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be doubted bv tnanv . The morality of our holy religion is so salutary to civil societ \ ; its promise of a future state so consolatory to individuals : its precepts are so suited to the deductions
of the most enlightened reason , that it must finally prevail throughout the world . Some have thought that Christianity is tosingground in Christendom ; I am of a different opinion . Some ascetitious doctrines of Christianity derived from Rome and Geneva are
losing ground ; some unchristian practices springing from bigotry , intolerance , self sufficiency of opinion , and uncharitableness of judgment , are losing ground ; but a belief in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world , as the author of eternal life to all who
obey his gospel , is more and more confirmed every day in the minds of men of eminence and condition , not only in this but in every other Christian countrv . From this praise , I am not disposed to exclude even France itself , notwithstanding the
temporary apostacy of its philosophers from every degree of religious faith . The Christian religion has ever operated to the production of piety , benevolence , self-government and a love of virtue among individuals in every place where it has been established \ and it will every where operate more
powerfully , as it is received with a more firm assurance of its truth , as it is better understood ; for when it is properly understood , it will be freed from the pollutiojis of superstition and fanaticism amongst the hearers , and from ambition , domination and secularity amongst the teachers . "
To the learning and talent which are frequently displayed in the Eclectic Review , I pay a willing testimony : their uniform defence of the right of private judgment in religious matters , and of civil and religious liberty to all , entitle them to general approbation ; but it would be well for them
at times to " bear their faculties" more meekly , and to recollect that they do not possess all the wisdom of the age ^ that their opinions are not infallible ; that men of equal genius , piety and
learning with themselves , differ widely from them us to w h ;» t doctrines really constitute evangelical truth ; and that what they consider orthodoxy is not necessarily synonymous with Christianity . N o * would it diminish the
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value or reputation of their work , to study more correctness in the terms the \ apply to others , and to remember that tht epithet Socinian , however convenient it nm he us a term of reproach , cannot in justice be applied to a body of Christians , {[ sa \ not whether large or small , ) who disagree with that eminent Reformer on a
subject of no le ^ s importance , than whether a created being , however exalted , be or be not a proper object of religious adoration . J . C . ^¦ f c
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180 Unitarianism at Geneva .
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Sir , Feb 12 , 1818 . T fl ^ H E interesting article on the state JL of Unitarianism at Geneva from your Correspondent P . T . \ ,., which appeared in the last Number of the Monthly Repository , [ p . 22 , ] must have been perused with peculiar pleasure by \ our numerous readers . It
is certainly a very singular fact , that the hot-bed of Calvinism should have brought forth such an abundant crop of the pure fruits of the gospel ; a fact , which , it is hoped , will convey many lessons of useful instruction both to the Trinitarian and the Unitarian .
To the former it may present a powerful motive to the careful re-examination of the articles of his creed , and to the exercise of chanty towards those who differ from him : to the latter , it will afford an additional
evidence of the spiritual energy of the sublime and animating doctrines of his religion , and fresh encouragement to endeavour to accelerate their progress with redoubled confidence and zeal .
These beneficial consequences , Mr-Editor , every consistent believer in the absolute unity and supremacy of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , will rejoice to anticipate from
the present state of religious knowledge at Geneva . But that it will enable us , us P . T . L . seems disposed to believe , to decide , whether the direct or indirect method of
communicating truth to the mind be most desirable , is not , I imagine , equally apparent . For , though we suppose that the Genevan pastors have never proceeded beyond the indirect method , and believe that their success is no less than it has been represented ; still I apprehend it would be difficult to prove from hence , that they have
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1818, page 180, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2474/page/28/
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