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difference of opinions between Christians , but with the introduction of Deists into our assemblies , that he would interfere ; it is those who disbelieve in the evidences of Christianity ,
and yet join in our Christian worship , whom he would exclude from amongst us , as hypocritical in their conduct , and disgraceful to our community . Let us consider the circumstances
before we reject them . Here are a number of persons who believe in God , in his attributes of wisdom , goodness and love , who are desirous of worshiping him and obeying" him , many of whom study his attributes as revealed in the New Testament , and profess to take the moral precepts of our Saviour as the guide of their lives , but they disbelieve , or cannot view in the same
light we do , the evidences of Christianity , and above all , the miracles . I say , they cannot believe them , because there is no doubt , as most of them are sincere and virtuous persons , they would be glad to have their minds settledand their anxietv relieved on settledand their anxiety relieved on
, , these points ; we may , perhaps , also , without conceding too much , take it for granted , that some of them are desirous to hear these difficulties discussed , and to have farther opportunities of considering their principles or rectifying their opinions ; they ,
therefore , join our worship as less opposed to their own views than any other ; they feel that they have the same practical duties to perform that we have , the same temptations to resist , the same God to serve : the
benevolent and amiable light in which we contemplate the Deity , coincides with their natural convictions , and they come to us to seek moral strength for their virtue , and his guidance and blessing on their endeavours to improve . Will it be wise , will it be benevolent in us to exclude them from .
perhaps , the only opportunity they have of gaining these advantages , and of hearing the truth as it is in Jesus ? Will it be a proof of wisdom , instead of preaching to those who require to
be convinced , to confine our instruction to those alone who need no enlightening , whose principles have long been confirmed ? If we may possibly be the means of giving farther light or comfort to but one fellow-creature , shall we close our doors on the oppor-
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tunity ; or , even should this not be the case , shall we refuse to any one the liberty of worshiping God as he pleases ? Mr . Jones says he shall be told " we cannot prevent any person ,
whatever may be his principles , from uniting in our worship / ' Is he sincere ? Is he conscientious ? Why should we prevent him ? Do we not believe that if virtuous and true to his
convictions , whatever those are , he will be acceptable to his Maker no \ v % and the heir of eternal life hereafter ? May he not very possibly be our companion in future , and shall we shun him as a disgrace to us in this life ? We do
not worship our Saviour ; then , why cannot we join our worship with the worshiper of the same Deity ? Were not the divine mission of our Saviour , his life , his death , his sufferings , his resurrection , his precepts , all designed to lead us to God , all evidences- of his
power , all proots of his love ? Did he ever teach us to rest in himself as an object of adoration ? Did he ever permit us to despise our fellow-beings ? Was not our Saviour himself
the companion of publicans and sinners and unbelievers , and shall we be following his example , or acting upon his spirit , when we say to our brethren , for an involuntary difference of opinion , " Stand aside , for we are holier
than you" ? No , the spirit of Christianity is an enlarged , a benevolent spirit , which fears no imaginary contamination , and can extend the right hand of fellowship to every sincere and virtuous man , believer or unbeliever , and will not cut off from its
sympathy and compassionate attentions , even the profligate and the wretched . Let us then set the example of a true , an universal toleration —let us receive every one of every denomination to our churches , however dark in faith , however miserable in
unbelief , however bigoted in opinion . It has been said , ' * Him that is weak in the faith receive ye , * ' and we must first abjure our own best and most sacred principles before we can
attempt to cast them out . It may be painful to have aspersions on our reputation , or disagreeable to some to be associated with sceptics , but is it not of far more consequence to approve ourselves to our own consciences and hearts , and to act kindly and lib <^
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Unbelievers in Unitarian Churches . 159
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1826, page 159, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2546/page/31/
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