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allowed htm , in reading the " Vindication" of your predecessor . Though a man on the borders of seventy , his opinions have been completely changed within the last ten years ; and though his conduct upon that occasion , therefore , was what I had reason to expect , yet I must confess that I was not a little surprised when he told me that he had received the book from another
man of equal age with himself , who , though a constant hearer of mine , I did not at all suspect as engaged in such speculations . ' When such things , ' to alter our Saviour ' s expression , * are done in the dry tree , what will be done in the green ?' €
S Though I have not the least doubt of the ultimate triumph of Truth , yet I must confess , that I have often sincerely lamented that her friends have sometimes thought themselves called upon to admit principles which I am
convinced her cause did not require , and which have given too much advantage to her enemies . Amongst them I am forced to reckon Dr . Priestley . Never man , perhaps , entered upon the investigation of truth with greater ardour , or with a more sincere wish
to advance her interests ; but I must regret that he thought it necessary , in order to defend hjs opinions , to speak so doubtfully , at least , as he did speak , of the inspiration of Scripture , and especiall y ^ of the justness of St . Paul ' s reasonings . Will you believe me when I say , that were I to attempt
to level the whole fabric of superstition in the dust , I would " draw ray strongest arguments from St . Paul ' s writings , and what is more , from his Epistles to the Romans and Galatians , which have been the strong bulwarks of orthodoxy > I am happy to say , liowever , that Mr . Yates , and many other Unitarians , are illustrious
examples of a conduct very different . Indeed , I am convinced that when once the Scriptures are properly understood , the friends of truth will find them in every instance perfectly consistent with reason and common sense .
" I am not ignorant that no man has a right to set up his own opinions as a standard for others , nor to suppose that circumstances which press strongly upon his own mind , will have the same weight upon the minds of nU $ yet , if it were allowed us to judge from our own feelings , I would not
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hesitate to assert , that the great hiaderance to the . complete reception of truth , is the seeming foundation which those opinions which are ^ called the peculiar doctrines of Christianity , have in the language of Scripture .
Notwithstanding alt that learning and abilities have done- —and they have done much— -yet I must confess that no explanation of Original Sin , which throws its baneful shade over the wide surface
of revelation , has yet been given which divests that subject of absurdity and contradiction , or which in a satisfactory manner explains all the phenomena of the word of God . Even Taylor ' s hypothesis , though in many
respects a work of extraordinary merit , appears to me to labour under insuperable difficulties . I am convinced , that if ever that subject be properly elucidated—and I tliink it may be elucidated—the abettors of revelation
will be able not merely to defend it as a doctrine that may be reconciled with reason and common sense , but to bring it forward as a strong proof of Scripture itself . The same observations are applicable to the Atonement . Till a more rational account than any
which we have of the Jewish economy , and especially of sacrifices , is given , I fear much that the orthodox doctrine of the Atonement , notwithstanding all its absurdity , will maintain its ground . Nay , what is more , I suspect much
the Armiman statement of Justification is almost as absurd , though certainl y not so dangerous to morality , as the orthodox statements ; and will you pardon me when I say , that the account which the Unitarians give of that doctrine in some scattered notices
subjoined to their excellent translation of the New Testament , tends not to throw much light upon the subject ? ** I confess it is much easier to shew the weakness of another ' s system , than to establish a better , or rather to establish another altogether free from objections ; and hence , I imagine , that whilst the orthodox doctrines have
been repeatedly proved to be altogether untenable , the real doctrines of Scripture , except the unity of God , have hot yet been exhibited in all their native beauty tod majesty . Yop will , perhaps , impute all this to vanity—it you do , I mil not say , that in your present circumstances fQUi have great reason to impute it to any % f £ ug & **>
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Q& 2 Letters frort the hate Rev . James NicoX
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1822, page 592, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2517/page/8/
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