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tarians , to describe the professors of that system . - ** The employ ing of the term Socintan instead of that of Unitarian , was no * intended as a * eoW sneer , ' but because I do not consider the latter
term as ti feir one . I w ^ ll know the modern Socimaas strongly object to it , and have agreed to designate themselves Unitariaas , and that simply on account of their worshiping one God ; hut it is aot in that article of their
creed that they can be allowed to be distinguished from other professors of Christianity , unless it can be proved that the latter profess to worship a plurality of Gods . Mr . Aspland knows that Trinitarians profess also to be
Unitarians ; they , in common with their ' opponents , believe that there is but one God . To give Socinians then this name exclusively , would be to grant them the very point which they Seem desirous to assume ^ that is to say , the point in debate .
" But Mr . Aspland and his friends , frfrseotu , are not Socinianfc , because they do not imitate Socinus in paying divine worship tx > J ^« us Christ : to > do this , he says , would be ' Christian idolatry / It seems * then , that calling
thejm Socimans is to deprive them of the hondnr of having thus improved Upon the system of Socinus , and to giv £ them mfcre credit than they are entitled to . Surely , Mr . Aspland might hare forgiven me this wrong I
" If , then , it is in future to be im > detetood , that by Unitarians are meant those professors of Christianity only ivtio consider the worship of Christ to bt Christian idolatry , and who are Contradistinguished from other Chris--tians , not us to their faith in a plural lity of divine persons in the unity of the Godhead , but as to their faith and
practice in worshiping Christ as God , I sh&H have no objection in using the term Unitarian instead of Socinian . The late Rev . Andrew Fuller has tolly Expressed nay sentiments and feelings upon this subject . * Dr .
Foulmin / Said he , * complains of my using the term Socimans , as being a term of reproach . For my own part , I would much rather call them by another name , if they would bat adopt a fair one . Let them take a name that 'does not assume the question in dispute , and 1 would no longer use th 6 tftrtti- Socinfett /
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" 1 have , too , it appears , been crossly erroneous in saying' thirt Bam Mobun Roy is still a Pagan , and with having violated the consistency of my character as a Christian Pastor , in not expressing warm congratulations on seeing an idolater of eminence and influence reclaimed to pure Theism .
* It is highly probable that I should differ from Mr . Aspland in stating what was essential in order to an idolater ' s becoming a Christian . To s&y the least , I mn of opinion that lie
ought not only to renounce the worship of idols , but that he should de ~ clare himself a disciple of Jesus Christ ; that he should profess his faith in the divine mission of Christ
as a teacher sent from God to declare his Father ' s will to mankind ; that he died , and rose again , and is gone into Heaven ; and that he will come again to judge the world in righteousness , &c . &c . Mr . Aspland has produced no evidence that Ram Mo him Roy has avowed his faith even in these
doctrines of Christianity . His having published 'the pure precepts of Jesus alone / whilst he has reviled the miracles of the gospel , is surely no decisive proof of his Christianity . If it were ^ the Roman Emperor also was f i Chris *
tian , because he was so delighted with ih § gospel precept , * Therefore , all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you , do ye even so to than / as to have had it engraven on the gates of his palace .
* ' Mr * Aspland asserts , indeed , thajt Ham Mohun Roy is a ' pure Theist / that while his countrymen are worshiping € Gods many , and Lord © many , ' he worships one God only . But then the one God whom he pror fesses to worship is not , if I have understood rightly , Jehovah , the God of Israel , the Creator &nd Governor
of the world , but some undefined Being whom the Hindoos call , ' the Great Spirit * the Soul of the Universe / " If , then , a man ' s avowing himself to be a believer in one God , without
any reference to that revelation by which only he can be known , or to the state of hearf ; by which it is hej <} , pnd whilst rejecting Christ as the Saviour of the world , constitutes i ^ i na % phjjif ^ tian , Mr . Aspland may finjd otberft , who Mve hitherto b ^ u k cpn 8 > idere 4 * is beyond the pale of the ChristoW
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686 Free Presf and UnUarianism in India .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1822, page 686, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2518/page/30/
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