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ticipating the approach , and conquering the fear of death . ; " To take from this anticipation the horror with which it is naturally accompanied , and to render the thinking mind tranquil in the prospect of dissolution , two things appear to be absolutely necessary ; first , that we should possess the assurance of immortality , to relieve the imagination from that dread of falling back into nothing , which is of all sentiments
the most melancholy and the most revolting to the heart ; and , secondly , that with this assurance of life , we should be assured also of mercy to forgive our sins , and to inspire us with confidence towards Gody that we may thus be delivered from the fear of punishment , which is natural to a frail and guilty creature . "—Pp . 95 , 96 .
There is the eloquence of ardent feeling in the passage which we now extract , containing an exposure of the consequences of Infidelity and a reinonstrance with $ ie Unbeliever : " The doctrines of this philosophy , which despises equally the probabilities
of reason and the truths of revelation , are indeed beyond description dreadful . They bring death to the soul here , by threatening it with death hereafter . They extinguish all the rising energies of the mind , and all the tenderest sympathies of the heart . If I can believe these
doctrines , then must I believe , that the first and strongest of all desires , the desire of living , has been given for no other purpose than , that the thought of its final disappointment may destroy the relish of its present gratification . Then must I
believe , that the human soul , which , in this state , can but just expand its germ , and put forth its blossoms , shall never realize its flattering promises of a harvest to come . Then must I believe , that all the best affections of nature obtain a
sweet , but temporary and precarious indulgence , in the intercourses of friendship , and the endearments of domestic life , only that the idea of everlasting separation may come home upon the soul in more tremendous horror . What is there—in
the name of wisdom , what is there in the short and interrupted enjoyments of humanity , that could compensate for the anxiety and pain which such ideas must occasion to the thoughtful , especially in those hours of sorrow , when all other consolations are unavailing , if not aided
by the consolations of religion ? For myself , I had rather dream—if it were nothing but dreaming 1 had rather dream a thousand and a thousand times the dream of immortality , than wake once to the reality , supposing it to be one , which would draw a terrific gloom
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over all those prospects that mitigate the evils and enhance , the joys of man . But a reality it cannot be , if there is a just and merciful God , who rules the universe , and has given to us the word of life . ** Infidel , cease ! Tread not with daring step and cruel purpose , that hallowed ground , which upholds , and upholds well , whatever reason or affection values most . Respect , at least , the sensibilities of a wounded spirit , and leave to the mourner in Zion , O ! leave him that faith , which alone can reconcile him to the death of
others , which alone can fortify his courage in the prospect of his own , which alone can fill his heart with peace and joy in believing . "—Pp . 112—114 . We cannot quote all that we strongly approve or even admire , but we re - commend to the reader Sermon V .. ^^ V ^^^ r ^^ ^ V «^» ^^*^^ b ^^ h r ^^ h ^^ k ^^^^^ V * T — ^ ^^ r ^** ~^ iv ^^™ - ^^ r ~~~ ^ - *^^™ ~^^ v ^^^ * ~^>— - ^^ ^^ k ^^ k ^^» ^^ - ^^^ htf ^ t
^^^ ^^ ^ ^ ^^ and particularly the conclusion ( pp . 146—150 ) , in which the preacher makes use of the precariousness of reason as a motive to instant moral and spiritual diligence , and contends that the loss of reason , whatever may be the consequences , is not a forfeiture of previous character .
Sermon VI . " On the Death of a Father" is truly pathetic , and the Introduction is remarkably striking . The Vlllth Sermon will , by the majority of readers , be perhaps best remembered ; though a critical eye may , we think , discover some irregularity in its plan . Perverse , however , would be the criticism that should
render the heart insensible to the preacher ' s delightful descriptions of maternal affection . In the more argumentative part of the Sermon , he considers this " wonderful affection , as indicating , in the most striking manner , the unbounded wisdom and benignity of Providence /'
" If we had but this one evidence , it would be sufficient to convince a reflecting mind , that a paternal care is exercised in the government of the world , and that the tender mercies of God are over all
his works . Take away the strong instinctive feelings of a mother , and what becomes of the living creation ? Nay , even if it were not taken away , but left , lite other affections , dependent- upon
time and culture ; liable to be damped by little disgusts , or to be overcome by the love of ease , and the dread of care and labour , what would become of infant life ? Is it not then an irresistible
evidence of wise and gracious design , that in the oeconomy of animated nature , that affection alone should be unconquerable ,
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40 Review . —Dr . Lindsay ' s Sermons .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1820, page 40, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2484/page/40/
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