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doing it in a manner so very libsrai and so very flattering * to frie . Aad permit me to assure you , that I reinaia with great truth , Sir , Your faithful and most obedient servant * DANl . PARKER COKE .
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that W&at is rfcvealed tfaft no lofcger remain secret But d ^ eS tMt cittdrhstaixee prove that the Christian relfcgioti contains no doctrine , and has revealed no facts too difficult to b& fully comprehended by the human mind ? In the usual acceptation of the word , mystery is intended to
signify what is either wholly or partially beyond the grasp of our intellectual powers ; and I must eertainty venture to affirm , that not merely in every metaphysical , but in every theological system are to be found articles of belief which are partially incomprehensible , from the creed of the supralapsarian Cahmist down to that of the
simple humanitarian . Without the slightest intention of shewing disrespect to his talents and labours , I may perhaps be permitted to remark of JDr . Priestley , that it would be difficult to point out any individual who , with so determined an opposition to the very semblance of mystery , united a belief of doctrines more irrecoiicileable with our ordinary apprehensions . In addition to the instance
stated in my last communication , ( pp . 3—5 , ) I might cite some of the opinions entertained by that indefatigable writer ^ as expressed in the preface to his ' * Institutes of Natural and Revealed Religion /* But inconsistency ,
I apprehend , prevails among those who consider themselves tnost exempt from prejudice and error in nearly the same degfee as among other classes ; and it must , at all events ^ be regarded as a failing , which it is more easy to discern in others , than to correct hi
ourselves . It appears to me that your correspondent , A Nonconformist , is by no means free from this quality , when he complacently observes , " In the religion of the Ne \ V Testament , 1 can find nothing mysterious / ' In making this assertion he evidently forgets that some of the doctrines which lie firmly believe tb be founded on the clearest
revelation , are as mysterious m the conception of Unbelievers as those of the orthodox are in his own estimation . In troth , every Christian ^ to whatever party he may belong , must
unavoidably yield his assent ? fo what no under&tamHttg * cab properly comprehend , and ho ingenuity eftm adequately explain . To sfry nothing of the resurrection of the mttoti bMy ,
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No System of Theofogif *® VtoptJ ¥ o ¥ n , Mtystvry . 191
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Sir , ^ prilS , 1826 . H | ^ HE perversion of the term mys-JoL tery > in defending doctrines unsupported by satisfactory proof , and in obstructing the exercise of free inquiry , has excited in the minds of many rational persons so strong a prejudice as to lead them to wish for its
utter abolition . Notwithstanding this unreasonable prejudice , I cannot help considering the word in question as possessing the same utility as other generic terms , by expressing in the shortest possible manner what would otherwise require reiterated circumlocution . It may safely be admitted
that the term fAv ^ pa p , as made use of by St . Paul , refers , in th $ majority ot instances ^ to the divine determina * tioa of extending the beaefits of Christianity to the Gentiles j and I feel little disposed ao controvert fctoe poaitfion so gravely maintained by y < mr &bvt $ ~ spondent , A Nonconformity ( p . 139 , )
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LondfM , Sir m June 1 , 1789 . I have just received your second letter , and am much obliged to you for it . I have read , and promise you repeatedly to read , your arguments ,
and to give them very fair play whenever either of the questions to which they relate comes on . You say you will excuse my endeavouring to answer tbem by letter , and I thank you for it , because lam not equal to enter the lists with you .
I thank you likewise for the ballad relative to the goal [ Nottingham gaolj . I hope that dispute will not become serious , because I am very sorry to see neighbours quarrel on any occasion . Permit me , Sir , to say , that I shall always think myself honoured by your correspondence , and that I
, Your obliged and obedient servant , DANl . PARKER COKE . The Rev . Gilbert PFakefield , Not trngham .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1826, page 191, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2547/page/3/
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