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of no practical a {> piicatk > tK In either cage , resting with confidence on the lttwu of natiire and of the human Hand , and not presumptuously assuming the perfec * tion Of bis own knowledge , the $ * iie phi * losopher will endeavour by farther and more careful investigation to discover what he is persuaded must exist , though it has hitherto eluded His notice /*—Pp .
12—14 . The following passages , the Only ones that we cai * further quote , contain a satisfactory exposition and beautiful illustration of the blessing of truth , and of the duty of zeal and diligence in its promotion :
" indeed , if we compare together large masses of society , where we are exempted from most of the influences which mislead our judgment with respect to individuals , or small bodies , we can hardly fail of acknowledging the benefit of truth . We need only contrast the moral and social condition of the Jewish people with the
degradation and corruption of their idolatrous neighbours * We need only compare the effects even of Mohammedanism with those of Paganism . We need but trace the history of Christianity , and mark the consequences of its extension in the amelioration of manners and the gradual improvement in the condition of society . We need but observe how when some of
the errors which had crept into the church were removed , and the standard of Reformation was erected , the Prosestants became conspicuous alike by the greater purity of their manners , and by their intellectual superiority . And can we then doubt the importance of the differences Which exist between us and our fellow *
Christians in general ? No schemes can well be more directly opposed than our notions of the Unity and paternity of Gad ; of the design of our Saviour ' s mission , and the general end of the plans
of Divine Providence , and the doctrines usually accounted orthodox . Either we , ° r a great majority of our Christian bre ^ thren , must be deeply in error ; attid to say that it is of no consequence , is to say that our * most cherished sentiments of
P ^ ety and devotion , the only sources of ° ur religious hope and j oy * and . our strongest incitements to obedience ^ are not worth the trouble of communicating—a roost unsatisfactory proof of the use we nave dtuselves made df them . We are "ot bluid to the merits of those o € other
Persuasions , nor ought they in the least to lessen out confidence in the impq * *> m * of oiir own Views ; for Ay l ^ fe «*» W 0 a ther * may he to the ; t £$ p
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religktti , atl Christians entertain such views of Gad atord a future state , as in some Way make virtue desirable to them - —all acknowledge the" autlrority of the BiWe , and those whose conduct U eminently pious and cnarftabfe ,, a * e invariably those who love and study it most , lite direct influence of the precepts and
example of our Lord atid his apostles may , to a considerable extent , counteract the influence of doctrines erroneously supposed to be taught pf them . The Scriptures we all acknowledge as containing revealed truth , and they can hardly b& so uniformly misunderstood , and throughout perverted by systeni , as far that truth never to reach and Influence the tnind .
But it would be equally wrong of us to overlook or undervalue these excellencies of our brethren which , being truly Christian , must have their origin in right views ; and Weak of ils to give the merit of these excellencies , so easily traced to their right source , to opinions with which they may be accidentally connected , but which we are well convinced could never have
originated them . If we are not greatly mistaken , we can perceive in various , but commonly in sufficiently conspicuous proportions , those feelings and actions which we should naturally expect to flow from some articles in the prevailing creed , and which we can by no means approve , to be intermixed with those which we
recognise as the beautiful and admirable fruits of true Christianity , and which we Contemplate with delight wherever we find them . It must of course be our opinion , that the more complete attainment of truth by those whom we admire ,
though we believe them to be in error * would confirm in them what is good , and fend to correct what is evil ; would exalt their characters , and greatly increase their joy and satisfaction in the religion which they already adorn .
" Nor is there any thing of arrogant pretension or illiberal spirit in these views . We do not confine to ourselves the Divine favour and acceptance ; we do not condemn our brethren here on account of what we suppose to be their errors , nor anticipate their future condemnation ;
we do not despise the virtues they possess , nor withhold from them our esteem because we cannot accept of their creed ; but we are firmly convinced that truth must ever be an inestimable blessing , and
that error must always be injurious to the extent of its influence . We believe Christianity to be a revekitiou of invaluable mid roost glorious truths , without € he reception of which , in their wiadultetfried sirtfplictty , it ctfn never produce its mil effects in promoting : the virtue ami hap-
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Re&ieib . ' ^ fiitiek&ti Unitarian fund Sertmn . fe 15
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1821, page 615, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2505/page/47/
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