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to the world , it is readily admitted they preach not such an one , nor do they think the apostles did . I now proceed to what appears to me the principal thing your
Correspondent had in view in writing , which , indeed , he has throughout assumed , aud endeavoured to confirm by taking for granted what is not true , and b \ a false statement of the
circumstances to which he alludes . The principle assumed throughout his letter is , " The practical in efficacy of ( what are called ) Unitarian doctrines for the purposes of conversion . " I shall not imitate your Correspondent
by merely assuming the contrary , and asserting ; , as a confirmation of it , my full couviction , arising from many years' observation and experience , on a pretty large scale , of the practical efficacy of Unitarian ism for the purposes of conversion . In this letter , however , 1 must content myself with stating the grounds on which the eifieacy , or inefficacy , of Unitarianism should be argued , and on which I am
convinced of and prepared to assert its efficacy . Tf , after I have done this , your Correspondent should think proper to reply , I hold myself engaged to proceed in the further discussion of the subject , which 1 think of considerable importance .
1 . The efficacy of the doctrines preached by the apostles for the purposes of the conversion of sinners of all descriptions , will , on all hands , be admitted , and that we have a true and sufficient account of the doctrines
which they preached , by which multitudes were converted , in the book of their Acts , will , 1 apprehend , be also granted . If then it can be shewn that Unitarian Missionaries ( the persons whom I understand Simplex to have particularly in view ) preach the same doctrines as the apostles preached ,
without mixing with them others of human invention , the efficacy of modern Unitarian doctrines for the purposes of conversion , will be proved ; and if those who preach them fail of success , that failure must be attributed to other causes , not to the inefficacy of the doctrines themselves . I invite
your Correspondent to uiett me oi > this ground , and call upon him to shew what doctrines , or doctrine , the apostles preached which modern Unitarians do not preach . In the mean
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time , I recommend to his attention the late Dr . Toulmin ' s excellent little book on the preaching of the Apostles . 2 . The efficacy * or inefficacy , of the doctrines believed and taught by mo * dern Unitarians , may be argued on
the ground of what appears to be their natural tendency and genuine influence , so far as their tendency , and the influence they are calculated to have , can be judged of by a careful examination , and calm deliberate view of
those doctrines , and their suitableness to man , to his moral and spiritual wants , and especially to him as guilty and polluted . On this ground , also , 1 invite your Correspondent to the discussion ; and am willing to enter with him into an examination of the comparative
efficacy of the reputed orthodox and Unitarian doctrines , on the ground of an impartial view of the doctrines themselves . It appears to me , that all doctrines must have a tendency , and be calculated to exert an influence , good or bad , and in different degreesj
according to their real nature and import , though that tendency and influence may be counteracted , more or less , by a variety of causes : nor can
the effects of doctrines visibly appear any further than they are understood and embraced . I nlso think , that the same powers of mind which enable us to distinguish true from false doctrines , and to understand their real iniDort . and to understand their real import
, qualify us , by an impartial examination , to form a judgment of their tendency , and the influence they are calculated to have on those who can be brought seriously to attend to them . 3 . Another ground of deciding on the efficacy , or inefficacy , of the doctrines taught by Unitarians , is , by attending to the effects they have actually produced ; but in deciding on
this ground , we ought to take a large view of the subject , and not confine our observations to any particular period or country ; we ought also to take into view the peculiar circumstances in which Unitarians and
Unitarianism have been placed : nor ought we to expect Unitarian doctrines to shew their efficacy where they have not been plainly preached as ihe doctrines of the gospel . I have but one objection to arguing the point on the ground of what has been done by Unitarian preaching during the last few years ; it is that , to many persons ,
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184 Mr , Wright in Reply to Simplex ,
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1818, page 184, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2474/page/32/
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