On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
largitigott particular topics . Th ^ se may ; be ap 0 i ^ 4 to with profit * if their authors ; be men of liberal sentiments , and not servilely 4 evoted to any particular sect or denomination . Of this class are some of the most distinguisl ^ ed authora in our language , and most eminent philosophers
of modern times , neither influenced by sectarian prejudices , nor fettered by professional trammels- There are some men of this character in almost every church ; men who , from principle , prejudice or interest , adhere to its forms and doctrines
in general , but keep themselves , at liberty to exercise the right of private judgment on particular questions * These authors , though justly chargeable with some degree of insincerity by their respective churches , and of timidity by more resolute Christians , are , upon the whole , among the safest guides . —P » 53 *
That the reader may not hence suppose that Dr . Bruce recommends absolute religious indifference , or palliates insincerity in divines , we feel it a duty to quote , and have great pleasure ill quoting , the following sentences , worthy of one who holds that the Bible only is the religion of Protestants :
c < Much less can you expect a candid opinion on controverted questions from one , who , in his youth , has solemnly engaged not to deviate from some human Creed , or has bound himself by subscriptions to maintain certain articles and confessions of faithu " - * -P . 54 .
" Many would esteem it a sm to be seen in any church different from their own ; and an abomination to read a book written by one of an opposite persuasion : so that implicit faith is no
longer the peculiar characteristic of the Romish communion . It is equally prevalent among Protestants of this description ; and renders them equally invulnerable to reason , and inaccessible to argument . "—Pp . 55 , 56 .
" If there be any thing that you cannot comprehend , don ' t pretend to comprehend it , nor talk unintelligibly , to keep up a character for knowledge or orthodoxy ; but frankly and candidly contess tha , t yon do not understand it , and will leave it among those secret things which God has reserved to himself . "P . 57 .
Dr . Bruce delivers some good counsel ( Ser . IV . ) on Mysteries . We wish lie had defined more exactly the scrip , tfUral sense of the word : he appears to fluctuate between the popular and * he trw sense , A mystery in , the New
Untitled Article
Testament is a secret truth * i * e . $ truth ones secret * feufc now divulged . Do the Evangelical writers ever speak ; of any mysteries but such as are I at length revealed ? The preacher makes a distinction
between the importance of certain , truths and the importance of pur . knowing them ; a distinction which , however just , will form , we fear , a line of demarcation between him and , many of his Presbyterian brethren , itt ; Ireland .
" Our creation and redemption are the most important of all events to us ; but both took place without our knowing anything about their origin and cause . We have , nevertheless , enjoyed all the
advantages of existence , without having any knowledge of the mode of our creation ; and we enjoy the blessings of redemption , without having any idea of the eternal counsels of the Divine mind /
—Pp . 73 , 74 . " The world could not exist for a moment without gravitation ; nor living creatures , without a peculiar composition of the atmosphere ; but , it is evident , that the structure of the universe
and the continuance of animal life , do not depend upon our knowledge of the atmosphere and gravitation . In like manner , the process of our salvation depended on certain determinations of the Divine mind , and perhaps on the peculiar nature and character of the Messiah ; but
certainly not on our knowledge of the Divine decrees , nor of the pre-existent nature of our Lord . "—Pp . 74 , 75 . In the Sermon ( V . ) on our Saviour ' s Doctrine concerning God , Dr-Bruce states explicitly , but with laudable candour , his peculiar Christian views . He doubts the existence at any time
of positive Atheism , and suggests very charitably that some may have fallen under the suspicion of it , for having more enlightened views on the subject than their contemporaries . ( P . 84 . ) He says that our Lord represents
the Almighty " as essentially and individually One ; one person , one nature and essence , with one will ; spiritual and invisible ; selfrexistent and almighty ; infinitely wise , bene * volent and merciful / 7 ( F . 88 . )
He concludes from Christfs discourses , that " any interpretations of Scripture , which represent the Father of a ) l , as cruel and unjust , arbitrary ^ and partial , must . fee erroneous , highly *
Untitled Article
Review >^ Brvce * $ $ ermom on the Stfycl y- qf the Bible * \ % I
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1825, page 171, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2534/page/43/
-