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the Ancient Jewish Church against the Unitarians /* of their persuasion \ hat it was a death-blow to UnitariaaisDi ; and , without giving even a hint of his own opinion on the subject ,
he expresses his desire of receiving aid and information from every quarter , in his searches after truth . Hence Archdeacon Wrangham would infer , that in Locke ' s opinion , Allix had really succeeded in his attempt . Let us hear Mr . Wellbeloved , in answer :
" Because some thought that the cause of the Unitarians was lost , that all their arguments were overthrown , and orthodoxy firmly established , are we to conclude that Mr . Locke thought so ? He does not give even a hint to his learned
correspondent of his own opinion on the subject . How , indeed , could he , when he had formed no opinion ; not having been able , a 3 he says , though he had bought the work © f Allix as soon a § it appeared , to find either health or leisure to read it ?
This important fact , which is stated in the sentence immediately preceding that which you have quoted , you have not noticed . Permit me to supply this defect . 6 Allixii librum quam primum prodiit
coemi ammo legendi , sed otiose hactenus prae manibus jacuit , necdum sive per valetudinem sive per alias avocationes legere Hcuit , spero propediem pinguius et fructuosius otium . Quid de eo audias
interim mihi dicas . Quidam apud nos , ' * &c . From this passage , therefore , your cause derives no aid . " Nor from the omission of such a passage does the present advocate of
that cause derive any honour . The inadvertency ( and inadvertency we must take it to be ) is not a little censurable . We rejoice that the defect has been so well supplied by Mr . Wellbeloved . —Pp . 14—20 .
The question , if we are still to call it a question , respecting the theological creed of Dr . Watts , towards the end of his life , is accurately canvassed in this part of the first of the " Three Letters . " We are highly pleased with the author ' s notice of the article on
this most excellent man in the General Biographical Dictionary . For the valid reasons which , he assigns , he hesitates in submitting to the lale Dr . Aikin as an umpire in the dispute . The memory of that deeply-regretted individual will not cease to be honoured for his very estimable and
* Familiar Letters , ( 1708 , ) p . 457 .
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amiable qualities as a man : nor can he be forgotten as an eminently pleasing and instructive writer , in the class of miscellaneous literature .
Theological works , however , were not at all according to his taste : and it is doubtful whether he had a competent acquaintance with those of Watts . Dr . Lardner , on the other hand , not only had the best means of information
concerning what Mr . Wellbeloved cor * rectly states as being something beyond < c a matter of mere opinion , ' * but possessed , moreover , exactly the habits and attainments winch qualified him for judging of the fact : and his testimony is , that Watts ' s last thoughts were completely Unitarian . —Pp . 20—30 .
" I am not aware , " remarks the writer of the €€ Three Letters /' c < that Watson , Paley , and Sir William Jones , have been generally , or with any degree of confidence , claimed by us . " To such a claim we also are strangers . Mr . Wellbeloved' s observations on
some of the productions of Watson and of Paley , and on the sentiments of Dr . Wallis , and of other modal Trinitarians , well deserve the regard of the reader for their correctness , strength and pertinency . Addressing the Archdeacon of Cleveland , he says ,
" I do not wonder that you dislike to be reminded of the ever-memorable coutest at the end of the 17 th century : — yet the evident irritation under which you exclaim , ' Why am I to be harassed with the squabbles of South and Sherlock ?* does not well accord with the dignity of
your station and character . The controversy of which you have spoken thus contemptuously , was carried on by some of the most eminent divines of your church ; by whom it was regarded as of high importance : and by its termination the character of your church was deeply affected , " &a—Pp . 30—34 .
The cases of the late Rev * Robert Robinson and of Dr . Whitby are next considered by our author , who completely refutes the erroneous
assertions of his opponent concerning them , together with his disgraceful mistake in respect of the theological faith and profession of Gagneius . —Pp . 34—38 . The second of the " Three Letters "
is now to pass under our review . In this the writer meets the more serious attacks of his antagonist . Against Unitarian Christians the
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Review *—Wellbeloveds Letters to Archdeacon Wrangham , 30
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1825, page 39, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2532/page/39/
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