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Mr . E . Cogan on Ei&hop Burgess ' s Uncharitableness * Exactly to the point . G . B . W . on the Papers of
Philadelphtts . An acute and sensible writer- How will the logical skill of Philadelphia enable him to elude the corner into which his mild opponent has here fastened him with several
pins } The high , solemn and rational strain , which marks the last half of this communication , expresses , though in a far better manner , several sentiments , which I have occasionally tried to urge upon your letter-writer , " The Unitarian . "
Ancient Use of the Word Worship . A good point of criticism is here made to bear on a subject , which , as much as any other that can be named , contributes to retaining the belief of the Trinity in the popular mind . Let worship be exchanged in our translation for reverencey Lord for Sir or
Master , and a few more such terms be replaced in a similar manner , whenever it is strictly and grammatically proper so to do , and what a mighty subsidiary aid would be torn away from the imaginations of the vulgar in favour of orthodoxy , to which she has now no sort of right , even if she be identical with the truth
itself ! Avast majority , I fear , even of the most candid Trinitarians , who possess learning and intelligence , are guilty of no little subterfuge , in slily permitting the accidental influence of such mistranslations to exert an unwarrantable effect over their ignorant followers .
A Calvinist has my full sympathy in his remarks on the Satiric Fragment . But without pretending to the adequate character of that " equitable censor , " who , a Calvinist says , is wanting in the pages of the Repository , I must aver , that his
expostulations with Mr . Worsley do not appear to be well-founded . If moral inability signify nothing more than disinclination , why persist in using a term so constantly liable to be misapprehended and misused by carping adversaries ?
Be assured , this Calvinist deceives himself . A great portion of his party mean much more by moral inability than disinclination , notwithstanding a few of them , when pushed up to consequences , or desirous of defending- a favourite system by mere verbal inge-
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nuity , contrive to explain away its offensive peculiarities . No * There is something * congenial with the Calvinistic system in the sterner literal notion or moral inability , which its advocates at large inculcate . It is of a
piece with all those other huge , unnatural , astounding doctrines , at winch reason stands aghast , but which the general desire after € t aliquid irnmensum et infinitum , " causes to be quietly
swallowed down by a childish faith and a dazzled imagination . Likef the doctrines of the Trinity and orthodox atonement , there is an imposing mystery and magnitude in the thing . There is a sweet consciousness of
distinction , and a sweeter sense of sanctified merit , in being able to prevail upon one ' s mind to yield assent to impossible propositions , which the world in general refuse to receive . Disinclination , forsooth ! If
alhevangehcal preachers would but use this very smooth , soft and inoffensive term , and would only tell their sinful hearers , that they have no inclination to serve God , &c , wherein would they differ from Arminians and Unitarians ?
If Dr . J . P . Smith ' s authority is to be relied on , it was by such conceivable , such insidious explanations , that the Ostervalds and the later Turretins frittered away the whole rough form
of ancient Calvinism , and reduced thr centre of Europe to a hideous moral darkness exactly proportioned to the clearness with which religious subjects are contemplated .
EfcT « foj $ on the Unita ? ian Scheme of Atonement . I will contribute my feeble answers to this Inquirer according to the order of his interrogatories . 1 . Unitarians regard the death of Christ as an evil , ordained or permitted to bring about , by its indirect
effects , an infinitely greater good . Hence , there is no " injustice" in this disposition of Providence , on the long scale , particularly when we remember the "joy which was set bef ore" Christ , and the vast preponderating rewards which he himself obtained for his obedience . Whereas ,
this writer allows , and with propriety too , that the orthodox view of Christ ' s death is " directly opposed to all ideas of justice . " Moreover , is there not a difference , not only in " degree , " but in essence , between God ' s
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546 Critical Synopsis of the Monthly Repository for September , 1824 .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1825, page 546, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2540/page/32/
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