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other , and at any rate , " that they contain propositions calculated to embarrass the mind of the unlearned Christian . In opposition to these , we have a fourth creed , free from all the
difficulties attending the others , which comes from an authority not to be ouestioned , at a time when the deepest impression is given to every thing spoken , and it was delivered in the most solemn manner that can possibly be conceived . Our Saviour , a few
hours before his death , and having his approaching departure fully before him , addresses his heavenly Father in a prayer of which his disciples could not be otherwise than the most attentive hearers . In . this prayer he makes use of these words : * This is life
eternal , to know thee the only true God , and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent : * and a more comprehensive form of words cannot possibly be given for the uniting of Christians in a faith against which none of the objections can be raised that are made against the other three creeds . f
" Our Saviour says , This is eternal life / consequently every thing added to this creed by man is superfluous . The only true God is , clearly made
known to us by the expressive term Thee * ( addressed to the Father ) . Hence all dispute is removed upon this subject : the Father is the only true God ,. The divine mission of Jesus is declared
with the expressive term Christ , or anointed , by which he is distinguished , as with the glad oil , above his fellows . This is my faith . On this explicit declaration of my Saviour are founded
my hopes of eternal life . If any person thinks he , can add any thing to this faith , it must be at his own peru . Here is an authority uot to be disputed , and a faith level to the capacity of the commonest Christian . "
I agrge entirely with rtlne worthy Baron , and am convinced t ? hart , ff the Unitarian Book Society would adopt the words of our Saviour , they would . free themselves at oius § from tWir present difficulties , # W they would then have scriptural authority for their basis , and a form of words which the more it
js examined , tfajpkwp ' adapted witHt be roun d to the nature of the institution , out u is contend t&ot this fbirm of wordg is not precise enough md tftat « will aclmit , in fact , tHe gyeatx ^ ority
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of Christians into its pale . On the contrary , it isj too lamentable a truth that it excludes not pi * ly the | preat majority of Christians , but a majority so very extensive , that the number which embraces the doctrine of our
Saviour at the present day is so small , that it may be considered as to number perfectly insignificant . By this , indeed , the prophecy of , our Saviour is verified : " Strait is the way , and narrow is the ^ ate > and few there be that enter therein /*
We may be permitted , however , to examine this point a little more closely . It has been said , that the words of our Saviour are of such latitude that they would include within their " ample range , not only the holy apostolic
Roman Church , and all the various denominations which secede 'from it , but it also comprehends the Greek , the Nestorian , and the Syrian Churches in the East , and likewise the Copts and
the Abyssinians in Africa ; all of whom would be ready to subscribe this simple creed * and to form one grand Unitarian Society throughout the world . ** Now , so far from this being the case , all these churches maintain
creeds in direct opposition to the truths laid down by our Saviour . It is true that all these churches maintain the authority of Scripture , and profess to make it the rule of their faith . But
this applies to every tenet they have adopted ; and it is only by meeting them with the express words of Scripture , that their errors can be made manifest . By our Saviour ' s
declaration , one only true God is to be acknowledged , aiid he is particularly designated by the term the Father . These churches acknowledge , indeed , the Father to be God 3 but they unite with him two other persons , whom
they profess to believe to be different from the Father , and y $ t equally God as he is . liVlien they s , ay , therefore , the Son is God , and the Holy Ghost is G $ d , they manifestly declare that the Father is i \ 6 t the mly true God , and cons ^ u ^ thr we , whip maintain that the Father as the only true God , set our seal to a confession to r ^ Jiich they eannpt subscribe * IV V&ffa f ^ A trust , indeed , that the day % $$% % distant when these laj ^ bodies . of Christians will thr # v ? ^ s ^^ tfte vain traditions by wfyich these words of wjr
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Mr . Frend on Articles of Unitarian Society : 89
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VOL . XV . N
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1820, page 89, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2485/page/25/
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