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those which are of an ethical nature . Nay , such a sentiment debars , according to the author ' s own principles , those who entertain it , from every just claim to the
name of a Christian , even in the most Latitudinarian sense of the word , in which , as the author says , it designates one who « adheres to the doctrines of Christ as taught by himself /"
These are the most material of the " Christian Missionary ' s remarks . " Of the observations of the Editor of the Friend of India it will only be necessary to quote the following :
< c This work , " says he , " while it furnishes an overwhelming proof of the truth and excellence of the Sacred Scriptures , since an intelligent Heathen , whose mind is as yet completely opposed to the grand design of the Saviour ' s becoming
incarnate , feels constrained to recommend the Precepts of Jesus to his countrymen , as the Guide to Peace and Happiness ; the manner in which this is done , as is justly observed by our highly esteemed correspondent , may greatly injure the cause of truth . "
We now come to the third pamphlet on the list , " An Appeal to the Christian Public , in Defence of the ' Precepts of Jesus / " written , undoubtedly , by Ram Mohun Roy . The first subject of his animadversion is the passage which we have just quoted .
" Before I attempt , " says he , < to inquire into the ground upon which the objections to the work in question are founded , I humbly beg to appeal to the public against the unchristianlike , as well as uncivil manner in which the Editor
has adduced his objections to the compilation , by introducing personality , and applying the term of Heathen to the Compiler . I . say unchristianlike manner , because the Editor , by making use of the
term Heut 7 ieny has , I presume , violated truth , charity and liberality , which are essential to Christianity in every sense of the word . For there are only two methods by which the character of the Compiler as a Heathen , or as a believer in
one true and living God , can be satisfactorily inferred . The most reasonable of the two modes is to confine such inquiries to the evidence contained in the subject of review , no mention of the name of the Compiler being made in the publication
itself . Another mode , which is obviousl y inapplicable in such discussions , is to guess at the real author , and to infer his opinions from a knowledge of hjs education or other circumstances , with respect to the first source of evi-
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dence , the following expressions of the Compiler's sentiments are found in the Introduction . " After some quotations he proceeds : " These expressions are calculated , In my humble opinion , to convince every
mind not biassed by prejudice , that the Compiler believed not only in one God , whose nature and essence is beyond human com prehension , but in the truths revealed in the Christian system . I should hope neither the Reviewer nor the Editor can be justified in inferring the heathenism
of the Compiler , from the facts of his extracting and publishing the moral doctrines of the New Testament , under the title of a * Guide to Peace and Happiness '—his styling the Precepts of Jesus , a code of religion and morality—his
believing God to be the Author and Preserver of the universe—or his considering those sayings as adapted to regulate the conduct of the whole human race in the discharge of the duties required of them . " —P . 3 .
" With respect to the latter mode of seeking evidence , however unjustified the Editor may be in coming to such a conclusion , he is safe in ascribing the collection of these precepts jo Ram Mohun Roy ; who , although he was born a Brahmun , not only renounced idolatry at a
very early period of his life , but published , at that time , a Treatise in Arabic and Persian against that system ; and no sooner acquired a tolerable knowledge of English , than he made his desertion of idol worship known to the Christian world by his English publications ; a
renunciation which , I am sorry to say , brought severe difficulties upon him , by exciting the displeasure of his parents , and subjecting him to the dislike of his near , as well as his distant relations , and to the hatred of nearly all his countrymen for several years . I therefore presume that ,
among his declared enemies , who are aware of the . se facts , no one who has the least pretension to truth , would venture to apply the designation of Heathen to him ; but , I am sure , that the respect he entertains for the very name of Christianity , which the Editor of the Friend of
India seems to profess , will restrain him from retorting on that Editor , although there may be differences of opinion between them that might be thought sufficient to justify the use towards the Editor of a term no less offensive . The
Editor , perhaps , may consider himself , as justified by numerous precedents amongst the several partizaus of different Christian sects , in applying the name of Heathen to one who takes the precepts of Jesus a ? his principal guide in matters of reli-
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Review *—Ram Mohun Rot / 9 and Indian Unitarian Controversy . 481
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v ° l . xvi . 3 n
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1821, page 481, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2503/page/41/
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