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paring notes , they could unite in their purely logical maxims , they must still become reconciled in matters of feeling , before they can move onward together in a harmonious agreement . Is not this , after all , the secret of most protracted religious disputes , and of the little success resulting from continued discussion ? This Calvinist
is in his very nature tremulous , gloomy , melancholy . Fear is the element of his soul . The Unitarian , on the contrary , is joyous , confident ,
daring * Now it is not possible to prevent these prevailing * hiasses from affecting their respective interpretations of scripture and views of God ' s character . There is too much lamentable truth in the following maxim
of the Calvinist ; " As respects spiritual affections and desires , I cannot see how it is possible that the two sects can harmonize . " The influence of this very cause will prevent them also from harmonizing in their speculative views .
Before dismissing this paper , I must quote two impressive remarks from the Unitarian , which struck my mind with much force , and are worthy of no little deep and candid rumination on the part of Calvinists . I . ci No ttian is against reason , until he finds reason against him . "
2 . " flie experiment of the doctrine of never-ending punishment has been tried for ages , and has left men as hardened and as dissolute as ever . " Is not this last a bold assertion ? Cantabrigiensis is a keen re marker
enough . Biographical Notice of Beauharnois . One ought not to quarrel with an interesting and well-written paper wherever it is found . But 1 could not help inquiring , while reading the present biography , how came it here I Perhaps the Monthly Repository has identified the cause of Napoleon and his adherents with that of general liberality , if so , it would be a good reason for the insertion of this paper ,
though the previous question , in my mind , remains yet to be settled , whether such identification be in all respects ccrrect . This , Mr . Editor , might constitute a fair topic for yourself and correspondents to discuss . Dr . ?/ . L * . Smith in reply to Professor ( Jheneviere . I have been considerably interested by this communi-
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cation . Some of the statements and arguments are strong and very well pushed , though others are as feeble as water . There is much truth and good sense in the following re » mark : " A very small measure of the most rational zeal in the infinite concerns of religion is sufficient to stamp a person an enthusiast , in the opinion of many who would admire a far more impassioned enthusiast for music , the drama , or the dance . " The extract which Dr . Smith quotes from a private journal is rather unfortunate for him . I should suppose the last paragraph would be taken in a court of justice as pretty good evidence in favour of M . Chenevifcre ' s suspicion of a concerted movement " to evangelize Geneva and its vicinity . The coincidence , at any rate , is very remarkable between the projects suggested in that paragraph , and the events which have subsequently taken place in Geneva .
A great defect in Dr . Smith ' s reasoning is , that he frequently forgets that he is pleading before a liberal public , rather than an audience of sympathising , prejudiced Calvinists . His conclusions , even when right , seem to be accidental , and not to spring from broad , well-grounded principles . Sometimes I know not whether it is
art or simplicity which causes him to assume , with quite an off-hand assurance , the unquestionable and unquestioned truth and correctness of the whole apparatus of Calvinistic doctrines and feelings . The same
fault is to be detected in many positions of the " Calvinist" above-mentioned , who carries on the correspondence with your " Unitarian / ' Who but a Calvinist would be impressed with the extract from the journal
before alluded to ? Why every body supposes that members of that denomination would find infinite fault with the state of things in Geneva . And what a mighty dust has Dr . Smiti * raised , what foul-mouthed lan £ uaj ? o has he poured forth at M . Chenevifere ' a
representation of the impressions produced on his mind by some statements in " The Refuge" ! See him foam " His heart must be hardened beyond even a very high degree of moral callousness . To such a heart , falsehood must be food , and the most outrageous calumnies a congenial <•« -
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462 Critical Synopsis of the Monthly Repository for August , 1824 .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1825, page 462, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2539/page/10/
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