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be more generally felt , and that its celestial origin would clearly manifest itself in the lives of the great majority of its professors . Not now to inquire into the causes why its moral influence is not greater than it is , it will be
sufficient to observe , that had it been the Divine intention that the human race at large should rapidly attain to the perfection of moral excellence , they would have been differently constituted to what they are . Forgetting
the manifest plan of Providence , we demand more from revelation than we had any just reason to expect from it , and then are apt to conclude that Christianity caimot be divine , because oar demands have not been satisfied
But what I wished principally to remark in relation to the present subject was , the advantage of having a perfect standard of morality ivhich is acknowledged to be divine . To say nothing of its influence upon individuals , it must have a happy effect in modifving
the public opinion on all subjects connected with morality ; and he who knows the mighty influence which public opinion has upon human conduct will not think lightly of any thing by which this powerful engine can be controlled and regulated . Will it be
said that this high standard of morals has not governed public opinion in the degree which might have been expected from its divine authority ? I have virtually replied to this objection already . Suffice it then to say , that it has been the means of effecting a happy change in the manners and condition of
mankind , and that it has a certain operation even upon those who know little of its nature , and who feel no solicitude to conform their lives to its requisitions . But if the perfection of this standard be granted , the question may be put with irresistible force in relation to our
Lord , Whence had this man this knowled ge ? My last observation respects the spirituality of the religious worship which is prescribed by Christianity . How prone mankind have ever been to attach forms and ceremonies to
religion , or rather to place religion in them , their history most fully shews . Even Christians , with the Scriptures in their hands , aiid in direct deflate of the genius of their religion , have appended numerous frivolities to the simple worship which aiowe can plead
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the authority of theW great Master , He mjerely taught that God , as a Spir it , should be worshiped in spir it and in truth . Beyond this he enjoined nothing * But who was Jesus Christ as far as he
was not a teacher sent from God ? A Jew , nursed in the bosom of a religion abounding with ceremoriies , ceremonies to which he might have been expected to feel the sftifie attachment with the rest of his countrymen . Yet * without questioning the divinity of the Mosaic ritual , without casting any reflection on the formalities which he
dismissed from his more pure a&d exalted system , he simply enjoins that God should be worshiped , and prescr ibes no formalities with which his worship should be accompanied . With what hypothesis , but that of divine illumination , such a conduct can
accord , I am altogether at a loss to conceive . Imposture is , I think , confessedly out of the question ; and that would be a very singular enthusiasm which should reject every thing that could kindle the imagination , and whieh in its operation should surpass the
ordinary effects of the most sober and enlightened reason . Upon the whole , the simplicity of the Christian worshi p is as strong a presumption of the divine origin of the religion as can well be imagined , and must surely have its weight with every mind to which all presumptive reasoning is not addressed in vain . E . COGAN .
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Mr . Frend on the Election of Matthias , as A postle . 147
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Sir , AN opinion prevails generally , that Matthias was made by electioh and lot one of the apostles ; and wfeen I have controverted it , the answer has
most frequently been , that , as the apo 3 tles were inspired persons , the propriety of their aetions could not he called in question . IF this is allowed , and it cannot be allowed , I think , by those who attend to the fcarly propagation of Christianity , it may still be asked on what grounds are we to
believe that at that time they acted by inspiration . When , pur Saviour ascended from this earth , he gave the , m a charge to remain at Jerusalem , till they received authority from on high ; and this authority was made mamrest on the glorious day of Pentecost . Before that time it does pot appear that they puW 5 e ! y proclaimed thfe Watha of
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1821, page 147, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2498/page/19/
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