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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Mr * Frend on a r $ G 0 M Notice of Mm in the British Critic . -Jfll
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'Patera Trinity k often considered % ® in opposition to the term Unity , whereas it is iiot m opposition to , but is a modificfttfein ol the tenaa
Uttily . Trinity is cteri ^ ed fro m a Latin wo * d , arnd c ^ ptfut&fed of two parts , oae expi ? e $ siv& of thme , the other of unity ; and if the Ii&lm word had been rendered tm-rumty , the m ** logy between the two terras would have been better expressed * la fon $ we often see the t&rm tri-une in the
compositions of the Triaitari&n seat , whose hymas are freqaeniiy addressed to the Trir'UUQ G # d .
The Tri-w 4 wmi 3 t ; . Chrteiiaas ae- < knowledge theur the unity of God . It is hot our part to cavil with them on that ground , fcet it be allowed on both sidejs that both acknowledge one God * , djaidit are therefore each to be denominated Unitarians : tlie o& $
bating contented with the plain term IMtariaii , fhe otiher modifying their term Unitarian by the addition of the syllable tri or three , which expresses in their apprehension a modification
of the Unity . Both parties agree that , throughout the Scripfcuves both of the Old aBdNewTtestaBaeoAs , iMieGod amhy is spoken of . We come then to their modification of unity , which they say consists of a God th $ Father , a God
the Sob * ami a God the Holy Ghos * , and the unity of these three persona constitutes only one God , denominated the Trinity . * --eU / pan this modification tliG whole discussion arises :
and it seeing not so difficult but that it might be settled by &ny man of common capacity . It beinff acknowledged by botk
parties that one God onty is spoken of in scripture , however , according fto the apprehension of one party , this one God may be modified imto three persons , named as abave j and it
bein ^ certain that Fathe r is re {) eated 4 y spoken of , but the terms God the hm \ aiwl God the Holy Ghost , and the word Trinity , aa : e never used , we Unitarians naturally ask , when ,
where and how they came to be introduced ^ Upon this subject we may safely assert , that thejr wetre not known till after the death w ( the latest of the apo&tlea . The tewns therefore are the inventions of rnea , unauthorized by ^» y revelatio n from G odi They are unseripturai terms . Men use them at tlieir own peril . God never required
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it from them , that he should be addressed under these terras ; and the worship of God under these terms , stands on no other fbotiag * than the worslup of the mother of God and of the saiats , according to the doctrine of a ver y great body of Christians .
This argument , plain as it fe will naturally be rejected by those who believe that there is an authority vested somewhere in m € a on articles of faith . But the Protestant , who is compelled in his own defence to appeal to the Scripteres as his only rule , must abide by them .
On the great and important question to whom we , who are Christians , are to offer tip our prayers , the Scifiptares , and the Scriptures only , etm decide . But in vain do we speak of the Scriptures if the readers of them are not sensible of the high
importance of the subject to themselves $ if they are not made sensible that it is no light matter to appear in the presence of God , whether in a public asw serably or in the p ^ rivaey of our closets . We aH acknowledge that there is a great Being , the Creator of the world , to whom the secrets of all hearts are
known . We all acknowledge that He has manifested his will to us by his hely prophets , and , lastly , by his Sob Jesus Christ , whom we all acknowledge to be our Lord . Gaa it be possible theji , that he should have left it
to the vain discussions of men in what manner or by what titles he should be addressed ? As he has solemnly declared that h& alone is God , and that no other person but himself should ; he prayed to , it must have a serious
effect lapon the minds of his worshipers when they offer up to hinri prayers , whether they do it in the manner which is pointed out in Che Scriptures , or in a manner introduced , loog after their publication , by the
authority or influence of fallible men . I could wish to impress this most deeply on the minds of our Unitarian brethren , both in their private discussions with tiur Trinitarian brethren , or in discourses delivered in their
churches . I have now had long experience on this subject - I have seen the futility of the endless discussions on the Trinity , of the folios upon folios , written on both sides , on this subject , and they . may continue to write and to dispute aa long as one
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1824, page 711, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2531/page/7/
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