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essential for conducting . the services ii > f a Christian society . I cannot but consider it as a yery illiberal assertion , that €€ the illiterate pastor is miserably ignorant both of what he is to convince , and of the art of con ~ vincing "
For myself I avow , that it is from the hope of gmning proselytes ^ Cl have IHtle ^^ r of losing con verts , ) that ; in addition to nay own best exertions , I would sanction the performance of religious services by a man in any
situation in life whom I believed to possess strength of mind , knowledge of the truth , zeal for its diffusion , and a Christian character . I should expect the labours of such men to be peculi * arly valuable among persons in their own class of life , but of different
religious opinions , and I should consider them as extending * my own means of usefulness- I must also say , that I should be very sorry if societies not having ministers were to follow the advice of your squeamish
correspondent , and close places of worship which might be kept open upon Christian principles , through fear of the derision of bigots , or of having their ears offended by the illiterate piety and zeal of lay-preachers . W . HINCKS .
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Sir , September 13 , 1821 . 1 COULD wish , with your leave , to put the following questions to the Unitarian body of my fellow-christians : Do they believe that the apostles baptized their converts in or into the name of the Father , and of the Son ,
and of the Holy Spirit j or solely and simply in or into the name of the Lord Jesus ; or , ad libitum , and as it happened , sometimes in the one form , and sometimes in the other ; or never in either form , but generally , and in
various modes at their discretion , into the religion of Christ ? Do they , or do they not , believe that the apostles required of those whom they baptized , a specific and uniform profession of some faith or other ?
If they do so believe , What in their opinion was the specific and uniform faith required ? A faith in Jesus as the Messiahr-the Son of God ; or a faith in a religion which originated with the Father , was taught by the Son , and attested by the Holy Spirit ?
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I could wish also to put a question or \ two to my fellow-christians generally : Is the baptism of an infant , a few days old , a ceremony in the eye of piety or common sense efie ^ vhit less " questionable" than the baptism of an embryo in the womb ?
If the custom of baptizing our horses could be traced up to the earliest ages of the church , subsequently to that of the apostles , should we deem such a custom imperative on our practice , as incontrovertible evidence of the apostolic usage ^ AN HONEST AND PLAIN-SPOKEN MAX .
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Warwick * Sir , September 10 , J 821 . WITH high gratification and delight did I read the judicious and excellent address to the students ofManchester College ; [ 428—431 ;} and sincerely do I wish , that the very valuable admonition it contains may be carefully observed , and sedulously reduced to
practice ; not only by those to whom it was immediately addressed , but-also by every one who fills the important situation of ptlblic religious instructor . This wish arises from a conviction , to me the most rational , that , were this the case , were our ministers to act on
the hints suggested , respecting the devotional part of religion , the composition of discourses , the instruction of the young , the admonition of adults , and constant and zealous activity ; the most pleasing effects , the most happy consequences , would soon display themselves in not a few of our
congregations . The worthy addressor ' s remarks on the advantages that would , in many cases , result from e&tempore-spe&king , merit particular attention . How very desirable it is that , " in the discharge of his private duties , " a minister should
be able , in proper language , to give that beautiful , engaging and instructive variety to his discourse , which each particular occasion will at the time suggest , but which can seldom , if ever , be effected by previous
composition ! But if any one particular subject alluded to in the address deserve more than another , especial consideration , it is prayer . It cannot be too deeply and solemnly impressed on the mind , that prayer is a direct address to
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* . - - . . Questions on Baptism . —On Emtempore Religious Services . 533
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1821, page 533, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2504/page/29/
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