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Untitled Article
ciples . I only ask hirn to do tfte Uttbelierer the justice to ? allow , tfcttt he may entertain the same views of God and duty and futurity , and with the same confidence , as the Christian , though on different grounds . If , allowing this , he still declares that with one so circumstanced he has no
religious sympathy ; if he still persists in placing an immense gulf between himself and the Deist , without at all regarding how the sentiments of the latter may be modified , I must leave him to the enjoyment of his own opinion , consoling myself with the belief , in
which I trust I am not mistaken , that there are not many in the Unita * rian body who are actuated by the same spirit . Were it otherwise , let me assure him , that the test which lie proposes for driving- the Unbeliever from their society would be
altogether a needless measure , so far at teast as regards myself . But so long as my presence is not considered as an intrusion , and furnishes no subject of reproach against the Unitarian bod y * I shall deem it my duty to seek the improvement afforded by the
exercises of social worship among that denomination whose religious' sentiments approach the nearest to my own . * Nor do I conceive that , in so doing , I am justly obnoxious to the charge , which Mr . Jones pretty plainly insinuates , of acting a deceitful part .
He takes it for granted that one who is a Deist must regard Christians as believers in a lie , and pity their honoured JLord as an enthusiast , if they do not brand him as an impostor . Such thoughts and language I utterly disclaim . I honour Jesi * s as a moralist and reformer beyond any other name whkh history has transmitted
* Let me recommend to Mr . Jones ' s serious attention the truly liberal and eloquent letter of " An Unitarian Christian , " ( p . 158 , ) and the following passage of it in particular : " They , therefore . to
join our worship as les ^ opposed their own views than any other ; they feel that they have the same practical duties to perform that we hare , the game temptations to resist , the same God to serve ;
the benevolent and amiable light in which fl ^ e contemplate the Deity , coincides with their natural convict ions 1 , and they come to us to seek moral strength' for their virtue , arad } ii « guidance and blesmng on thebr eadeavours to improve . "
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to us , not excepting Socrates liinbself . Aiid I think it possible to account fot the supernatural parts of Ms history , without supposing that he either performed , or pretended to perform , the
miracles ascribed to hurt , and even without impeaching in any considerable degree the character of the first promulgators of Christianity . Holding these sentiments , I feel myself no alien in those Christian assemblies
where the moral doctrines of Jesus are chiefly insisted on , and where homage is paid to no partial or vengeful Deity , but to the common Father of the whole human race . I cannot , it is true , consistently join in ail the ordinances of Christian worship : but
my attendance on the ordinary ser * vices I by no means consider as a pledge of any particular belief further than what is implied in a desire for moral and religious improvement . If occasionally I am compelled to hear doctrines which are in some degree at
variance with my own sentiments , what is this but what every one must more or less experience , wherever he engages in the exercises of public worship ? The Unbeliever at present has no alternative , but either to attend in a Christian assembly , or to neglect
altogether the duty of social worship . Can it be a question ^ except with those who deny the possibility of any religious principles not grounded on revelation , which of these two courses ought to be preferred ? Let the case , in short , be fully and fairly considered ,
and it will surely require r > o very large measure of that charity which ' * think - eth no evil , " to give the Unbeliever the credit of good motives infrequenting an Unitarian place of worship . For what can be supposed to tempt him thither , except the rationality of
the Unitarian worship and doctrine ? Were be really so regardless of truth and consistency as Mr . Jones insinuates , would he not exercise a little more worldly-wisdom hi the choice of
his pretended religion - and , instead of connecting fritaself with s ^> small and unpopular a sect , wotrfd he not rather follow the multitude , and yiekl to the far superior attractions of a splendid EsiaWtehment ? W . J .
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t § 4 Utibtfitvtrt in Uftttatfan CtiuMhe
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1826, page 194, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2547/page/6/
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