produce couviction , that we have many means of conversion without miracles , and that every man has a commission to do all the good
in mspower .. Addressing himself to Unitarians , * who believe with us , but do not act with us , " he now proceeds to prove that the spread of Unitariunism
is a hlessing to society . To the profligate , this system comes , like the original preaching of Christianity , with a reforming and saving power . It rescues others from infidelity . It awakens to life those that are dead in
formality , transforming " mechanism into mind , statues in an idol ' s temple into living worshipers of the living God , " It displaces the popular systems , and thus benefits individuals and the community : individuals , by communicating truth and knowledge ,
prompting # pure worship , inspiring liberality , securingliberty , and advancing the interests of virtue and diffusing happiness : the community * , the good of wliieh is made up of individual good , by moderating orthodoxy , by
converting or silencing infidelity , by preparing the way for a reformation of the National Church , by interesting the worldly-minded in religion , by making a reading and thinking public , by exploding persecution , and by recommending Christianity to universal
reception . The preacher concludes with a warm and animating appeal to Unitarians on behalf of the society , in whose name he spoke . " Are they Unitarians /* he asks , " and yet
indifferent whether Unitarianism glimmer in their studies , like , a lamp in a sepulchre , or be set on high to illumine the world with beams of joy and lpve £ " He rebukes the very supposition , and taking for granted that his bretTurfcn are all of one mind in the
common cause , exhorts them to "« persevere with caution , but with firmness ; with a zeal . wise and moderate , tout , steady and inextinguishable *? There are * sortie wfy striking pas ~ sages in the sermon , which we regret
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that we cannot quote : indeed , the whole discourse is more calculated for effect than almost any one on a similar occasion that we remember to have read . We have observed one or two points in the sermon which we consider
debateable . It is said , p . 9 , that " Unitarianism and Trinitarianism are in feet different religions , " a proposition not unfiequently maintained by Trinitarian writers . But as far as religion is practical , are not its sanctions and motives common to all Christians , and
independent of tlifeir doctrinal differences ? We might explain ourselves by the doctrine of a future state of righteous retribution , which operates upon all Christians alike , and is explained in nearly the same way by
them all , except when they are stating or defending their peculiarities . We must confess , that we incline to the judgment of Bishop Bramhall , that u Different opinions do not make different religions . "
Again , in p . 10 , Mr . Fox seems to maintain Mr . Lindsey ' s opinion , that " Trinitarian -worship" is €€ Christian idolatry / ' Notwithstanding the concessions of Trinitarians themselves , we cannot help feeling a little repugnance to the doctrine . We would
rather say , that in Unitarians the worship of the Trinity would be idolatry , but that in Trinitarians themselves it is an honest compliance with the dictates of an erring judgment .
The dissonant terms , ** Christian idolatry , " imply , in our apprehension , more of the guilt of wilful apostacy from the truth , than can reasonably be charged upon any mistake of the understanding .
For making these slight exceptions to the sermon of a Christian friend and coadjutor we offer no apology . If any were needed , we would word it in a passage from the sermon before us , describing one of the happy peculiarities of the Unitarian denomination :
" No other sect exists without the sanction of a creed . In no other party can men exercise full liberty of thought and speech . No where else is there so inweh actual diversity of opinion with so little eyil in consequence of diversity . Vfe differ as to the ore-existence of Christ , his
miracuIoub conception ^ a separate state , ana a variety of topics , ) iiit without schisms , quarrels , persecution * ^ or e * communioations . ' * Pp . 21 , ^^ f ^
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138 Review . —Fox ' s Sermon before the Unitarian Fund *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1818, page 138, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2473/page/58/
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