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eise words used * by the Apostle , * &n& the arrangement which he gave to the context , were repugnant to the views of those who , coming aftei * him , quoted or copied the verse ; and they sought
to alter its sense by altering its position or true reading . If it had been a forgery the authors of it would have at once placed it where it would have answered their purpose liest : and it is certain that they and their coadjutors , in successive ages , would exert all their endeavours to prevent its
mutilation and variety of shape to appear in evidence against its authenticity . If , in a solitary spot , I saw the decayed and scattered bones of a human being , I should instantly conclude that a person once existed to whom they belonged . Mr . Porson , if he were consistent , would insist on
the contrary conclusion . He would say , These bones are mangled and scattered by violence , and therefore never formed a real body . The inference he draws , resembles that which Jacob drew when he saw the mantle
of his son torn to pieces and stained with blood . The inference , however , in both cases , proves erroneous . The verse , like Joseph , was still alive . Pious fraud forced it away , and , with the gospel in its original simplicity , sold it to Antichrist ; and thus for
ages they were held in worse than Egyptian bondage . „ But the period of their common deliverance is at hand . The diffusion of knowledge , the progress of inquiry , the spirit of rational and manly freedom , will sooner or later melt their chains ; and the powers of darkness , like Pharaoh and his hosts , shall be scattered on the waves . BEN DAVID .
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Nttb Appellation of Unitariuiks . ? 21 T
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Sir , nF ^ HE pages of the Repository have A sometimes suggested the expediency of some new name being adopted by the general body of Unitarians , and it appears probable that some
adges might be attained by such a measure . It is not that the name of Unitarians is not well fitted to characterize the leading opinion of those to whom it is applied , whether they are of those that retain the doctpine of Chrises personal pre-existence , or of those who believe in his strict and
proper huiaanity ; the former falling under the denomination of Aiiana ,
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vol , xxi . 2 g
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the latter having no better distin- * guishiug appellation than Nazareans * as Lardner calls them , and being also frequently called Socinians . I say no new terms are needed to distinguish the doctrines which these parties severally hold , nor to < lislinguist the
parties themselves , when vvq wish to speak of them simply with reference to those doctrines . But as a body of Christians , associating together for the purposes of religious worship and edification , it may be questioned whether it be expedient that their popular and current name should be derived
from their peculiar opinions ] at all . In the first place , we may observe , that doctrinal peculiarities are not the source from which most other religious sects have derived their names ; these have been borrowed from some obvious peculiarity in their church
discipline or ceremonies , or from some insignificant accidental circumstance . It is enough to name the Presbyterians , Independents , Baptists , Methodists , Quakers and Moravians . None of these names convey any intimation of the vievv 3 to which these several
parties incline on the principal controversial topics of theology . Yet we well know that each of these sects does in fact maintain its own proper system of divinity with sufficient distinctness and rigour , and as effectually , I dare to say , as if the whole of their creed were embodied in their
title . Hence it is clear that it is not a matter of necessity , at any rate , to adopt expressive doctrinal appellations in order to preserve in religious societies the opinions which are thought most correct : there must be other circumstances in the
constitution of religious bodies by which this end is sufficiently secured . And if it is not necessary , the following considerations may lead us to doubt whether it be expedient . In the first place , where , as in the case of Unitarians , the name by which a religious society chooses to designate itself is
one that implies a generally offensive doctrine , in such a case prejudice is unnecessarily excited . It is an old remark , that mankind are more influenced by names than by realities . Aiul it is important to consider , that a large part of society , misled by tfa * calumnious misrepresentations witn which the disingenuous champions of
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1826, page 221, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2547/page/33/
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