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Untitled Article
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Untitled Article
discourses as irreligious and an eii&jny to Christ , and who endeavours to destroy his respectability and influence in societyl I say such a man is a persecutor , whether he have or have not the temporal power to punish those whom he defames . "
Here I would respectfully suggest to my opponent , that he confounds two things which are essentially different ; religious toleration ( I would rather say religious freedom ) and religions approval . I trust lliat no
attentive rg&der of my former letters can fail to have perceived that I have always kept in view this vital distinction . The former , no human being has aright-over his fellow-man , either to give or to withhold . The latter cannot be exercised without a
similarity of sentiments and practice on the principal points of religion . I trust that Mr . B . admits the divine authority of the Ohristian Scriptures . He-must , then , believe that there are some doctrines essential to the Christian faith , and some states of mind and conduct essential to Christian
practice . It inevitably follows , that a person who rejects those essential parts , cannot be regarded as really a Christian ; " and to him the numerous passages must apply which speak to this effect : " He that believeth not is condemned , —he shall not see life , — the wrath of God ahideth . bn him . '
Undoubtedly , Sir , many of your readers look upon me as an idolater , setting up other gods besides the Only Jehovah ; because I believe in the Deity of the Saviour and of the Sanctifier . Now the Scriptures
uniionnly represent idolatry as among the most dreadful of crimes against God , and declare in the strongest terms that no idolater can be saved . But if any persons should apply this inference to ine and other
Trinitarians , would they , in so doing , violate the rights of religious liberty ; or could 1 charge them with indulging a spirit of intolerance and persecution ? —Most assuredly not . —Neither is M . iVlalan or any other man to be called intolerant , because his studious and
serious convictions compel him to profess his most solemn persuasion that to reject the Divine Person , the Atoning Sacrifice , and the Influential (¦ race of Jesus our Redeemer , is to rut the cable of human hope j and
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that those who pfeacli any other" way of satvettion for the sinfal children m men , are themselves deluded , &ritf tie the awful instruments of deliifctoii to others . It is for ever impossible that persons holding these opposite views ^ upon the most-interesting and awful
of subjects , / can regard each other with religious ' - approval : and , if tfctey be hpnfest men , they will urge ; their respective arguments and vrarnings vvith the utmost zeal aiid earnestiiess . But does their so doing involve a » y
violation of the rights of citizens and the courtesies of society ? Does it entitle either of the parties to charge the other with a persecuting spirit ? Every man of sound discernment will sav \ No .
I may here , in passing , notice a very common error , into which the language of Mr . B . makes it appear that he has unconsciously fallen . This is , supposing that the orthodox ( I use the name for distinction ) hold the theoretical belief of a certain creed
to be a sure title to salvation . A most erroneous imputation . Our position is , that the sincere and heartfelt belief of the few plain and essential doctrines of the gospel will ahvays be productive of such a holy condition of the motives , affections , and
outward conduct , as constitutes what is usually and very properly called the state of grace , that is , of favour and acceptance with God our righteous Judge . Every one must perceive the perfect opposition of the two notions .
To return : I readily admit that any person would be exceedingly blameable who should express the solemn conviction in any oth ^ r than the most serious , tender , and compassionate manner : and with sincere benevo-4 L A \ j ^ JL
-A * - ¦¦» \ - ^ J A . . A ^ - * ^ L A M . , 4 ^>^ ? W JL "V JL Jk ^ J J ^ A- ^ - ^ ^^ X ^ . S ^^ r" ^ mr ^^» ^^ w ^ - ~ lence , justice , kindness , and courtesy , towards those whom he is compelled to regard as ' * rejecting the counsel of d themselves d still
Goagainst : " an more criminal would he be , if he were to " depreciate the character of his neighbour , " " endeavour to destroy his respectability and influence 7
in society . ' But I am persuaded that Mr . B . writes from much ignorance of the sentiments , preaching , and character of M . Malan , to whom he repeatedly imputes this style of proceeding-. Notwithstanding his long residence at Geneva , I must 1 ) 6 " allowed to doubt whether he ever read ML
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1824, page 671, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2530/page/31/
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