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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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Untitled Article
revealed is to us the same as a nonentity , atfd will xeuaain so for ever until it is revealed ; and that which is revealed pn whatever manner ] ena ~ bles us , agreeabl y to the apostle's exhortation , to give a reason of the hope that is in us to honest inquirers .
* l also assert that we ought to bring all doctrines whether written qr verbal , to the test of the spirit of truth in our own naiads , as the only sure director relative to the things of God . Otherwise , v ^ hy is a manifestation of the spirit [ the voice of conscience ]
given to every man if it is not to profit by ? And if the Scriptures are above the spirit and a more certain test of doctrines , why is the Spirit given , seeing it is useless ? But this doctrine that the Scriptures are the
only rule of faith and practice [ independent of the vaice of conscience , that c Right reason , given unto all , constant and eternal , calling unto duty by , commanding and deterring from deceit by forbidding—that is , one ,
eternal , and the same to all nationswhoso obeys it not , must ilee from himself , and in this is greatly tormented , although he should escape all other punishments ] is a fundamental error , and is manifested to be
so by the Scriptures themselves , and also by our primitive Friends' writings . I have not said more than Robert Barclay and many others of our predecessors , respecting the errors in our English translation of the Bible . To make me erroneous for saying that
the gospel handed to us was no more authentic than many other writings , surely a person that did not assent to this must be ignorant indeed . Are not the writing's of our primitive Friends as authentic as any book or writing , and especially such as were
written so many centuries ago , the originals of which have been lost many hundred years ? And are not the histories of passing * events written by candid men of the present age , which thousands know to be true , as authentic as the Bible ?
" As to the manner of our coming into the world in our infant state , it is my belief that we come into the world in the same state of innocence and endowed with the same propensities and desires that our first parents were in their primeval state } and this Jesus Christ has established , and must be
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conclusive m the minds of all true helievears , wheu ; he itook a little child in his arms and blessed him , and said to them around him , that except they were converted , and became as that little child , they should in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven . Of course all the desires an £ propensities of that little child , and of our first
parents in their primeval state , must have been . good , as they were all the endowments af their Creator , and given to them for a . special and useful purpose - but it is the improper and unlawful indulgence of them that is evil .
" I readily acknowledge that I have not been able to see or understand how the cruel persecution and crucifixion of Jesus Christ by the wicked and hard-hearted Jews should expiate iny sins and I never Jhave kfiown any
thing to effect ithat for me , but the grace of God , that tought me , agreeably to the apostte ' s doctrine , to deny all ungodliness and the world ' s lusts , and to live soberly , righteousl y * and godly , in this present world .
" And as I have faithfully abode under its teachings in full obedience thereto , I have been brought to believe that my sins were forgiven , and I permitted to sit under the Lord ' s teaching , as saith the prophet , that the
children of the Lord are all taught of the Lord , and in righteousness they are established , and ^ great is the peace of his children ; and so long as I feel this peace , there is nothing in this world that makes me afraid , as it
respects my eternal condition , " But if any of my Friends have received anyJuiewn benefit from apy outward sacrifice , I do not envy them their privilege ; but surely they would not be willing that J should acknowledge as a truth , that which I have no
kind of knowledge of , I am willing to admit that Divine Mercy is no doubt watching over his rational creation for their good , and may secretly work at times for their preservation - , but if in his infinite wisdom and goodness , he sees meet to hide it from us ^
as most consistent with his wisdom and our good , let us have a care that we do not , in the pride of our hearts , undertake to pry into his secret counsels , lest we offend , but be content with what he is pleased to reveal to -us , let it be mvxc or less 5 and es-
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212 Letter from £ lias Micks 10 > JOr . dtlee .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1825, page 212, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2535/page/20/
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