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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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While I admit , indeed feel confident , that ' ? the divine change of mind ™ which takes place in those who repent of evil ways , in the great majority of cases , is of slow operation , arid unaccompanied by that sudden surprise which some experience , I must still be permitted to hope , that many
Christians , of clear enough understandings and honest hearts , who assert that they have been converted from an ill life by even a miraculous assistance from the Father , in an instantaneous manner , are not to be accounted guilty either of hypocrisy or self-deception .
The knowledge of many of my Unitarian brethren will surely corroborate what I now remark . Many have been brought up from their infancy with religious impressions that have kept them clear of entire estrangement of heart from the Father ,
and , consequently , " need not repentance" and renewing of the Holy Spirit in such a way as some do . Others , again , like Mr . William Morris , and those , perhaps , the greater number , having approached the light gradually , feel the peace of God shed abroad in
their hearts , but cannot say where the light and darkness were divided . Why need these chafe their spirit for the experience of others , if they but know that , whereas they once loved darkness , now they rejoice in the light ? Again , there are some whose sudden
contrition of soul , and the never-to-be ^ separated influence of God , bursting , like the sun in his strength , on the darkness of a sinful heart , must fbr ever after leave a deep conviction of His assisting might , who spoke the worlds into existence , and glory in the truth that made them free from sin and death .
I delight in the anticipation , that , in the fulness of time , those who have loved the Father from the first spring of thought , and those whose hearts have been gently brought near unto him in maturer years , will , with those
who , like burning brands , have been plucked from the fire of an evil conscience , joyfully unite , with confidence and love , in ascribing honour and glory to Him who reigneth , and to the Lamb for ever ! J . H . R . El ,
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©*• &ivin& Influences . 29 S
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Sir , f ^ HE perusal of the account given JBL of Mr . William Morris in the Repository for May , [] XV . 312 , ] which I
did not happen to see until very lately , induces me , for the first , and perhaps the last time , to address a few remarks to you , hoping they may not be deemed unworthy of a spare place in the liberal work you superintend .
The general tenor of the article referred to , might lead many to conceive , that the profession of Unitarianism is inconsistent with a belief in what is called " the perceptible influence of the spirit of God / ' if not with a conviction of any degree of divine assistance to the mind .
But , ag I firmly believe the intemperate Editor of the " Christian Instructor" knew not the truth when he asserted that our faith " frowns upon the noblest movements of the human heart / ' I am induced to offer my testimony against error .
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fatally different from what is plaialy exp ressed in the pure text , and , in my op inion , is , therefore , much more sim ilar to interpolation than to any warrantable supply of an illipsis . Having thus , as well as I am able , slated the difficulties alluded to in the
beginning of my letter , I shall feel much obliged to you for its insertion in the Monthly Repository , and to any of your correspondents who will attempt to remove them , by pointing
out any error or misconception upon the subject under which J may labour ; for I pretend not to a perfect knowledge of it , and have thus written my thoughts chiefly to elieit more light and information .
RICHARD MARTIN . P . S . Should you deem suc * h letters as this proper for insertion in the Repository , I shall be encouraged to submit to the consideration of your correspondents some difficulties which I feel , as an Unitarian , respecting the
early opinions of Christians concerning the person of Christ , which difficulties I cannot get removed by reading Dr . Priestley ' History of Early Opinions , &e ., because to my reading that History , the difficulties owe their origin in inv mind .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1821, page 295, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2500/page/39/
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