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Untitled Article
ject of religion in general , and that it js hia earnest desire to shew , by a uniform attention to the subject , howsensible he is of the obligation which has been conferred upon him . From the preceding account the following conclusions will be admitted to be just .
In the first place , that this plan is well adapted to teach an accurate , connected and critical knowledge of the Scriptures . Secondly , that it is no less calculated to iinbue the mind with the principles , and the heart with the affections , which
it is the great design of the Christian religion to impart . The tendency of the business and the pleasures of life to weaken those principles , and to counteract the influence of those affections , has been felt and lamented
by every reflective and pious mind : but it is scarcely possible that in the earl y period of life , fand it is only by intelligent and ingenuous youth who have the wisdom to desire clearer and deeper information on the most important subjects , and ardour sufficient to enable them to make some
sacrifices to accomplish the best and noblest wish of their heart , that this plan can be expected to be adopted , ) it is scarcely possible that in the early period ot life , the mind should daily contemplate , with seriousness , for the
long space ot six years , the enlightened and pure and benevolent principles of Christianity without the happiest effect . It is scarcely possible that a human being should grow up under an influence so truly benignant , without his heart becoming enamoured of whatever is really excellent ;
without his having a clear and strong and instantaneous and unerring perception of whatever is great and good in feeling- and conduct ; without his having an unconquerable aversion to every thing that is base and selfish and servile . That such a man should always be found on the side of whatever is
humane in legislation , of whatever is free in political institutions , of whatever is pure in religion , is no more than that an effect should follow its cause . That he should ever be a slave , or a tyrant , or a bigot , or a persecutor , is no more possible than that the beam of the sun should cease to give Jforth light , or thau that a mind im-
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bued with the spirit bf JeixjLs Christ should be eapable of engaging v& war ^ or of giving its sanction to the infliction of death on an erring- fellowcreature . Perhaps it may not be improper to add , that there is an obvious and
important application of this ^ plan which entitles it to the peculiar attention of the Unitarian body . Many Unitarian congregations are incapable of supporting a minister in comfort ; but there is not one of these , however
poor , which does not possess too much knowledge and cultivation to be satisfied with the services of a religious instructor who is not a person of education . It is obvious , that by this
plan persons may be trained to fill such stations with perfect ease to themselves , without at all interfering with their ordinary occupations , and with exceeding satisfaction and advantage to the church .
And it is probable that nothing will ever be devised better calculated to train up missionaries , to give them the information , and to form them to the habits which are necessary to enable them to perform the duties of their office with ability and zeal .
There are many and great advantages in the institution of a separate order of men for conducting the public services of religion . It is on every account highly proper that such
persons should have that regular and thorough education , that deep and accurate learning , and that clearness , elegance and eloquence of style , which will render their services attractive to
men of literature and science , and qualify them to defend with success the cause of religion and truth , both against those who disbelieve and who misbelieve . But so rare are these
endowments , and so much time and labour does it require to mature them , that , under institutions the best adapted to develope the faculties , and with the dedication of the whole of life to
their cultivation , there are comparatively few who possess them in great perfection : it is , therefore , scarcely reasonable to expect tliat they would exist at all were that time ana labour considerabl y abridged . But while the value of men thus gifted , must be admitted , it is difficult either to understand the principle , ot
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424 77 te Nonconformist . No . XXV
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1822, page 424, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2514/page/32/
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