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_ : Si u , dpril 1 st , 1824 , f | 1 O my remarks , ( p . 110 , ) per-JL haps rather too unceremoniously expressed , on the Rev . Mr . Cogan ' s paper on the evidences of Christianity , that gentleman has replied , in your
publication of this day , in a spirit of mildness and candour , which does him the highest honour , and which would greatly tend to increase , if that were possible , the respect with which his character is regarded by all who know him . I shall endeavour to foU
low his example , in the few observations I have to make on his reply . Mir * Cogan appears to treat with great scorn the supposition , that men unacquainted with the Christian
revelation , may believe in the unity and perfections of God , the doctrine of a universal Providence , and the future existence and immortality of man . He declares that he should not think
favourably either of the understanding or the modesty of the man who should venture to say so ; and he says , " If Mr . Sturch is disposed lo believe that they would have had the conviction of their truth which they now
have , had not their Jot been cast in a Christian land , I can only say , that he has my hearty consent . " Now , Sir , Mr . Cogan , who is much better acquainted with antiquity than I can be supposed to be , well knows , that all these doctrines have been believed
before the Christian revelation had any existence . He knows too , that the belief of a Deity and a future life , though always more or less disfigured and debased by superstition and absurdity , has been very general , I might say universal , in all ages . He knows that these doctrines were
believed by the heathen inhabitants of this island , in their rude and savage state ; and it is for Mr . Cogan to shew , which I think he will find it difficult to do , that they would not have been generally believed to this day , whether Christianity had been introduced or not . For my own part , I see no reason whatever to doubt
that they would ; and , probably , in a much improved state , bearing some proportion to the civilization of the country . But if by the words , " con * viction of their truth which they now have" Mr . Cogan means , the same clear , full > rational , and consistent in-
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formation on these subjects , that we derive from thd Christian reitelaftibiij I beg team t&r assure him that no such supposition ever entered into my tnind . For although I have ad dottbs whatever , that the light of nature
opens to mankind in general the prospect of futurity $ yet , I believe , that even to the strongest eyes , it must appear somewhat indistinct and imperfect ; and I , therefore , rejoice it * that splendid and glorious light , vvMeh the Christian revelation throws ovetf
the scene , and for which I can never be sufficiently thankful . Mr . Cdgan seems desirous of declining the task of pointing ovtt to us , in whose writings it is that the trttths of Natural Religion are spoken of as ** emblazoned in the heavens in cha ^
racters which ( ill can rCad , and none can misunderstand . " The only passage he quotes is from Locke * arid he thinks it will answer his purpose
tolerably well ; but , 1 confess , I think quite otherwise ; inasmuch as I can discover in it nothing more than the plain , simple position , that the light of nature is sufficient to convince
those who " set themselves to search , " that there is a God to whom obedience is due ; a position which , I presume , Mr . Cogan will not venture to deny , after having , in this very letter , oh which I am remarking , told Us , that he " readily concedes to the
advocates for Natural Religion , that the argument for the being of a God , is as conclusive as / teed be ; and that from the predominance of good which appears in his works , it is difficult not to conceive of him as benevolent " By the word God , I presume , he means a Creator and Governor of the
world ; and if this Creator and Govfcruof is also a kind and benevolent Benefactor , Mr . Cbgan will , doubtless , admit the Conclusion to be very na * tural , that obedience is due to him . In a note on this Quotation , Mr .
Cog&t * goes on to say , " Mr . Locked speaks of searching- for the truths of Natural Religion ; and I never sup- * pdfced any man to say , that they could b £ understood by those who would not take the trouble to learn
them . BHt that which is intelligible to all mankind , must be ver ^ y easy to understand" Now , from this position , I must beg leave to withhold my
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220 Mr . Sturch in Reply to Mr * KJogan , on Natural Religion *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1824, page 220, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2523/page/28/
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