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the book of Revelation . Even Bishop Magee would not , we suppose , reproacli his Episcopal brother , Dr . Marsh , for giving currency in the English language to MichaetiVs objections to the authenticity of the book of Revelation . On what principles of
equity , therefore , are the Unitarians to be treated with contumely for investio-ating the critical history of the Scriptures , and distinguishing between books and texts according to their respective degrees of evidence ? They are not , at least , behind other sects in their contributions to the defence of divine
revelation . The name of Lardiier is of itself sufficient , in this point of view , to establish their character . They abandon , it is true , the doctrine of the plenary inspiration of the Bible ; but in this they are not singular : the most able advocates of revealed religion , in other communions , have done the
same and to us it appears quite evident , that on that comparatively modern hypothesis the defence of the Bible is a hopeless task . Dr . Carpenter makes a just distinction between the word of God and the historv of that
word : the Scriptures are the latter , and on this ground , and . on this only , can their authority he successfully maintained . The following is a correct description of the Unitarian view of Holy Writ :
" The Unitarian inquirer , ( f am willing ; to say the Christian inquirer , whatever be his surname , ) feels himself obliged to use his own understanding , faithfully , humbly , and piously , to know what Divine Revelation really teaches . He weighs the evidence which Providence affords him ,
to ascertain whether the books professing to be the records of Revelation are authentic ; and his conviction is proportioned to the degree of evidence , and his ability to estimate it . He respects the appreciation of it by other conscientious inquirers ; and if he cannot , in all cases ,
attain the confidence which they feel in the Apostolical authority of every book , he rejoices in the full satisfaction which he possesses in all that is essential to salvation : and , as far as he is influenced by a Christian spirit , he is no more
disposed to charge them with superstitious credulity , than " they will be , if under the same spirit , to charge him with irreverent unbelief and arrogant scepticism . He respects , too , the less authorized , yet otten not less influential , belief of the Multitude ; and , remembering that those
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who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak , he will not needlessly shock the prejudices of his weaker brethren . He cannot temporize , or conceal the truth ; but he desires to shew her in her native loveliness . * ' Pursuing his inquiries , he thinks it his bounden duty , amid the diversity of
readings and translations of various parts of the New Testament , to ascertain , as far as his means of knowledge enable him , which is the tine one ; and he deems it no impeachment of his judgment , and he is certain it springs from no want of reverence for the Holy Scriptures , if with more abundant evidence before him , and with increased light in the appreciationr
of it , he sometimes leaves the text of Stephens and Elzevir , —or if , with the aids afforded by the learning and research of the last two centuries , he sees reason to depart not unfrequentl ' y from the renderings of the Public Version of the Scriptures . And , lastly , as he is hereafter to bear his own burden , and to be
answerable for the talents which God hath given him , he cannot adopt implicitly the interpretations of fallible men , and virtually place them on a level with the words of inspired Apostles ; but , while gratefully accepting the
information they afford him , he deems it his bounden duty to exercise his own understanding , and , by searching the Scriptures , and making them their own interpreter , to ascertain whether these things are so . "—Pp . 87—91 .
Accustomed to the graduated slavery of a hierarchy , Bishop Magee speaks of the Unitarians as a body under some one living head , and in order to disperse the whole party , he thinks that he has only to destroy their chief .
With this view , he directs his attacks against Dr . Priestley and Mr . Belshanu This is a delicate subject for his Examiner , but Dr . Carpenter has hit the happy medium , and paid due respect to the eminent advocates of
Unitarianism , while he has asserted the paramount claims of truth , and the independence of his brethren on all human , authority . Without quotations of some length , we cannot make the plan or the merits of the work before us fully understood :
the exposure and correction of Bishop Magee ' s " willing ignorance" and complex misrepresentations , cannot be done very briefly , yet without this nothing would be done : we admire Dr . Carpenter ' s patient examination of tjie Bishop ' s statements , and thank him for his complete refutation of his
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Review \ - ~ -Dr . Carpenter ' s Examination of Bishop Magee . 239
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1821, page 239, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2499/page/47/
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