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ltelit " &c . &c . Dr . Smith ' s quotation ' from the Refuge itself is not much more fascinating than these vindictive representations . Is there nothing apparently of a dangerous tendency in that paragraph , which places the most hardened sinner and the most virtuous saint on a perfect level in the sight of God ?
Dr . Smith ' s defence of some of his friends by name is pitiably lame . He would better have let them alone-Why devote separate sections in such a formal manner to ' * ( 1 . ) M . Em ~ pmjtaz , " to "( 4 . ) Henry
Drumntond , Esq . " and to others , if , after talking and conjecturing about and al ) out them , he leaves them just where tliey were found under the load of M . Chenevikre ' s charges ? This is a poor way of backing , one ' s
friends-In p . 470 , where Dr . Smith quotes a sentence from M- Cheneviere , on the insufficiency of good works to procure salvation , is a striking instance how nearly the most opposite
sects approach each other , and how easily they might agree in general speculative principles and their consequent results , if sectarian jealousy and alarm did not interfere to drive
them widely asunder . " The substitute for despised Calvinism has proved its insufficiency to stem the torrent of moral corruption . " First , we have a right to suspect in some of this moral corruption , a legitimate consequence of the ancient unnatural Calvinism . Second , the
substitute for despised Calvinism , if not able to stem the existent torrent of corruption , may have prevented it from merging more than it has into the broad and overwhelming * flood with which other parts of the continent have heen deluged . Third , what perplexing i 7 iconsistency the above proposition introduces into the circle of Dr . Smith's own ideas 1 Uiritarianism he all along represents a $ the identical instrument by which
this torrent of moral corruption was necessarily and naturally let in upon Geneva . Of course , how could it , ^ 'hik letting- in the torrent , have any sufficiency to stem the self-same flood ?
Oa the whole , it 13 not to be regretted , that this buz has been excited about the Geneveae Unitarians . we cannot doubt that it will do them
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good . It is a most blessed thing in this world to fee able to count a few enemies , and to have one ' s pure mind stirred up , not only by way of remembrance , but by way of
annoyance . I hope that Calvinists and Trinitarians will never let us quite alone on this side of the grave . We are so good-natured , we have so much confidence in the great purposes of Providence , we have so much reliance
on the better things in human nature , we have seen such deplorable effects from over-heated zeal , that perhaps our tendencies lie too much towards coldness and apathy . The late efforts of meddling- travellers at Geneva , so far from giving Orthodoxy a large and 1
firm footingthere , will only cause Unitarianisrn in that and perhaps other quarters to look to itself , to repair some possible defects , which long security may have suffered to steal in , and ere long to shine forth with renovated beauty , excellence , and
power . Corrector , on Mr . fForsleyy must be answered by that gentleman himself . Review . Ben David ' s Reply . The Reviewer questions the policy of Dr . Jones ' s ({ fearless avowal of
Unitarianism . " At this I humbly demur . In the first place , Dr . Jones ' s Unitarianism is so completely interwoven into all his views and speculations ,
that how could he help avowing- it , in a work of this kind , even had he attempted its concealment ? Next , there is some " good policy" in contributing such additional reputation to the cause of Unitarian ism as works of
this description are adapted to effect . And lastly , if there be any strength ia the arguments advanced by Dr . Jones in defence of Christianity , perhaps they would gain as much force of influence by coming" from the unexpected quarter of Unitarianisrn , as they would lose by their alarming connexion with it .
If the Reviewer will carefully look over the first extract he has taken from Ben David , I think he will find nothing which will make him particularly demur to the statement quoted from p
5 , respecting the immortality of the soul . Ben David , I presume , alludes to the popular , metaphysical dogma of the inherent , essential immortality of the soul , which our Saviour cer-
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Critical Synopsis of the Monthly Repository for August , 1824 . 463
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1825, page 463, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2539/page/11/
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