On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
enim vieus abundat tristibus obscoenis . Castigas turpia , cum sis inter Socraticos notissima fossa cinaedos . " The false teachers were anxious to withdraw the attention of the converts from the perfect model of virtue exemplified in Jesus , and to recommend to them the notion of virtue as illustrated in
the language and character of Aristotle . Their end , in this respect , the apostle earnestly strives to defeat , by again and again directing them to Christ as the sole model of their
imitation , and giving a minute and eloquent description of that virtue which as Christians they were called upon to cultivate . " Be you , brethren , together with me , imitators of him , and mark those ( as unworthy of your
imitation ) who thus behave themselves , as ye have us for your model—us , and not them , as they would persuade you . —Finally , brethren , whatever things are true , whatever dignified , whatever just , whatever pure ^ whatever friendly , whatever fair in name , if there be any virtue , if there be any praise , meditate
on these things ; and what you have learnt and received and heard of me , and have seen in me , these things practise . " This description of virtue is beautiful and eloquent ; but it derives its chief force and propriety from the contrast which every clause carries to the views of the impostors , and to the Ode of Aristotle . Thus : whatever
things are true and dignified , and not such false and puerile things as are alluded to in the composition of the Stagirite—whatever things are agreeable to justice and moral purity , and not such impure , fraudulent arts as they are guilty of who would first
deceive , then rob and betray you—whatever things are friendly and conducive to the peace and happiness of society , and not the warlike temper , not the fury , revenge and rapacious ness recommended to you in the conduct of Achilles—whatever things are fair in name , and not things too infamous to be named , yet practised by these impostors , and sanctioned even by Aristotle and his base ftivottfite .
It is worthy of remark , that " the Praise of Virtue / ' the proper title of the Ode of Aristotle , existing in the mind oi the apostle , seems by association to have given birth to the clause , " if there be any virtue , if there be any praise ; " just as the phrases " the
Untitled Article
man of sin , the son of destruction w ( 2 Thess . ii . 3 , ) resulted from the title " Son of Man , " then present to his thoughts
It is a fact , then , not to be disputed that the apostle here alludes to Aris ^ totle , and that he is a preacher of Unitarianism in opposition to those who taught the divinity of Christ . The votaries of the orthodox faith in general , and Dr . Smith in particular are
deeply interested in this conclusion He will doubtless peruse my remarks with attention , and though , through the influence of early prejudice , he may remain insensible of their force
yet it gives me heart-felt pleasure to think that , however widely we may differ in opinion , I shall retain a share in the esteem and friendship of my amiable and enlightened opponent . But I must not conclude before I
make an observation worthy of notice . We here have before us the great philosopher of the Heathen world , and the great apostle of the Gentiles , placed side by side . And we see in this comparison what unenlightened reason , in its most exalted state of
cultivation and genius , could do to reform mankind without the aid of revelation . The enemies of the gospel shall themselves be judges whether the morality of Paul or the morality of Aristotle , if reduced to practice , would prove most beneficial to
society . Let the appeal be made to those who are ever ready to vilify this apostle . Let our Hunts , our Godwins and our Benthams , undoubted friends of their species , be asked which of the two they would , in their efforts to promote knowledge , freedom and an
enlightened spirit of legislation , themselves copy , or recommend to others as the safest model of their imitation ? Ignorance of the writings of Paul is the onl y cause of the prej udices cherished against him by many well-disposed and otherwise enlightened men I JONES .
Untitled Article
The " Christian Remembrance ^ on the Unitarian Marriage-Bill-HT 1 HE question of the continued JL compulsory subjection of Unitarians to the Trinitarian Marriage Service , so interesting to themselves , has attracted much public attention . l « Bill originally introduced into tne
Untitled Article
354 The " Christian Remembrancer" on the Unitarian Marriage-Bill
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1822, page 354, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2513/page/34/
-